How to Clean Up After Your Horse on a Beach

I did a lot with horses in my younger days, including being a Standardbred racehorse groom. Okay, I don't have a horse today but I can dream of cantering one along the beach, like Kelly Reno did in The Black Stallion (1979). Currently, I'm owned by two dogs. I'm used to reading about dog owners having to clean up their dogs' poop. Imagine my surprise at reading that a beach in Wildwood New Jersey expects horse owners to clean up after their mounts.

Man - how big of a bag do you need for that? So that article got me wondering, "Just how DO you clean up horse doo-doo on Wildwood beach?"

What You'll Need

Unless you're lucky enough to live within a short riding distance from the coast, you need to trailer your horse to the beach. Even if you live close to a beach, consider how well your horse deals with traffic. If he's spooky or if the traffic is notoriously hostile to horses, it's safer to trailer the horse. If he's never been to the beach before, don't ride, just lead the horse to the huge, roaring ocean for training. Ride another day.

For beaches like the one in Wildwood, you can't just show up with a trailer and a horse and hit the beach. You need a permit. At Wildwood, a season permit will cost you about $100. This permit varies for each beach. Getting caught riding without a permit can land you with a huge fine or time in jail. Don't risk it.

Not For the Squeamish

There are pooper scoopers made for horses, but they are to be used on the ground around a stable and not while riding a horse. Quite frankly, you're not going to be able to pick up poop while riding your horse (unless you have really long arms). You have two options:

1. You'll have to trailer the horse and walk back to the poop piles to clean up. Bring a small shovel and an empty feed bag or trash bag with handles. If you're alone and your horse doesn't ground-tie, this may be your only option.
2. Pack out the poop. You'll need empty camping saddle bags (or a way of securing a trash bag to your saddle) plastic bags to line the saddle bags and a small shovel. If you're riding with someone else, that rider can hold your horse while you dismount and pick up the poop.

Remember to clean up any poop, wood shavings or hay in the parking lot where the trailer is. DO NOT place huge bags of poop in public trash cans or little cans left for dog waste. You have to take it with you unless your beach has a designated manure drop-off point in the parking lot.

In Conclusion

If you are not willing to pick up your horse's poop and carry it to the trailer and back home, do NOT go riding on beaches. You do not have the option of looking the other way while your horse lifts her tail. Horse manure is distinctive and so you can't blame a pile on a dog. If manure is left on the beach, the beach will be closed to all riders permanently.

Walter Farely never talked about this in The Black Stallion.

References

"Wildwood to allow horseback riding on beach." The Philadelphia Inquirer. Jacqueline L. Urgo. November 28, 2011. http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-28/news/30450669_1_horses-per-square-mile-horse-community-pony-rides

"Riding Canaveral." Janine Wilder. American Cowboy. Sept/Oct 2006.

Shore News Today. "Horses may ride on Wildwood beaches." Lauren Suit. Oct. 19, 2011. http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/wildwood-mainmenu/wildwood-leader/17464-horses-may-ride-on-wildwood-beaches-.html