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Hello everyone. We're returning to Negril for Christmas again with our young kids. Are the horses still on the beach? If so, I need to prepare myself to be vigilant as I have, in the past, been forced to run and grab the kids to keep them off the horse highway which is narrow at various places. I know people have to make a living, and I respect that, but it's dangerous. Peace and Love
Vucko, the answer to your question is yes. There are still horses on the beach. I am not sure if it is set times.
No set times and they do run them seems like at least a few random times a day so be vigilant.
Horses as a rule are fairly conscious of where they step - their life depends on it.
On the other hand they spook easy and will kick.
I'd explain this to your kids and advise them to give the horses a wide safety zone - especially to the rear of the horses.
We were almost hit by a horse galloping at full pelt at sunset last year right in front of Maureen's Bar. The beach was narrow there last year and the rider pushed the horse through - no let up. Of course there was a young Jamaican man riding it. Absolutely no respect for anyone else on the beach. No doubt he drives his motorbike with equal reckless abandon. A total idiot.
I don't mind the horses on the beach, but they shouldn't be allowed to gallop - for quite obvious reasons.
I don't suggest this lightly but . . . if you are ever in danger of being run over by a horse, raise both hands as high as you can and thrash them.
The horse will stop, at worst they'll veer off sharply.
Either way [I]watch out for the rider[/I] because the horse will have launched him into space
The riders have been racing today up and down the beach. I'm at barn b barn. Young guys riding.
Just got back last week. More horses than ever! I was not thrilled to say the least.
I wish they would just outlaw the beach horse riding all together.
I have no problem with the animals.....but the guys riding them are unbelievably rude.
Isn't there any other place they could bring the folks who actually WANT to ride them?
True story...a few weeks ago, one of my buddies (a total "city boy") sees two of them coming up the beach while we were all out in the water and he says that he wants to get closer and see the horses. So, I tell him to just forget it and let them pass, but he's not really listening to me at this point. (he was getting out to grab another "grenade" anyway) Then, right in front of our resort, the guy starts bringing his horse into the water. (at this point I know exactly what's happening and I start calling for my friend to stop but he's still not listening to me) The guy walks the horse into the water about belly deep and the horse obviously does his "business" DIRECTLY in front of my friend. The look of horror on his face as he turned to us in astonishment was priceless.
Luckily this was the day before we left as he would NOT go back into the water for the rest of the trip.
He just couldn't believe that we were all swimming in a giant horse toilet. :eek:
not only these horses running the beach is dangerous to travellers, but also they crap in the water, soon come
Hehe...don't tell him where fish & other species in the water "go"!!Quote:
Originally Posted by BIG SHINY n Mango
I agree the horses are dangerous, but be careful about wanting to regulate them. I don't want to see anyone hurt by these vendors acting irresponsibly. But, isn't part of what makes the beach great the free market system that happens each and every day in Negril. Obviously there are people that enjoy the horses on the beach, otherwise these guys wouldn't be making enough money to continue this service on 7 mile beach! I personally steer clear of them, and don't fund their business. My way of hoping that the horses move to another place to do business. Just my 2 cents.....
Maybe they could become route caleches and provide transport up and down the new sidewalk! Regulate the hell out of them. They are dangerous.
Is that where Sea Cucumbers come from??Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
The horses do not belong on the beach!!!!! Running up and down, but like so many other things it is not enforced.
I'm with you, Dash. There is Chukka Blue for riding and beach riding on beaches with few swimmers. Not to mention handlers who are trained and rules (like helmets for kids) are strictly enforced. The horses are also regularly checked by a vet.
It's not only dangerous for people on the beach, it's bad for the marine environment. Horses are meant to be in fields where the poop is filtered through the ground before it gets to the sea. It is affecting the marine life to have raw horse sewage going into it. Coral doesn't like horse poop.
There is also the matter of disease and parasites in the poop that is on the beach that can infect barefoot beach patrons. Of course, dogs running loose have that effect, but we won't go there now.
When making your living poses a threat to anyone or anything, it needs to be regulated to keep the animals in good shape and the beach bunnies safe. Here in Montreal, the caleche horses are diapered. And every caleche has a horse sized pooper scooper for accidents (bucket and shovel). I am not against making a living, but posing a threat to anyone, especially children, needs to be checked. If the handlers won't regulate themselves, then somebody needs to do it.
The horses and more importantly the handlers should be regulated. (No doubt they drive with the same reckless abandon.)
Just my 10 cents (Canadian) on the issue. A lot of things are "nice to have" but we need to keep a balance that is good for all - the beach, the marine life, the beach bunnies, the horses .... and sometimes, they all don't mix and something has to go!!!
M&G I 100% agree with the health and safety issues you bring up! I would like to see the horses go somewhere else personally (as well as the wave runners). My point was we should be careful when we start talking about regulating things is all. I like the fact that Negril isn't like "home". In Negril it still feels like we have some free will and not strangled with everything having regulations. It's just a slippery slope that can get over-done.....next regulation could be no more cooking out of old metal barrels! How awful would that be! respect
Well the jet skis are being watched closer now. Horses soon come?
Just say No to riding on the beach. I was at a Resort Board a meeting yesterday and offered to pay for a truck thru the police to move to Mobay pound. This is my 12th attempt wish me luck!
Gail I wish you lots of LUCK!
I don't know how but the tourist board needs to know about this it has been going on for years. Or are they just oblivious to it. I don't know
I was sitting at Sun Beach one evening a few years back quietly having a beer at sunset when a horse stopped directly in front of me did his business and the rider got off scooped it up I to to a black lada bag......disgusting.
Rob, what can we do about this problem?
Oh.. and none of you have ever peed in the water either.
I know how the horses feel especially after a large bowl of oat meal. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoast
I can totally relate to what you are saying about over regulation but, I've never seen anyone nearly trampled to death by any of the jerk vendors. I'm not trying to create conflict but when something is that unsafe (horses running the beach) I could never justify simply tolerating it. It's just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt......or worse! (JMO)Quote:
Originally Posted by butch
I agree completely! The 1st world has too many rules. Why do people want more rules and regulations the older they get? I live in farm country in southern Ontario. As you know, in the U.S. and Canada we are regulated to the point of a "nanny state" yet we still don't ***** about horse poop on the road!Quote:
Originally Posted by butch
Mangogirl,Quote:
Originally Posted by Mangogirl
The JTB and the Ministry of Tourism are fully aware of the issue. They are seeking the best solution, looking at all options from formal regulations and licensing to out right banning.
Since it is so popular with the visitors to Jamaica, I personally feel that the regulatory and licensing option will end up being the one chosen.
It is the old game of supply and the demand. If there was no demand for the horses, there would be no supply...
I am going riding later this afternoon. I love horses and I love riding. I am a responsible horse woman and I always take care when riding. No matter what country!. I have my own horse in the UK but I have never ridden a horse in the ocean or on the beach in the Caribbean, this is part of my holiday.Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoast
If you think the worse thing that is going in the sea is horse manure - then I am genuinely worried for you!. Don't forget, horse pooh is purely organic, good for the skin LOL
Sazo, give Rhodes hall plantation a call . They have responsible riding and you can go on the beach with the horses. Some of the beach horses have been stolen from Rhodes Hall. Best place for snorkelling as well.
And I quote "It is the old game of supply and the demand. If there was no demand for the horses, there would be no supply" enough said.....
Just got back from the island and yeah - horses do gallop by about once an hour and poop on the beach- but they seem less disturbing/dangerous to me than jet skis. There was one woman from Italy who had to circle a hundred feet from the beach at full throttle for at least a 1/2 hour 2 - 3 times a day while her friend took video
My experience in talking with one of the young men riding these horses up and down the beach is,he tells me "police are coming" and gallops off!
This is not a "free market" issue. This is a safety issue.
Last week I watched some guy running his horse at a full gallop
along the beach at Beachcomber hotel. There were children and
TODDLERS on that beach!!!
We spoke to a guest who last year saw a woman riding a walking horse bolt
away at a gallop and tried to remove her by going under a thatched cabana
She had the presence of mind to hug down on the horse and probably escaped with
her life.
Ok use a single horse walking up and down the beach with an advertising sign.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed by...whom?
Ok if this is illegal, maybe "police horses" along the------ nevermind. That won't work either. Thought for a moment I was on to something! Or upon checking in to ones hotel guests be informed the horses are illegal. Might slow things down enough to bring an end to this? Just thinking out loud.
Thank Jah there are not any infants around when those 4 legged raging horse style bulls run with the duppies.
Once we rid the world of horses we can focus on putting safety nets around coconuts so when a single one falls and kills someone we can focus on sand fleas
It may be a joke to you Eco, but not to me. I was nearly run over by a horse on my last day of last visit. Usually I have a Red Stripe (or an empty) in my hand, but not this time. I vowed then and there to always have a bottle in my hand when walking the beach.
WE spoke to the constables on the beach while we were there Nov 22 to Dec 2 about this. For some background information, our daughter, 8 years old at the time, took a ride on a horse a few years back. She came back to the resort on the horse escorted by 6 constables. We had watched this unfold from the beach. She was in tears thinking she had done something wrong. The constables explained that the horse owners had not paid their permit to be on the beach. In hindsight I think this was a nice way of saying to us "we want to get them off the beach"
We decided to get the official version of the status of the horses. We were told by the constable that the horses on the beach are not regulated in anyway and are not authorized on the beach, and they were trying to get them off the beach. They were encouraging people who wished to ride horses to go to Rhodes Hall where there are guided tours and the horses are properly fed and cared for.
I agree with vucko, that they create a dangerous situation on the beach. I saw them running very fast up and down the beach during my last stay. This is not something an adult expects, let alone a child. All I can say is to repeat what Rob Graves stated in a past post. The vendors are on the beach because there is demand for a product or service. If there is a demand for juice, fruit, snorkeling, parasailing, jetskiing, sailing and other things there will be a vendor. If there is no demand for horse back riding, non, nada, nothing,, the vendors will change professions. Eliminate the demand and horses on the beach will disappear. My two cents worth.
If you've seen the horses on the beach and have any common sense at all you know they're dangerous and don't really belong there,unfortunately it's when people don't use there god given common sense the government steps in to create laws ie seat belt laws and DUI laws we have in the states:(jmoQuote:
Originally Posted by Eco
Relax, the horses are as dangerous on the beach as cars are on the road. Ponder about dat. Walk every beach in the world and find me one evil horse that is out to harm tourist then walk every road on this planet and find just one car that is evil enough to run someone down. Point is....evil horses should not drive cars with their god given common sense.Quote:
Originally Posted by STRIPER
I agree with Eco on this one.
Caveat emptor.
Whether the horses are there legally or not, if you're taking advantage of the beach, watch your back.
You keep your eyes on your kids when they're swimming, right?
This seems similar.
To me the local issue would seem to be sanitary over anything else.
Unless a horse is wearing diapers . . . we're all grown-ups, we all understand a horse's capabilities in the defecation dept.
Furthermore if you are going for a horse ride, this is a horse - not a car, there isn't a gas pedal nor a brake.
If you're not an accomplished horse-person don't get on a horse you know nothing about.
Believe me horses can tell.
For no fee what so ever, I offer the same advice about scooters - road rashes seldom enhance vacation.
As far as throwing something at a horse . . . hmmm?
That seems like something that in the long run isn't going to achieve your desired results (which I assume is having a fun, relaxed time in the capitol of casual).
Besides you'll probably hit the horse and it sure isn't their fault they got dragged onto the beach.
It's Negril, why waste a lot of energy on being uptight?
If you're looking for a hermetically sealed vacation destination I understand Disneyworld is completely safe and entirely scrubbed free of real world dangers.
Eco and RumPole,
You have not made a valid argument here.
A toddler cannot "watch his/her back" on the beach.
Papa.