Stories from the sand... "Runaway horse"

We were sitting at Naphtali's place (by Myrna's and Rooms, I think) eating some roast snapper and veggies (which is amazing by the way. I'll be going back) and we heard screams coming from the south side of the beach and getting louder. Two seconds later, the screams are on top of us. We look up and see a runaway horse galloping towards us, full speed with a young
(maybe 14yo) girl on it screaming her lungs out. It banks around the corner towards our picnic tables, passing literally a foot away from us and into the parking lot then out into the street. A few seconds later comes one of the other jockeys, at full tilt trying to catch her. A couple minutes after that, they both come trotting back and the girl is calmed down. The locals and everyone else were cracking up, as it was hysterical to see but must have been incredibly frightening for her. Lucky she didn't fall or get hit by car.

Good Lord, I'm glad she's OK and that no one got run over.

For any other future riders; if a horse takes off like that, quickly pull on one rein hard and up to lift the horse's head to steer the horse in a circle (turn him toward the water would be best) you might get wet, but the horse will slow and eventually stop. Horses will always head for home when they are panicked, so if the rider bails they will find the horse waiting for them back at the barn. just in case anyone still wants to ride after hearing that story.....

Whoa, Nelly!!

And, glad nobody got hurt....

I did a little cowboyin’ in my younger days. I would be careful with that one rein stop, it can be dangerous itself. Although I don’t think the best advice in the world can help a scared and inexperienced person on a runaway horse too much (they're just too freaked), I would recommend RIDING the horse, hang on as best you can (saddle horn, mane) and stay loose (don’t stiffen your muscles). When the beast gets home or far enough away from what scared it will stop. And of course the screamin’ part doesn’t help much either.

perfect advice from goldilocks. I've always wondered when I would come across that exact scene on the beach.....

In august I saw a runaway horse headed up the west end road. No saddle no rider.

I think the horses on the beach are worse than the jetskis!

At least the Jet Skis don't crap on the beach after they run you over ?

Get rid of them.....they're allowed to crap in the water....just not on the beach!!

On April 5th we saw a runaway horse with its saddle under its belly galloping really fast without its handler. He was running like crazy after it and got it at Wavz park. He then got the saddle on correctly and raced back up the beach like he was in the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile two small children from our resort were playing at the waters edge. The 4 year old was oblivious of the horse. This could have turned out REALLY bad. I was so angry and the poor parents were really frightened.
Later the same day at sunset another rider was racing his horse down the beach going so fast the horse almost lost its footing right in front of White Sands. Imagine a 1200 pound horse falling on you? Again I was seething. Minutes later the Police Jeep came driving down the beach. those horses have GOT TO GO!!!!

Question? Why are the horses heads looking sideways when they are racing them down the beach? Also the runaway horse was not looking forward but to the side as he ran by.

The horses SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BEACH AT ALL!!!

not sure why the horses are looking sideways, unless the rider is trying to slow them. horse's eyes are set on the sides of their head so they have great peripheral vision which is why they sometimes get spooked by something unexpected coming from behind or to the side. my favorite pony was freaked out by plastic bags blowing in the wind and I had to use the emergency pull up more than a few times. yes, the technique does come with experience, and screaming most certainly does not help the situation. poor girl!

horses should never be galloping on a beach full of people. I have not ridden the beach horses in Jamaica for two reasons: they are too small for me - I need 16 hands or better, and the tack (saddle/bridle) is in most cases not up to par. I've seen some that is downright dangerous, like a saddle tied on with some random rope. not to mention lack of hardhats.

so many times i have seen horses racing along the beach. its dangerous for everyone including the horses.
Also, not make too much of a fine point here, an inexperienced rider pulls hard on one rein to turn the horse can actually cause the horse to flip on their side, crushing the rider. Remember those Hollywood Westerns? thats the trick and it can result in injury to both rider and horse. Better to slowly turn the horse's head and stay calm.

Write the Jamaica Tourist Board about this issue. I did.

http://www.mot.gov.jm/content/jamaica-tourist-board-jtb

They have a "contact us" link.

Oh and if you are interested in riding the horses inn the beach, you may want to bring some sanitizer for the saddle. We watched a young girl make a soft porn movie on one of the horses. She was completely naked, having the jockey film her while she did her stuff on the horse. Ewwwwww

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Originally Posted by Papa Georgie

Write the Jamaica Tourist Board about this issue. I did.

http://www.mot.gov.jm/content/jamaica-tourist-board-jtb

They have a "contact us" link.

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Thanks for the link Papa G. Sent my 2 cents worth to the J.T.B.

wow..I only saw a couple of horses while on the beach...they looked too little for me to ride also..Glad the girl was safe and sound!

Don't like or trust horses... something about that " side eye", they always seem very skiddish/nervous to me. I say get rid of em, or designate a certain spot for them. I too fear them knocking a small child over.:rolleyes:

As someone who grew up horseback on the family cattle ranch, I too must dissuade people from the "yank their head to the side" style of "stopping" a horse. Remaining calm, and *gently* applying pressure straight back is a much safer method. Violently yanking in ANY direction is rarely prudent advice when dealing with horses, and will generally result in an equally violent counteraction of some sort, and yanking their head to the side at a gallop is a recipe for disaster, or at the very least, broken legs or other injuries obtained when a horse falls on you. Too, different styles of "bits" (the metal part of the halter that goes in the horse's mouth and basically provides "control" of the horse) can provide different results depending on how the reins are handled and how much force is applied. There is simply no reason to "YANK" a well-broken horse's head in any direction for any reason, and if it takes such actions to control the horse, its NOT well broken and NOT suitable for newbie riders or the tourism trade in any capacity. Knowing what I know about horses and tack, i won't take part in most trail rides or commercial riding endeavors. I like to know more about the horse and the equipment used than the operators typically know or are willing to share.

uumm, yeah, I never mentioned violently YANKing. I said quickly (as in before the horse hits full stride) pull hard (enough to turn the horse) to hopefully distract it from its panic and slow it, bringing it back under control. That said, most novices have so much slack in the reins that they have no control whatsoever if the horse decides to take off. Anyway, maybe they should just give pony rides in a designated area of the beach; let peope get led around and get their photo ops without all the kentucky derby stylee.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Papa Georgie

Write the Jamaica Tourist Board about this issue. I did.

http://www.mot.gov.jm/content/jamaica-tourist-board-jtb

They have a "contact us" link.

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Thanks for the link, Papa Georgie.

I added my concerns to the JTB. In the long run, tourists will spend more money when the beaches are clear of Jet Skis and horses, in my opinion. That will be better for the Jamaican Economy in the long run.

Peace and Guidance

Thanks Papa I just added my two cents.

two cents more. great suggestion. thanks for the link!

Again... You will not have this issue on the cliffs. Horses start climbing the cliffs, I am DONE with Jamaica.

as i said before on a previous thread, get rid of the horses on the beach before someone gets hurt, soon come

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Originally Posted by Lady Jane

On April 5th we saw a runaway horse with its saddle under its belly galloping really fast without its handler. He was running like crazy after it and got it at Wavz park. He then got the saddle on correctly and raced back up the beach like he was in the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile two small children from our resort were playing at the waters edge. The 4 year old was oblivious of the horse. This could have turned out REALLY bad. I was so angry and the poor parents were really frightened.
Later the same day at sunset another rider was racing his horse down the beach going so fast the horse almost lost its footing right in front of White Sands. Imagine a 1200 pound horse falling on you? Again I was seething. Minutes later the Police Jeep came driving down the beach. those horses have GOT TO GO!!!!

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But who was the guy who walks on the beach with sand in the plastic bottles?

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Originally Posted by Fred Stripe

But who was the guy who walks on the beach with sand in the plastic bottles?

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A friend of Rob and Lisa

This horse ran from the road through CCLP on to the beach. I seem to remember horses on the beach years ago and they were banned. About time they were banned again.


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This past week we watched a horse get "away" from his handler a few times. It ended up walking over the wall at Rooms into the walled-in area. The Dumb@ss handler comes over the wall to get the horse, hops in the saddle, backs up the horse and forces him to jump the wall, hitting the horse's leg on the wall in the process. Completely unnecessary, the horse wasn't panicked he just desperately wanted to get away from this guy who was NOT treating him well; the handler was showing off and someone could have been hurt.

Two cents sent,be safe,have fun,soon come

Have been told the officials are listening. Last week 4 riders were arrested and horses taken away.

the horses look to the side that the tourists are on (you need a ride), they are often running to make a few more dollars. hay and oats nah cheap in jamaica mon, leave dem horses alone. mr. ed a well known horse said "fyah pon babylon and der rules, wilbur".

Lol ^^