12/27/2025
Over the holidays, I crossed something off my bucket list that had been living in my heart for years: riding a horse on the beach. Not at a walk. Not in a slow, nose-to-tail line. I wanted the wind in my hair, the salt air in my lungs, and that indescribable feeling of flying that only comes from trusting a thousand-pound animal beneath you.
That dream became reality in Costa Rica ā and the experience left me with thoughts Iām still turning over.
We were part of a guided group ride, eight riders total. Three of us had riding experience. The others had very limited experience, some never having gone faster than a walk. And yet, we galloped down the beach. The guide didnāt speak fluent English, but he spoke horses fluently. He knew his horses, their temperaments, their limits, and their reliability. He trusted them, and they absolutely delivered.
It was the time of everyoneās life. Riders who had never experienced anything like it were laughing, exhilarated, and fully present. For me, it was one of the most freeing moments Iāve ever had on a horse. Even my husband, who is not particularly in love with horses, said it was the most amazing experience heās ever had.
As someone who owns and operates a guided trail-riding business in the United States, that experience immediately made me reflect.
This would never happen here. Not because riders arenāt capable. Not because horses arenāt trained. But because of insurance, liability, and the culture of risk aversion that surrounds horseback riding in the U.S. One fall, one injury, one lawsuit, and a business can be gone. So operators are forced to choose caution, slower paces, and conservative experiencesānot because they donāt understand the magic of more, but because survival depends on it.
And yes, before anyone asks, there are other very real concerns. Rider balance. Safety of both horse and rider. Skill level. Balance comes with patience, practice, and time in the saddle. Riding a horse at top speed removes much of an inexperienced riderās margin for error. Many simply donāt yet have the tools to react appropriately if something unexpected happens. Does that increase the risk of injury? Of course it does.
So what is the ārightā way? And what is the āwrongā way?
Is it right to remove nearly all risk, even if it removes the heart-pounding, life-changing moments that make people fall in love with horses? Or is it right to allow calculated risk, trusting well-trained horses, skilled guides, and the human ability to rise to the occasion? Where is the line between responsibility and overprotection?
These are questions without easy answers.
What I do know is that horseback riding isnāt expensive because owners are greedy. Itās expensive because doing right by horses costs a tremendous amount of money. Feed, pasture management, barn upkeep, farrier care, dentistry, veterinary bills, chiropractic and bodywork, tack, training, and the unexpected injuries that come with working animalsāit all adds up quickly. When horses are treated properly, there are no shortcuts.
So when people question pricing, rules, or restrictions in the U.S., it often comes from not seeing the full picture. Those boundaries exist to protect the horses, the riders, the staff, and the businesses that love this industry enough to stay in it.
That beach ride reminded me why I fell in love with horses in the first place. Not because they are safe, but because they are powerful, generous, and willing partners when trust exists. There is nothing quite like the feeling of galloping a thousand-pound animal at full speed, fully present, fully alive.
So Iāll leave this as a thought, not a conclusion: what matters more ā safety or adventure? And is there a way to honor both?
For now, Iāll hold tightly to the memory of flying down a beach, wind in my hair, reminded that some of the most meaningful moments in life live just beyond our comfort zones šš
