PrintEver wanted to know more about the willing horses that provide beach rides in tropical vacation spots like Jamaica? Rosie Edwards spent two summers working in a stable at a resort and came home with a whole new outlook on horse care.
If I were to mention Jamaica, what associations would spring to your mind? The sun, the sand, the music, the…herbs? It might be quite a while before you thought about horseback riding in Jamaica, but the two summers I spent working at the Half Moon Equestrian Centre in Montego Bay left me with enduring memories and a lasting love for the island.
The riding center is part of the Half Moon Resort, which is centered around Half Moon Bay; a two mile stretch of idyllic white sand beaches. The stables are owned by Trina DeLisser, a Fédération Equestre Internationale show jumping judge and successful show jumper. She is also one of the wackiest and kindest people I’ve ever had the fortune to meet. The equestrian center has 30 horses as well as a variety of other animals including donkeys and two troublesome goats.
Swimming is the main work for most of the horses, and the beach ride is the most popular activity. This involves a short ride to the beach through the picturesque grounds of Half Moon Resort. The horses’ saddles are removed, and tourists get the opportunity to ride bareback along the beach into the refreshing Caribbean ocean for a swim. I’ve never experienced such a euphoric feeling as floating atop a horse swimming through the ocean.
Riding in Jamaica is a must if you’re visiting as a tourist. The experience is simply delightful. However, the education I received over my lengthier stay there about a different style of horse care and training made even more of an impact on me.
Horse Care In A Developing Nation
My experiences at the stables highlighted for me how much we take for granted about keeping horses in a developed country. The Jamaican climate—in both the physical sense as well as the socio-economic context—poses many challenges to horse keeping.
U.S. horse owners take for granted many key equestrian services, such as easy access to veterinarians, farriers, equine chiropractors and dentists. These equine professionals are scarce in Jamaica, and veterinary hospitals and standard equipment such as x-ray machines are non-existent.
This makes inevitable ailments much more worrying and serious. Feed options are very limited, and the availability of hay is almost nil, so the colic risk is high. In the intense heat the occurrence of colic at the stables is much higher than the average U.S. farm. Without an equine hospital on the island, colic cases, which are potentially curable, often lead to death.
This difficult reality became apparent to me last summer when Lee, a young talented show jumper, suffered a particularly severe colic. Treatment options were basic and limited, and the attending veterinarian doubted Lee would survive without surgical intervention. Lee did pull through, but it was touch and go, and the powerlessness of the vet and owner to help the suffering horse really upset me.
The incredibly hot Jamaican climate poses another challenge to horse-keeping. Most of the horses at the stables are Thoroughbreds or horses of light build, and so they cope fairly well with the high temperatures. However, on really hot days the elderly horses struggle and require hosing regularly with cold water to keep cool.
