Jamaica is a beautiful island offering fantastic beaches, abundant wildlife and broad expanses of rugged terrain and there is no better way to explore the mountain trails, the peaceful meadows and the sandy shores of the island than by horseback. Hooves Ltd in Ocho Rios is the best choice for horseback riding on Jamaica’s North Coast and once you’ve settled in your Jamaica accommodation (or even before) you can plan your great outdoor adventure on the island.
Equestrian lovers can choose to experience the thrill of riding a beautiful horse through the countryside and down to a magnificent beach, where your dream of riding a horse into the sea becomes a reality. This horseback riding adventure provided by Hooves Ltd. in Ocho Rios takes you along the shoreline and then into the ocean! Ride bareback into the sea or take your horse on a river walk. Explore the rain forest and historical sites including working plantations. Experienced riders will want to take jumping and polo lessons. Saddle up to experience another side of Jamaica.
Tour the countryside on well-trained and loved horses. Those who choose the two hour long Heritage Beach trail tour will travel back in time to learn about Jamaica’s turbulent past. The tour combines history with fun, as you take a horseback ride through the waves. Your knowledgeable guide with give you constant narration of the scenery and area, telling the story of Jamaica along the way. At Seville Plantation you will roam the estate and learn about one of Christopher Columbus’ visits. Visit the Seville Great House Museum to see artifacts found on this plantation, and then ride horseback to historic sites dating back almost 500 years. Rides continue through the forest, where you learn facts about the island’s Arawak natives and European discovery. Your ride will end at Santa Gloria Bay, where you’ll get a little wet as the horses get neck deep in the ocean. Tour guides accompany you, and helmets are available upon request.
On arrival at the beach, refreshments are served in the “Jungle Beach Hut” before you strip down to your bathing suits, for a dash through the waves on horseback. For your safety, the saddles are kept on, so you don’t have to worry about staying on the horse. The return ride takes you along the deserted beach, where herons and other waterbirds fish in the shallow waters. Through the mangroves, which hide the remains of an eighteenth century warehouse, and by an ancient waterwheel which powered the old sugar mill on this former sugar plantation.
Hooves also offers another fascinating historic tour by the name of “The Bush Doctors Tour”, this is one of their most sought after tours. During the period of slavery, it was the bush doctors who provided the only medical care to the enslaved people. These doctors focused on herbal remedies and were well-versed with the medicinal uses of local herbs and plants. Even today, bush doctors are in great demand in the rural areas and take care of the people in times of illness. The tour takes you through the beautiful terrain and lets you explore the places in which the plants important for health and healing are found.
Exploring Jamaica by horseback is an entirely different experience than sightseeing in a motor vehicle. A horse back tour offers a greater connection to the surrounding and a greater appreciation because of the slower pace and because you can take your time taking in a place that catches your fancy.Specialty rides like the “Honeymoon Ride” and private rides for experienced riders also available. Reservation are required for these trails, as they limit the amount of riders on each ride to ensure a more personal experience. Horseback riding in paradise does not get any better than this it is truly an experience like no other.
Tags: equestrian activities, guided tours, hooves ltd jamaica, hooves ltd ocho rios, hooves ltd., horseback riding, horseback riding jamaica, Jamaica, Ocho Rios, the caribbean, things to do in jamaica, things to do in ocho rios, travel
