Horseback Riding Proposed for Ocean City Beaches

Ordinance would bring horses in the off-season

Winter or summer, city lawmakers in Ocean City want you on the beach.

Councilmember Brent Ashley put forward a bill this month to allow horseback riding to the city's beach during the off-season months.

The proposed ordinance would allow equestrians on the sand from Nov. 1 to March 30, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. with a $50-per-horse permit.

Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan thinks horseback riding could be good for the city, offering visitors another draw during the off-season. Meehan told News4 that horses galloping along the shore would be a nice sight for pedestrians walking on the boardwalk.

The idea does come with some concerns though, about who would regulate the horseback riders, and whether the animals would have an effect on the beaches. There is also a question about who's going to clean up the manure the horses would leave behind.

Meehan said there is a lot to like about the idea, but he wants to make sure the activity would be safe, well-managed and enjoyable for everyone.

The mayor also pointed out that there is already horseback riding available in the Ocean City area. 

Just a few miles from Ocean City, Assateague State Park offers horseback riding on their beaches. The island is inhibited by wild horses and people can even camp there during particular seasons.

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