St. Lucie County Horseback Riding on the Beach: Rules & Regulations

The St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation Department and the St. Lucie County Tourism Office are responsible for managing and monitoring the horseback riding on the beach program at Frederick Douglass Memorial Beach Park. If you have any questions on the following rules and regulations, please call 772.462.1521 or 800.344.8443.

Annual Permits:

• An annual riding permit is $200 for non-St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional annual permit is $100 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.
• An annual riding permit is $50 for St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional annual permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.

Weekly Permits:

• A weekly riding permit is $100 for non-St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional weekly permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.
• A weekly riding permit is $35 for St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional weekly permit is $25 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.

Terms of Permit:

• The first permit issued is good for two horses. Each additional permit issued is for one horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.
• Annual permit holders are permitted to ride their horse(s) 4 times per month – one (1) Saturday and one (1) Sunday, along with two (2) weekdays.
• Weekly permit holders can ride an unlimited number of times during their designated permit dates.
• All permit holders can ride their horses from 8am to 5pm on their scheduled day(s).
• All permit holders must call 772.462.1521 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule their riding reservation. The office is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. Closed on holidays.
• Permit holders are NOT permitted to accept money or charge participants to ride horses on their permit.
• When a ride is scheduled, permit holders are required to be present and keep the permit form on hand during the entire period of the permitted activity. The permit cannot be transferred from one person to another.
• Persons must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a permit(s).

Permit Stickers & Combination Lock Code:

• All annual permit holders will be given a permit sticker indicating the permit holder’s permit number and expiration date. All permit holders are requested to place this sticker in a conspicuous place on their vehicle or horse trailer (i.e., back bumper, back window, inside windshield, etc.).
• Permit holders may be charged a duplicate fee if stickers are lost or stolen.
• All annual permit holders will be given a combination lock code that will provide access to the designated vehicle and horse trailer parking for permit holders only. Please be sure to lock the gate when entering and leaving. All permit holders are required to park in the designated horseback riding parking area when participating in the horseback riding activity.

Riding Horses on the Beach:

• All horses must be equipped with a manure catch bag and/or riders must clean up manure deposited by their horse(s) on the beach, on the paths leading to the beach, and in the parking area during and after each ride. Manure is not to be discarded into the ocean, in County trash receptacles, etc. All manure is to be removed from the park’s premises by the permit holder.
• Pursuant to Section 773.06, Florida Statutes, a child who is younger than 16 years of age must wear a helmet that meets the current applicable standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for headgear used in horseback riding and is properly fitted and fastened securely upon the child’s head by a strap.
• All riding is limited to the area north of the designated beach access.
• Riders are to follow the beach access trail from the parking lot down to the water’s edge; from there, riders ride north up to a distance of approximately one mile until they reach the end-of-trail marker that indicates the turnaround point.
• Horseback riding is limited to the water’s edge and NEVER ON THE DUNE. Riders are only to ride on the wet, hard-packed sand surface in and near the waterline. Horses are permitted to ride in the water.
• All riders are strictly forbidden to ride on the vegetated dunes to not disturb the dune plants and endangered species of sea turtles that nest on the beach.
• Riders are to respect the sunbathers, swimmers, and others by maintaining clearance when riding.
• Riders are to observe and obey all signage instructions and conditions along the beach, in the parking area, and along the beach access.
• Under Florida Law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities.
• Permit holders must have documentation of a negative Coggins test for all horses.

VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN REVOCATION OF YOUR PERMIT WITHOUT REFUND.