- December 4, 2025
Should horseback riding be allowed on a portion of Volusia County Beaches?
The Volusia County Council discussed the matter during its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19, directing staff in a 5-2 vote to bring back options for a six-month trial period to allow horses on a section of the beach. County Coastal Director Jessica Fentress presented the council with two areas for consideration: Al Weeks North Shore Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea or at Neptune Avenue beach approach, utilizing the Grace Lutheran Church off-beach parking area.
Both sections would span 9 miles.
While there is no recent history on horses on the beach in Volusia, there is a regional precedent, as horseback riding is permitted in the Canaveral National Seashore, which is located in Volusia, as well as areas of St. Johns and Flagler County, the latter of which allows the use at MalaCompra Park.
Health and safety for the horse and rider, environmental sustainability, possibility for trailer parking and the recommendation for horses to be on a non-driving section of the beach were all factors the county used to choose potential locations.
Councilman Troy Kent, who proposed the discussion at the council's meeting on May 20, said he "had no horse in this race," but that adding horseback riding would contribute to the county's offerings.
"I do think this adds something to Volusia County," Kent said. "I think that there are people that, it is a bucket list item."
But, he was only in favor of a trial period if horses were mandated to wear a bag to collect their droppings. He also had concerns with the proposed locations. Choosing Al Weeks North Shore Park would mean eliminating 19 parking spaces — per staff's recommendation — to incorporate two trailer spaces, and choosing the Neptune beach approach would mean horses and riders would need to cross A1A from the Grace Lutheran parking lot.
Additionally, preliminary conversations with the church, according to Fentress, indicated that the church could ask the county for a higher fee to continue to offer their lot as off-beach parking with the needed horse trailer parking.
"They are not opposed to the idea," Fentress said. "They would like some more information. They would like to limit the number of trailers."
Kent said he'd rather go with Al Weeks North Shore Park, and only doing one trailer space (eliminating nine parking spaces), or using the grassy area in front of the parking lot next to A1A for horse trailers, therefore eliminating no parking spaces.
His preference, he added, was that horse riders use the dirt ramp at Roberta Road to travel north.
Kent said he's received some emails with "some fearmongering" about horses turning the sand over with their hooves or running through fishing lines.
"You're just trying to scare people because you don't want something like that," Kent said.
If implemented by the county, there would be seasonal restrictions on horseback riding during sea turtle nesting season (May 1 to Oct. 31), as well as limited capacity, an online permit/reservation system, required wildlife protection training, restriction of use during only daylight hours and mandatory waste removal by horse owners.
Ormond Beach resident Jennifer Miko, owner of Equestrian Adventures of Florida, spoke before the council at the meeting. She has been offering horseback rides on the beach since 2011 in Flagler County, and said it would be advantageous for Volusia to allow horses on the beach as well.
"Volusia County is already a top tourist attraction," Miko said. "People from all over Florida and the United States come to this county just for the beaches. Clientele that come ride with me are top-notch, very responsible, and they are amazing people. It could only add to the amount of people coming into Volusia County."
Responsible horse owners, she added, will also take this seriously.
"No one wants to put their horses or community in danger," she said. "I'm sure they would be willing to follow the rules that Volusia County puts in place for this privilege."
Councilmen David Santiago and Matt Reinhart voted against bringing options for a trial period.
"When we have some popular event and big holidays, those beaches are full and they're jam-packed with cars," Santiago said. "I don't want to take away more beach from the folks."
He also didn't think it would increase tourism substantially, and was concerned that horse manure may litter the beach, regardless if horses are wearing a bag or not.
"I see the negative more than the positive, and I don't see it as a necessity to the success of our tourism," Santiago said.
Reinhart said he came into the meeting as a "firm no" on the issue, but after hearing Miko's remarks, he thought she brought good points forward.
Still, she is one person. When the council brought the dog beach proposal forward, there were many people and community groups who spoke in favor of the initiative.
"I don't see a group, per se, coming before us for this," Reinhart said.
While County Council Chair Jeff Brower voted in favor of seeing options for the trail period, he remains on the fence on whether horses should be allowed on the beach.
"There's a lot of variables that we would have to find a way to manage just for the safety of the people that are there enjoying the beach, and that aren't for this," Brower said.
