Summary
Jamaica Horseback Riding in Water
Swimming with horses in Jamaica fulfills many bucket list fantasies for honeymooners and vacationing couples! It’s the ultimate romantic excursion for couples visiting the Caribbean Islands.
We’ve enjoyed multiple horseback riding adventures during our travels, but when Jamaica invited us to experience horseback riding in the waters of Montego Bay, I had my reservations initially.
Do Horses Like to Swim?
First of all, let’s discuss swimming with horses. Chukka Tours prioritizes the health and happiness of their horses. Our guide Carrey informed us that the horses in Jamaica embark on just one trail ride per day and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and grazing.
Chukka Tours Horseback Ride ‘n’ Swim
We learned that horses genuinely enjoy entering the water and appreciate a refreshing dip after a hot day in the sun. After some research, it seems that most horses share this sentiment.
Can Horses Swim?
Most horses are strong swimmers and are capable of handling themselves in the water. Therefore, the answer is yes, horses can swim. Only those horses that wish to swim in the ocean do so willingly; horses are not forced into the water.
The initial ride lasts only 10-15 minutes, alternating between walking in deeper water and short bursts of swimming. Consequently, the horses are not overworked or at risk of fatigue.
Is Swimming with Horses Safe?
Different horses are allocated for swimming and the trail ride.
The tour commences with a 30-45 minute trail ride on a specific set of horses, after which they switch to different horses for swimming in the ocean. As our Chukka guide emphasized, “If the horse doesn’t want to go in the water, it won’t do it.”
I trust this perspective. The last thing any tour company desires is for a horse to panic during swimming and potentially harm a tourist. For safety during horseback riding in water, it is essential that horses remain relaxed. If they were frightened or distressed, they could panic.
Swimming Horses Make Unique Sounds
I initially worried that the horses might be laboring while swimming, but upon further investigation, I discovered these sounds are normal for swimming horses.
Our guide explained this phenomenon is related to the saltwater. Regardless, it’s simply how horses breathe in water, so there’s no cause for concern. Be prepared for horses that might sound louder than normal.
Safety First When You Swim with Horses
I appreciate that Chukka ensures all riders wear flotation belts. Safety is paramount during group rides, and the belts provide a secure environment for both the rider and the horse.
Jamaica Ride and Swim Experience with Chukka Tours
We were picked up at our hotel, The Hyatt Zilara, Rose Hall in Montego Bay, for a brief hour-long drive to Chukka Ride and Swim in Ocho Rios.
Chukka Cove is situated in Llandovery St. Ann, just 15 minutes north of Ocho Rios.
Chukka operates other locations in Jamaica, including Montego Bay. However, we chose this site because we had afternoon plans to visit the Green Grotto Caves, located between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.
Arrival at Chukka Cove
Upon arrival at the Ride and Swim location, we donned helmets and signed waivers before embarking on a trail ride across farmland towards the beach.
Our group comprised around a dozen people, a size that felt manageable, ensuring couples could remain paired with their horses.
In previous instances, we’ve heard that some tours can have as many as 40 participants. It seems likely those are cruise groups. From our experiences, we’ve noticed that tour groups tend to be larger. Staying on the island is a better choice.
Horseback Riding on Land
The initial segment of the ride was uneventful, following a double track even shared with ATVers returning from their excursion.
Our guides were lively and engaging, filled with jokes and stories, making up for the lack of scenery earlier. Once we ventured deeper into the trail, it became more enjoyable riding through the forest and ultimately arriving at the water for our beach ride.
Horses Riding on the Beach
Upon exiting the trail, we found ourselves at a scenic bay, walking along the beach, where we stopped to capture photographs and soak in the views. After taking our pictures, we turned back to continue our ride.
Everyone Gets a Photo of Horseback Riding on the Beach!
Perhaps the highlight of the trail ride was walking through the woods and crossing small ponds before heading into the ocean. We didn’t swim just yet, but the horses enjoyed a lovely cooling break, strolling chest-deep in the water.
This felt like a warm-up ahead of our impending swim with the horses, giving us a chance to get wet and experience what it’s like to be seated on a horse in deep water.
Once the trail ride concluded, we returned to the beach where we dismounted our horses and proceeded back to the waiting area to return helmets and change into swimsuits (if desired).
Swim with Horses
The transition from riding to swimming with horses could be a tad confusing. However, it wasn’t a cause for concern.
Multiple tours were taking place at once; some participants were just arriving, others were leaving, and some were in between tours waiting for their swim—like we were!
Dave and I lagged a bit since we were focused on taking photos and videos, mistakenly thinking we had missed our group. Fortunately, we encountered another couple we had chatted with on the trail, who were still inside as well.
Pack a Bathing Suit
The schedule allowed for changing into bathing suits. Before our arrival, Dave and I were unaware that we would switch horses. We initially thought we would ride on land and then end up in the water. Thus, we didn’t pack swimsuits.
Riding for 45 minutes in a swimsuit on a trail simply wasn’t practical. Can you imagine the chafing? Instead, we opted for quick-dry shorts and shirts.
What It’s Like to Go Horseback Riding in Water
Interestingly, the other riders seemed to have planned accordingly, knowing we would start on land and then transition to swimming. While they were prepared for water, we weren’t the only ones in casual attire.
Eventually, I felt satisfied with our clothing choice. When the swimming commenced, it hardly mattered whether I was in a swimsuit or not.
When it was time to swim, smaller groups were formed, breaking our larger group into two. The experience remained relaxed. We realized that if we missed our group, we would still be fine.
When it came to entering the water, our guides simply asked if we had yet had the chance to swim. If we hadn’t, they directed us to the group about to go in. Everything went smoothly! Dave and I decided to separate to capture our own photos but soon discovered it wasn’t the best idea.
The horses ventured quite far from the beach, and it would have been much more enjoyable to experience the swim together. Additionally, our GoPros could withstand getting wet. Swimming with the horses was an exhilarating experience.
About the Chukka Ride and Swim Experience
- For more information visit Chukka Tours in Saint Ann
- Costs vary depending on the package chosen, typically averaging around $79 for the ride and tour only.
- The horses used for trail rides in Jamaica are retired ex-polo horses.
- I found the photo package pricing excessive at $65. Tour companies should consider that more reasonable prices would encourage sales.
- Nonetheless, the guides captured our beach photos using our cameras, which was quite nice.
- The swimming portion lasts approximately 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed some complaints about the duration, which puzzles me. after all, the horses need to swim and work in the water; extending it to 30 minutes could significantly tire them out.
- In total, the experience spans about two hours, providing a good value for the price.
- You can also combine experiences, including zip lining, cliff jumping, and ATV rides.
- For more information on visiting Jamaica, check out the Jamaican Tourism website and follow them on social media.
Our trip to Jamaica is made possible through a partnership with the Jamaica Tourism Board; all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Have you ever swum with horses? Where did you do it?
