My Adventures: 1 – Riding A Horse Bareback In the Ocean
by Jenners • 07/19/2010 • Travels • 30 Comments
When I recently wrote down my Bucket List, it occurred to me that I’ve already done a lot of adventurous things that I’ve not written about here on the old blog. Having limited creativity coursing through my veins this summer, doing a series of posts about my past adventures seemed like the perfect solution. So here is the first part of a multi-part series on My Adventures.
For our honeymoon, Mr. Jenners and I went to Jamaica for a week. After doing a few excursions and being a little shocked about the safety requirements (or lack thereof), it occurred to me that the word Jamaica might mean Island of Lax Safety.
One such Jamaican adventure involved riding horses … bareback … into the ocean! It took a lot of convincing to get Mr. Jenners (who had never been on a horse before) to do this. But it was our honeymoon and he was still in love with me so he agreed. I sold him on the idea by saying: “I’ve been on guided horse rides before, and they don’t let you do anything too dangerous.” Of course, these were guided horse rides in America–Land of Stringent Safety Requirements Due To Possible Lawsuits. In Jamaica, anything goes.
Things started off tame enough. We were given helmets and some small blankets to sit on while we rode our horses at a slow walk down to the beach. Everything seemed copacetic.
Mr. Jenners and I On Our Horses On The Beach
In America, you would have simply stuck close to the beach in a few feet of water. Not in Jamaica!! Our horses kept going further and further and further out. Like in deep water. Deep enough where the horses were swimming. Don’t believe me? Check this out!
Me Riding Bareback On A Swimming Horse … Out Far in the Ocean!I’m the one in the back.
The whole ride was exhilarating and terrifying and invigorating. It seemed like it took 2.5 seconds and I can barely remember it now. I’m so glad Mr. Jenners got bucked off his horse and took the photos so I have actual visual proof that I did this. It was one of those experiences where it was so exciting that your mind kind of blocks out the details. It must have been a pretty long ride as we were pretty far out in the water, but it seems really really short in retrospect. I do remember the sensation of the horse swimming and realizing what a powerful and strong animal it was. It was really a unique experience … though I wonder if I would do it now.
Returning to the Beach … and Safety!
Just need to experience galloping on a horse and my horse adventures are done,
Very brave! I think I would have been on the beach with Mr. Jenners.
I would have been so scared! (I can't swim.)
Wow. Who would have thought that Jamaica is the land of riding horses in the ocean bare back. I'm glad Mr. Jenners got bucked off (so he could take pictures) too cuz this is just something you never hear about.
Very cool! I'm glad he got bucked off to, so we can see! lol It looks very fun and a little scary!
That sounds like so much fun! I had no idea horses could swim like that.
Those are great photos and a great memory. Riding horses in deep water sounds like a really smart approach. I was thrown by a naughty horse, crushed a vertebra, and spent five weeks on my back. Never clash wills with anything equine. You will lose. I learned the hard way.
What fun!~ Although looking back, you do kind of wonder… Reminds me of my honeymoon when I decided to take up cross/country skiing for the very first time…
That is so unbelievably awesome! You are seriously the coolest chick.
So cool! Was this on your bucket list?
horses freak me out. This won't make my bucket list though I can honestly say I didn't know that horses could swim.
"But it was our honeymoon and he was still in love with me so he agreed." You make me laugh and laugh and laugh every time!
I'm not scared of horses at all (despite being thrown off of them more times than I can count), so I totally think I could do something like this. But I also can't swim, so even though I'd be up for it, I'd probably be crying the whole time, haha. I'm so glad you have pictures of this!
Okay, so now I'm dying to do this. LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
That is so very cool! I haven't really ridden on a horse before. When I was very little (I have a vague memory of it) my aunt let me sit on her ancient horse while it grazed. I hope to actually ride on a horse someday, yet am a little intimidated – they are so big close up.
Wow! Vacay-brain really makes bad ideas seem good, doesn't it? I'm kidding! It's great that you got pictures of it as it is such a cool adventure.
You sure so have some balls woman!
Except for the fact that he got bucked off, that's really quite a romantic thing to do! I love it!!!
That is amazing! Very few people could say that they've done that!
Ummm, no I don't think so! It looks like a disaster waiting to happen. And if I was on a horse, it would be a disaster!
You are much more adventurous than I. Is there anything on your bucket list that involves eating chocolate? That's more my style!
OMG that looks like SO much fun!
And I agree that it's a good thing Mr. Jenners got bucked off so he could get all these great photos!
Awesome! I like the idea of celebrating the cool things you've already gotten to do in life. Sometimes we need that look back to remember how good life already is.
That's definitely one cool adventure! I wish I had your adventurous spirit
I've never gone horseback riding before since I just know that my horse will defy me and throw me to the ground just to laugh at me.
I totally cracked up when I saw that photo of you on that horse in the middle of the ocean! I never knew that horses even swam in the ocean! Looks pretty cool
Glad you had such a great experience! And it was a good thing that Mr. Jenners got "thrown" off his horse and had to resort to taking pictures of you on your horse in the middle of the ocean
You are so COOL!!! You look great on that horse. I'm very impressed by your adventurous side. I think you're ready to star as the next Kevin Costner heroine in a western. If you can handle a horse in the ocean, you can ride with the best of them
WOW — you are so much more the dare-devil than I will ever be. I bow in total reverence to your adventuresomeness
That sounds so wonderful! I so miss riding horses.
I used to LOVE riding bareback, especially with my horse – she was SO smooth. I always drempt of hauling her to the Oregon coast to riding along the beach. She loved swimming in the local ponds but she's never seen the ocean. I don't know if she'd head out to sea like those horses, though.
Once, I did an evening ride on bareback and without a bride. We were cantering along in the moonlight. I remember it was the most freeing experience of my life – I imagined it was what a bird would feel flying.
And galloping is totally over-rated. It scares me! I've only ever galloped unintentionally.
Great post!
Oh, I'm trying out the flag counter on my blog. I'm sure my visitorship will not be as diverse as yours but we'll see!
Wow, that is just almost too amazing to be true! How fun and lucky for you that you had that opportunity!
Really, the only thing that could make that MORE magical would be if you were riding a unicorn through the waves not a horse. If it were me, I might have to ask if the horse could wear a horn prosthesis.
I would also be terrified though. I know great whites are in Jamaica, and horses just seem like something a shark would eat. Or at least take an investigating nip at.
Oh my gosh I think you just gave me a panic attack. I can't swim so just imagining myself trying to hold on for dear life to the bareback of a horse without a life jacket might just send me into the nervous twitches.
WOW, this is wonderful! It reminded me of doing it when I was young because I remember the feeling of the power of the horse underneath me. You've got to do the gallop, there is nothing like it in the world. There is such a feeling of complete freedom! Thanks for sharing, this is great and inspiring!
Well that is something I have never done – not to Jamaica or horse riding in the ocean. It looks wonderful.
Pretty much everything about that scares the hell out of me. My mom was in a really bad horseback riding accident about 10 years ago and ever since then horses freak me out. But I'm glad you enjoyed it and had a lovely time.