Bermuda Horseback Riding
What to expect
There are excellent scenic trails in Bermuda for horse riding. The trails lead through lush landscapes, villages, along the old railway trail and lovely beaches. Sometimes they also cross the streets.
The laws around horse riding in Bermuda is quite stringent. An experienced local supervisor must be accompanying you, particularly if you are riding near a public place like a beach. The supervisor usually doubles up as a guide and explains the flora and fauna as well as history of the island along the way.
Photo: Moran Meadows
Generally you can not ride on a popular public beach. There are however beach side trails (such as the sandy
south shore park trail that passes by the cliffside and connects several lovely beaches) which can be used for horse riding. You can ride in Bermuda all through out the year.
Most riding centers in Bermuda require advance bookings. There are both group and private rides offered. Depending on your riding skills, they will select a horse. Usually for group rides and inexperienced riders, they select quiet horses and do not encourage trot or canter.
Riding Centers
Mike Watson's Performance & Trail Horses
They have been operating the stable for over two decades offering trail rides as well as riding lessons in small groups. They are located in Warwick parish.
Photo: Mike Watson's
The trail rides at this stable allows you to walk, jog/trot, and canter if you are experienced or walk/jog for beginners. Because it is only one morning and afternoon ride per day this ride goes twice the distance of any local stable's ride but for a similar price. Of course private rides will cost you more.
The trail guide offers a personalized service and is one of Bermuda's premiere horseman and takes you on a ride throughout Warwick Parish on the back roads, old railway trail, tribe road trails, beach trails, and in some of the most scenic parts of Bermuda.
Location and Contacts:
Mike Watson
Frithcote Lane, Middle Road, Warwick Entrance
Warwick Parish (located opposite Belmont Golf Club)
Phone: 1/441-747-Ride(7433)
Moran Meadows, Bermuda Horse Trail Rides
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Natalie and Mark Moran customize the rides as per your choice and time. The rides usually include wonderful trails along the north eastern coastline in St George. Some of the common places visited during the rides are St Catherine beach (next to St Catherine fort), lush grounds from where you get lovely views of Coot's Cove, the upper-land area of Tobacco bay beach and many others.
Photo: Moran Meadows
Some of the popular rides includes 'Scenic Coast Ride' for up to 1.5 hours, 'Sunrise Beach Ride' (at 7:15am between May - October, up to 1.5 hours), 'Tour the Olde Towne of St. Georges and Surrounding Parish' for 2 hours, etc.
They are open Monday through Saturday, and on some holidays.
Address: 9 Cut Road, St. George, Bermuda
Spicelands Riding Center, Bermuda
X Permanently Closed in December 2017
Located in Warwick Bermuda, Spicelands Riding Center offers trail riding, full service boarding facilities, and riding lessons at all levels. The facility is setup in a rural settings and has an easy access to the
Railway Trails that provide scenic trail to the Warwick Long Bay beach. And then it further leads to the south shore beach trail passing through some of the top beaches.
For the trail rides, the riders should be 13 years or above. Also the horses can carry persons weighing up to 225 lbs. The Private Ride is limited to a private group, this ride is an hour and a half long. It's designed for experienced riders or those wanting a private experience. The Group Ride is for an hour. It's a walk paced ride along the trail. Pony Rides are offered for kids under 6 years. Protective headgear is provided; hard-soled shoes or sneakers are recommended.
Spicelands also offers Riding Lessons Program which runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm, six days a week. The program comprises of stable management and riding. You can learn a lot about the horses, its care, health, nutrition and movement. This knowledge helps the rider in understanding how to ride and become a better rider.
Ride Times: 9am, 9:30am, 11am, 2pm and 4pm.
Riders to sign in 30 minutes before ride
Location and Contacts:
Spicelands is located on Middle Road, Warwick. Bus Route # 8, takes about 30 minutes from the dockyard (Kings Wharf). Early rides will require a taxi as the bus will not reach on time.
Lee Bow Riding Center
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Located in Devonshire Parish, this center caters to juniors up to the age of 18. They offer riding instructions by qualified instructors throughout the day. The center has an outdoor arena. Riding lessons are available by reservation and there are hourly rates.
Location and Contacts:
Tribe Road #1, Devonshire, Bermuda. Phone: 441-236-4181.
Bermuda National Equestrian Center
It's located in Devonshire parish. There are many equestrian events that are held in this center. Check out
National Equestrian Center to know all about it.
Regulations for Horseback Riding
There are stringent regulations imposed by Bermuda Department of Parks for accessing various public areas by horses. During the summertime when it's the high tourist season, these regulations are usually more strictly followed. Check out
Beach Regulations for Horses to know about the current restrictions.
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
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Visitors' Reviews and Stories
Theresa Perreault (February 2023)
I am going to cruise to Bermuda in July. I will be docking in Kings Wharf Dockyard and was wondering if there was any horseback riding excursions near by. Thank you
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) February 2023
Unfortunately, there is no horseback riding center near the Royal Naval Dockyard cruise port. The closest one is Mike Watson's Performance & Trail Horses located in Warwick Parish on Middle Road (near Belmont Golf Club). You can take bus #8 from the dockyard (the bus stop is near the Clocktower Mall)... will take about 35 minutes to get there. They offer both private and group trail rides, the times are flexible. You can write to them for more information and booking a ride. Email: [email protected].
Linda (August 2011)
Horseback riding has always been something I love to do, however my husband prefers not to. However, he reluctantly agreed to go on a ride in Bermuda. A taxi driver set us up with Mike's Unique Horse Services and the driver advised this would be a different and fun experience. Well, he was right!
From the minute we first meet Mike, he was fabulous! He was eager to share his knowledge and experience of horseback riding with us, he taught us valuable tips on handling the horse which we both enjoyed. We had a fantastic ride through the streets of Bermuda, through nature trails and the beach views were awesome as well. We experienced a true horse back ride, where we directed the horse using the tips Mike taught us. This is not a nose to tail trail ride in any aspect, which is why it was such a special time. Both my husband and I agreed this was the highlight of our time on Bermuda.
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