Horses on beaches require limitations, clean-up rules

Who doesn’t like horses, from the famous Clydesdales pulling beer wagons to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who achieved that feat in 2015 for the first time in 37 years. And no doubt many visitors and residents are thrilled at the sight of less famous horses on our beaches.

Less thrilling than the magnificant animals, however, are their droppings. And it’s cleaning up the manure that horse owners must address if they expect the Myrtle Beach City Council to lighten up on enforcement of its animal control ordinance, updated in 2011. The city code does not allow horses on the public beach, although riding is allowed with a special event permit. Prior to the update, horse riding was allowed on city beaches from the third week of November through February.

Following the update, the city did not enforce the winter ban – until Jan. 22 when the city started enforcement after receiving several complaints, from residents and visitors, about horse droppings. City spokesman Mark Kruea put the situation in perspective: “The major complaint is the horse manure ... beach goers are not happy about it. ... [The manure is] an unsightly, smelly mess. It still generates a lot of complaints.”

There are other concerns, the most obvious being safety. Without question, area beaches are much more a destination for tourists all year long. We have many winter days warm enough to enjoy our wonderful beaches if not the ocean water. The annual benefit horse ride for the American Heart Association, held for years in November, attracted more horses and riders in 2015. The clean-up crew was not prepared for the volume of manure.

Horse owners appeared at a city council meeting, seeking reconsideration of the ban on horses. The equestrians pointed out that horseback riding itself is a growing tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors a year. One of their points, made by Richard “Buster” Ray, was that “Nobody knew the law was on the books.” That may be largely correct – who pays attention until changes affect them? – but not being aware of the changes does not invalidate them. The council invited horse owners to return with specific proposals on clean-up and safety issues. Clean-up should be required for permitted special events.

Council members also heard about the less toxic nature of horse manure, compared to dog waste. One suggestion was for horse riding to be within five feet of the tide line, so manure will wash out with the tide. We make no claim to expertise on the quality of horse manure; however, leaving it for the outgoing tide hardly seems environmentally sound. The Atlantic, like other oceans, already has too much waste from other sources without adding more.

The Internet has many sites on horse manure and its disposal. Composting it is “the best way to deal with it, so it changes over time into a natural fertilizer,” Jane Meggitt, Demand Media, writes. Note changes over time are needed to make it natural.

The city of North Myrtle Beach does not allow horses (or other animals that can be ridden) on public beaches and that is set in an ordinance approved Dec. 15, 1981. Horry County also prohibits horses and the like and does allow exceptions with consent of council required for each occurrence. That ought to work for Myrtle Beach, without reverting to unrestricted winter riding.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 8:20 AM with the headline "Horses on beaches require limitations, clean-up rules."