Horse surfing is an extreme sport^[1] invented in 2004. It requires two people, a horse, and a board. Horse surfing involves one person riding either kite-board, surfboard, wake-board, or skim-board,^[2] while being towed behind a horse, ridden by a second person, through shallow water, at speeds up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h).^[2] After originating in England the first official horse surfing competition was held in 2006 in La Baule, France, and over the last 14 years the sport has continued to spread internationally.^[3] Today there are several competitions with globally established rules and categories.^[4]

Horse surfing, a modification of horse boarding, originated in 2005 in Cornwall, England.^[5] It was the product of innovation when Daniel Fowler-Prime, the creator of horse boarding, was commissioned for a 'beach trick horse riding' photoshoot.^[5] Fowler-Prime forgot to bring a mountain board, his board of choice for horse boarding, to the photoshoot, so he asked local surf shop manager Matt Smith to bring a mountain and wake board to the photoshoot. Smith agreed and horse surfing was first attempted.^[5][3] The popularity of horse surfing has continued to grow ever since.^[3] The first horse surfing competition was held in 2006, one year after the sports invention, in La Baule, France. In 2008 the first horse-surfing and horse-boarding drag race was held and the number of competitions has grown ever since with, as of 2020, competitions having been held in Dubai, Australia, Taiwan and the USA.^[3]

Horse surfing competitions include multiple rides across four different horse surfing disciplines. The competition winner is determined by the total of points accrued over the four events.^[4]

Horse riding is a difficult sport meaning proper equipment is essential to success.^[1] To successfully horse surf there are four key pieces of equipment.

Horse surfing is possible in any river, lake, or ocean that is shallow enough for a horse to gallop through while deep enough to allow a rider to be buoyant enough to surf.^[1][2] As horse riding is not permitted or may require a permit in some areas it is important to check rules and regulations before choosing a location.^[9][10][11] Horse riding on busy beaches is not recommended as people, balls, surf boards, frisbees, dogs, and any other moving objects may spook the horse, resulting in a lack of control and possible injury.^[12]

Horses hooves have the potential to do damage to the beach ecosystem. Riders can minimise this damage by staying away from beach dunes, wildlife sanctuary zones, turtle nesting sites and not riding through flocks of birds or near marine life.^[13][12]

For competition training a 300m straight stretch of water and sand will be necessary. As of the start of 2020, horse-surfing competitions have been recorded as taking place in Taiwan, Australia, Dubai and the USA.^[3]

Horse riding at the beach for the first time is a new experience requiring special training of both the horse and rider.^[12] It is recommended that before horse surfing the horse is well practiced in beach riding, so it does not to become spooked or anxious.^[12][2] To begin training a horse for horse surfing, it is suggested the first beach ride be at low-tide, at a quiet uncrowded beach front.^[12] Each horses confidence with entering the water for the first time will be unique, and it is important for safety of the horse and rider not to force the horse into the water if they have become agitated to a point where the rider does not feel comfortable they have enough control to steer and stop the horse.^[14][12] Having a second rider and horse, who are practiced in beach riding, will help the horse stay calm, and make the training process safer.^[14][12]

Riding on beach sand requires more strength than riding on harder surfaces such as natural trails or race tracks.^[12][14] To reduce the chance of soft-tissue injury or muscle soreness it is best, while the horse is building up their beach fitness, to ride the horse along the firmer sand at the waters edge, take a slower pace, and take rest breaks.^[14][12]

After riding on the beach the horse will need to be properly cleaned to avoid any damage from the exposure to salt water and sand.^[13][12] It is important to rinse the horse all over with clean fresh water to remove any salt that might dry out their skin, and carefully check for any scrapes of cuts.^[13][12] Ocean water can contain infectious microbes so if the horse has been cut or scratched the wounds should be thoroughly cleaned and treated with antibiotics.^[12] Sand can be very damaging to horse hoof tissue if they are unshod, hooves will need to be careful checked and cleaned after beach riding to remove all sand. If the horse wears pads it is recommended a space be cut in the middle of the pad, so that sand does not build up.^[13]

• Dog surfing – involves dogs that are trained to surf on surfboards, bodyboards, skimboards, windsurf boards or to bodysurf