Mangaluru: Visitors to the beaches of Sasihithlu and Idya may soon have a new way to experience the coastline, with horseback rides taking them along the sand and shoreline as Mangaluru looks to broaden its coastal tourism offerings.

The Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy, founded by Avinand Achanahally, has launched a beach horse-riding experience that it describes as Karnataka’s first beach horse safari.

The experience is designed for both first-time riders and those familiar with horses. Visitors can choose guided rides along the Sasihithlu or Idya coastline, including beach and shoreline trails, as well as sunrise and sunset rides and opportunities for photography.

The beach ride lasts around an hour. No prior riding experience is required, with visitors given 15 to 30 minutes of basic instruction before setting out. The training covers how to lead and handle the horse, along with safety precautions.

Handlers accompany riders throughout the experience. According to Avinand, one horse and handler lead the group while another handler follows the rider, providing assistance throughout the ride.

He said the horses have undergone training and that necessary safety arrangements have been put in place.

“The response from tourists, particularly those from outside the district, has been encouraging,” Avinand said.

The academy currently has 20 horses, including 14 based in Mangaluru and six in Sakleshpur. It also conducts horseback safaris through coffee plantations and natural landscapes in Sakleshpur.

Avinand said the academy hopes horse riding can develop into a major attraction along the Mangaluru coast, similar to the way surfing and kayaking have gained popularity in recent years.

“Water sports like surfing and kayaking have picked up in a big way in Mangaluru. We want horse riding also to emerge as a major tourist attraction,” he said.

The academy is also exploring collaborations with surfing schools to offer visitors combined coastal experiences. It has already partnered with Surf’s Up in Mulki, allowing tourists to combine surfing lessons with horse riding.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to introduce equestrian tourism to the Karnataka coast. Similar horse-riding experiences are already offered in parts of Gujarat, Mumbai and Kerala, while horse safaris have become established tourism attractions in destinations such as Dubai, Bali and Morocco.

Avinand said the long-term objective is to establish horse safaris as one of the signature experiences associated with Mangaluru’s coastline.