Horses on Balnarring Beach
Balnarring Beach is one of a very few beaches in Victoria where horses may be exercised for recreation, rehabilitation and training.
Horse Permits allow nominated riders to use the reserve under strict conditions. There are one hundred permits issued each financial year. This includes an allocation for families, local recreational riders and commercial permit holders. Casual permits for one off trips to the beach are not available.
Riders must hold a current Horse Permit (or be a nominated rider), wear a numbered Horse Permit Vest and abide by the current Horse Permit Conditions (see below). The Horse Permit Conditions are designed to protect the natural environment (including beach nesting birds and the dune vegetation) as well as other people using the beach for recreation.
There are penalties for riders using the beach without a current Horse Permit and Vest including being unable to apply for a permit in the future.
Horse Permit Conditions
The Balnarring Beach Foreshore and Parks Reserve Committee of Management set the 2023-24 Horse Permit Conditions. The Horse Permit Conditions outline the rules which permit holders and riders must follow when riding on Balnarring Beach.
They are designed to protect the natural environment (including beach nesting birds and the dune vegetation) as well as other people using the beach for recreation. There are also restrictions on which areas of the beach may be used by riders and these are outlined in the Horse Permit Area Map.
Compliance monitoring
Rangers undertake regular patrols to ensure that the Horse Permit Conditions are being complied with by riders. Members of the public may report infractions by sending an email to balnarringforeshore@bigpond.com. Reports should include the date, time, permit number and description of the event as well as any photo or videos of the event.
Riders and Permit Holders who breach the Horse Permit Conditions receive written warnings and then may lose their ability to ride or hold a permit for repeated breaches of the conditions. There is a handy guide for riders to assist with compliance at 2023-24 Guidance for riders (pdf).
Applying for a Horse Permit
Unfortunately, all the permits have been issued for the 2023/24 financial year. We will be inviting applications for the 2024/25 financial year from the 10th to the 24th May 2024.
If you wish to ride on the beach this year you will need to be listed as a nominated rider on one of the 2023-24 Horse Permits and wear the new 2023-24 Horse Permit Vest while on the beach. Riders not listed as a nominated rider or not wearing the appropriate vest risk losing the right to apply for a permit in the future.
Application forms can be downloaded by following the links for 2023-24 Horse Permit Application (.doc) or 2023-24 Horse Permit Application (.pdf).
If you wish to join the waitlist for a permit next financial year please email balnarringforeshore@bigpond.com with ‘Horse Permit Waitlist’ in the subject. We will send you an email with an application form on or around the 10th May 2024.
