SEA HORSES

As slick as a dolphin, she glided through the water. Her feet never touched sand. As she swam, I clung tightly to her mane and floated gently above her back on a cushion of seawater.

Mowana was her name. She was a sturdy little chestnut with a white, diamond-shaped blaze on her forehead and “feathered” feet that resembled mismatched shaggy socks. Like the group of horses that swam ahead of us, she belonged to a rare breed — Gypsy Drum Vanner, named for their service in the Queen of England’s Band of Life Guards. Her ancestors (and present-day English relatives) high-stepped through cheering crowds during the Queen’s processions, carrying two heavy silver drums and an outfitted rider. Her job now entailed carrying tourists through the Gulf waters on wonderfully joyous adventures.

I booked the tour through C Ponies Horseback Adventures, a company founded by Carmen Herrmann Hanson. Hanson rescued almost all of the horses from abusive situations and nurtured them into trusting humans again. The sea itself provided part of their therapy, healing body and spirit.

When we arrived at the meeting site on Palma Sola Bay — a beach on the causeway between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, Florida — two young women, Nikki and Ambra, greeted us and readied us for the ride. They matched each of us greenhorns with a specific horse based on our riding experience and physical size. Ambra paired me with Mowana, a small but feisty lady, and placed us at the rear of the line to keep the horse (or maybe me) from taunting the others.

Nikki helped each of us mount up on the beach, adjusted our stirrups, and led the horses into the water. Ambra, astride her horse Callisi, gave us a quick lesson on sea riding. When she was confident that we understood, she led us further out into the bay. Walking nose to tail, our Drum horses followed single file behind Ambra and Callisi. Throughout our ride, Ambra referred to us by our horses’ names — Mowana, Stella, Little Dreama, Ulla. Though we riders sometimes failed to heed Ambra’s call, the horses promptly obeyed. 

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Mowana trotted slowly, leisurely enjoying the warm seawater. We fell further and further behind the others. Enchanted by the sensation of gracefully riding through the water, I was caught off guard and almost fell when Mowana suddenly took off at gallop to catch up. My day dreamer repeated this pattern several times, but I became wise to her ways.

Well out in the bay, Ambra gave us additional instructions before we headed into deeper waters. “Let go of the reins and grab your horse’s mane. Bend over the neck and hang on tight.”

Submerged in the water to my chest, I floated just above the saddle. Burying my face in Mowana’s mane, I whispered to her to enjoy her swim. And she did. We cruised smoothly through the water, so smoothly I never felt the movement of her legs as she swam. My seahorse clearly loved the water and the sheer joy of flowing through the liquid medium.

Too soon, we reached shallower water, and she began to walk again. Before I sat up, I gave her a kiss and patted her neck. “What a good girl you are.” She flicked her ears and nodded in agreement.

At end of ride, we waited in the water until called one by one to dismount on the beach. At first, Mowana patiently waited her turn. When Stella took too long, though, Mowana was ready to trot in and show her how it’s done. Seeing Ambra’s raised hand, I pulled back on the reins — the only time I had to exercise any control over my beautiful little steed.

When our turn finally arrived, Mowana strolled up and stood quietly while I dismounted.

She nuzzled me when I stroked her neck and thanked her.

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C Ponies Horseback Adventures offers the Bradenton Platinum Excursion, the ride I took, which lasted one-and-a-half hours at a cost $150 per person. They also offer a Sunset Excursion for $175.

Contact them at https://cponies.com/ or 941-773-5196.