Whether it’s a ride along the wide sandy beach of St. Peter-Ording or through the peaceful woodlands of the Katinger Watt—the Eiderstedt Peninsula on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein is a paradise for riders and horse lovers. No wonder, then, that we Eiderstedt locals are so “crazy about horses” and that one of our most popular local sports is an equestrian sport: ring riding!
Riding along the wide sandy beach of St. Peter-Ording is a special experience for both riders and horses, as here you can ride through the unique natural landscape of the Wadden Sea. Whether you’re an advanced rider or a beginner, a child or an adult, you’re in good hands at the riding stables and equestrian centers in SPO. From riding lessons to beach rides and pony rides, there’s a wide variety of options for horse lovers.
Ah, riding a horse along the beach—that's pure freedom! Would you like to ride on the beach at SPO, too? Then you'll need a horse permit.
The horse pass is available as a day pass, weekly pass, or annual pass.
Horseback riding on the beach is permitted year-round on the Südstrand and the Böhl section of the beach.
You can get a horse pass here:
NEW: Starting in March, the horse pass will also be available as a digital pass. We’re phasing out our old riding pass. You can then take the new horse pass with you as a printed card, or we can email you the digital pass—so you’ll always have your pass with you on your smartphone.
On the beach, both riders and horses will be checked for guest passes and horse passes. Therefore, always carry your passes with you—whether in printed or digital form.
To ride a horse on the beach at St. Peter-Ording, you must purchase a horse permit. You can buy this permit year-round at the ticket machines at the Böhl beach crossing and at the tourist information offices in St. Peter-Ording. You can also pay for the horse permit online through the tourism office’s camera-based parking system.
The area between the two local districts "Dorf" and "Böhl" in St. Peter-Ording is officially designated as a riding area and begins behind the dike. Please use the marked riding trails to the beach, stay within the riding area, and keep a distance of at least 50 meters from the foreshore edge in the mudflats. You can find a map in the PDF.
The riding area in St. Peter-Ording extends all the way to the high-tide line of the North Sea, allowing you to explore the sandbanks and the Wadden Sea on horseback. It’s important to check the tide schedule in advance! If there’s fog, please stay within sight of the dike and do not ride out onto the sandbank.
The beach at St. Peter-Ording is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and Wadden Sea National Park and is therefore subject to strict rules regarding the natural environment. Please follow a few essential rules to help protect the natural landscape for the long term and ensure that this nature experience on horseback can continue in St. Peter-Ording:
There is a loading station at the Böhl Beach parking lot where you can start your horseback ride (on the lake side of the bus stop by the row of posts during the summer season, and inside the dike in the parking lot in front of Böhl Beach during the winter season).
You can find all the important information about horseback riding in St. Peter-Ording in the “Horseback Riding on the Beach” flyer.
Local riding stables in St. Peter-Ording regularly offer guided horseback riding tours on the beach. You can find the dates in the events calendar for St. Peter-Ording and Eiderstedt.
In the Katinger Watt, a wonderful natural area near the "Eidersperrwerk" (flood barrier) and the town of Tönning, an official horseback riding trail awaits you, where you can explore the vast expanse of forests and meadows on horseback. The Schleswig-Holstein Riding and Driving Trails Association can provide you with tour recommendations.
Along with "Boßeln" (bosseling), ring riding is the most popular folk sport on the Eiderstedt Peninsula. It requires skill, speed, and good teamwork between horse and rider. It’s an exciting spectacle not only for the riders themselves but also for visitors.
Want to cheer on the competitors live and see who wins the ring riding competition? Check our event calendar for all the dates.
