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By Chloe EmoryKelly Robinson (above) and Jim Kelly (left) are owners ofKelly's Sea Horse Ranch on Amelia Island.

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Kelly's Sea Horse Ranch offers ridingtours on Amelia IslandBy Chloe Emory & Jake Stofan Mon, Jan 4, 2016 @ 7:32 am | updated Mon, Jan 4 , 2016 @ 9:19 am

Provided by Kelly RobinsonJim Kelly leads writers Chloe Emory and Jake Stofan on a horseback tour of the beach on Amelia Island.

The horses wait patiently in line

as their riders for the day begin

to mount. The first few steps

build the excitement as the

horses trot to the awaiting trail.

The ranch melts away as thehorses glide through the forest’s

trees, and thus begins the

serenity of your ride.

The horses make their way by memory through

the pre-cut trail, across a gentle stream, up hills

and around the bends. The wind barely blows

through the trees and the sounds of critters

harmonize with the gentle sway of the horse’s

 

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back. At last, the horses ascend a sandy hill

and the cool breeze of the beach wind and the

sound of the waves crashing breaks through

the stillness.

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The horses at Kelly’s Sea Horse Ranch are just

as beautiful as the ride itself. The ranch is a

small family-run establishment on Amelia Island

that offers one-hour tours.

The ranch has been run by lifelong cowboy Jim

Kelly and his wife, Kelly Robinson, since 1999.

They have a contract with the state to operate

on Amelia Island State Park lands.

Kelly and Robinson have dedicated their lives

to the 24-hour requirements of caring for their

20 horses and leading as many as 5,000 tours

annually.

“It’s a lifestyle,” Robinson said. “You have to

love the work.”

The ranch has an excellent track record: In its

16-year existence not a single patron has been

bucked off a horse, Robinson said.

While the three-person crew works year round,

they rotate their horses daily, taking no more

than 10 horses on each tour. That way, for

every day a horse works, it has a day of rest

and relaxation.

Kelly and Robinson train each horse personally,

leading it through the long process of“desensitizing,” which teaches the horse to be

comfortable in high-stimulus environments.

Patrons are given a quick one-on-one lesson on

how to mount and control their horses. With the

extensive training the horses are given, it’s

easier than one might expect.

Kelly and Robinson then mount up themselves

after everyone is settled on their horses and the

tour begins.

The trail is a combination of peaceful andmemorable. From woods to ocean, you’re lost

in the stillness of the environment surrounding

you.

The cool wind and calming sounds from the

ocean create a nostalgic feeling while your

horse trots gently across the sand.

“When you’re out on the beach,” Kelly said,

“you can’t help but be in the moment.”

The beach in that area is generally devoid of

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3 rehabbed sea turtlesreturn to ocean o"   Jekyll

Island

$50 off 5-Day Summer Camp with th

DISCOUNT:

29%VALUE:

$125   View De

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