Horse Tour Training a Success

NBPA hosted the first of its kind collaborative training, bringing tour companies, local experts, and officials together to share knowledge and strengthen communication.

NBPA recently hosted the first training of its kind for local wild horse tour company guides.

The goal was to provide a forum to educate guides on topics beyond the horses, while also creating an opportunity to address questions, share concerns, and foster stronger relationships among the organizations involved. Ultimately, this was a first step toward encouraging more accurate information-sharing and greater collaboration.

With a total of 40 participants, including speakers, the event brought together a great cross-section of organizations and perspectives and sparked a lot of thoughtful discussion. Twenty-nine tour guides attended, representing Back Country Safari Tours, Wild Horse Adventure Tours, Corolla Outback Adventure Tours, Corolla Jeep Adventures, and Coastal Explorations.

The agenda was packed with plenty of interaction and questions throughout the sessions.

Topics and speakers included:

N.E.S.T. – Tony Parisi, N.E.S.T. President and Lisa Hurley, N.E.S.T. 4x4 team leader, delivered an extremely informative presentation on sea turtles. They discussed the unique challenges presented in the 4x4 area and shared visuals of nests and live hatchlings.

Currituck County – Michelle Rogers, reviewed the Tour Operator Ordinance, which included handouts on truck identification, and engaged in a question and answer session.

Coastal Ecosystem – Hadley Twiddy, a past board member of the Coastal Studies Institute, shared an engaging presentation on the unique ecosystem of the 4x4 beach. With enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the area, she walked attendees through the history and importance of the beach stumps, shifting inlets, Currituck Sound, and the protective dune system.

Currituck County Sheriff’s Office – Captain Neel Smith and Sgt. Mike Corbell led a highly interactive session on laws and ordinances specific to the 4x4 area. This included extensive discussion about driving rules, parking, traffic patterns, and enforcement coverage.

The training was scheduled for three hours but extended to almost 5, thanks to the many thoughtful questions and conversations. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as:

"To get all those groups represented and there at the same time was kinda amazing"

"Well run. Well done. Respect the locals. Respect the land"

“...THANK YOU for taking time and making the effort to create and host last week's horse tour company training. It meant a lot and covered a lot of great information.”

"I had fun and learned plenty. Thank you!"

"Thanks NBPA so much for organizing such an informative event."

"Thanks for the invite. I enjoyed being there"

NBPA believes this training is an important step toward building stronger partnerships within the 4x4 community. Like contractors, delivery trucks, and private vehicles, tour trucks are legally allowed to drive on the beach and behind the dunes. The guides expressed a sincere desire to do right by the community. By bringing together the guides, local experts, and public safety officials, the session helped create a shared understanding of the unique environment, regulations, and responsibilities that come with operating in this special area. NBPA hopes to continue supporting opportunities like this in the future, helping ensure that accurate information, respect for the environment, and collaboration remain at the center of the 4x4 experience for both visitors and residents.

Let’s all do our part to be patient, respectful, and kind—especially during the summer months, when the beach is shared with hundreds of thousands of visitors between June and September.