Race of the Past, Hope for the Future: Can Marsh Tackies Return to Hilton Head’s Beaches?
Marsh tackies once thundered down Hilton Head’s beaches. Could the legacy ride again?
Story by Alea Wilkins + Photos by Arno Dimmling
To Michael Cohen Jr., a Native Islander and sixth-generation marsh tacky owner, there’s no competition for the Lowcountry’s most prized horse. “Marsh tackies have that name: the best horse. It’s plain and simple,” he says.
The small, sturdy horse breed was introduced to South Carolina’s Sea Islands by Spanish explorers as early as the 16th century. Over time, these horses became integral to the daily lives of island residents, particularly the Gullah community, who utilized them for farming, transportation and hunting, due to their adaptability to the Lowcountry’s challenging terrain.
Each winter, Gullah people would celebrate the year’s harvest with a marsh tacky beach race. The winner of the race won no prize other than a year’s worth of bragging rights for owning the fastest tacky on the island.
As the breed’s population declined, so too did the races. The 2009 revival of the beach races on Hilton Head Island sparked hope to preserve the event but lasted only until 2014. The races’ future relies on translating the tradition into the modern Lowcountry.
Cohen remembers what set marsh tacky races apart from other derbies. “We didn’t use saddles. Everybody rode bareback,” he says.
Because of the marsh tacky’s mule-like features — short, muscular legs and broad hips useful for plowing — it could power through the uneven terrain. Having adapted to centuries of freely roaming the islands, the marsh tackies’ toughness helped them survive.
“He can go from 6 o’clock in the morning to 6 o’clock at night, and if you give him three ears of corn, he’s ready to go the next day,” Cohen says. While development on Hilton Head Island decreased the breed’s population, the races showcased its unique strength. “They didn’t have the legs that Secretariat would have, but marsh tackies had the heart,” Cohen says.
Once a cherished winter tradition, racing marsh tacky horses on the beach marked the end of the harvest season, with winners earning nothing more than bragging rights. The tradition was revived in 2009 with annual beach races held at Coligny Beach for four years. In 2013 the event moved to Daufuskie Island, but the races have not been held since.
In 2009 the Coastal Discovery Museum reintroduced the beach races to Hilton Head in collaboration with the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association (CMTA) and the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association (NIBCAA) to fan fervor. When the marsh tacky was declared South Carolina’s official state heritage horse in 2010, Southern spirit soared.
While the revival overjoyed locals, its modern execution wasn’t as simple as its beginnings. Operations and safety issues worried the organizers, and Natalie Harvey, a former vice president of programs at the Coastal Discovery Museum, explains the beach’s open access was a primary concern. “There was no easy way to keep the ‘race track’ blockaded from the spectators,” she says. If a horse were to veer off course, its collision with spectators could be extremely dangerous. Local government rulings forced the races to move to Daufuskie Island in 2013, but ongoing problems cancelled the event the following year. “Logistics planning and facilitation became challenging, and insurance coverage became a factor as well,” says Colin Drew, president of the CMTA.
Beyond logistics, there were also contentious debates over the official documentation horses needed to compete.
According to Erica Veit, founder and executive director of the Daufuskie Marsh Tacky Society (DMTS), there are an estimated 450 registered marsh tackies alive today. Preserving the breed is the first step to resurrecting the races. The DMTS offers beach rides to educate and inspire the public about marsh tackies, but they have greater ambitions.
“As the head coordinator for the 2013 beach races on Daufuskie, we are working on bringing the event back,” Veit says. She is confident that the support of the community will be key to a new race’s success. The CMTA echoed this sentiment, and in addition to its yearly lineup of marsh tacky activities, it hopes to reintroduce the most popular.
“The beach races were a very cool and signature event for this breed and for the Lowcountry itself,” Drew says, “In order for them to come back, we would have to have participation and cooperation from local governments and organizations to get it all facilitated.”
Cohen remembers the fun on the beach, especially the bragging rights won for the entire year (“And my granddaddy always had the fastest horse,” he laughs.). As a Gullah tradition, Cohen wishes it could be restored to its origins. “It’s a big thing for us when we can run on the beach. That’s something that we would love to bring back,” he says.
Ride on sand
Ever dreamed of having a beach day with your horse? From Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, you can do just that at Hunting Island State Park. Saddle up for a dreamy low-tide trot along the shoreline. It’s like a spa day for your soul and a workout for your horse’s glutes. Just swing by the Visitor Center for a permit, and make sure you’ve got a current negative Coggins test (even horses need their paperwork). Trails are off-limits, so stay on the sand, and let the salty breeze ruffle your horse’s mane.
