Horses are required to be ridden below the high tide mark between the times of mid and low tide at Orewa Beach, according to Auckland Council.

Dog owners may be the usual suspects for leaving their pet's droppings on the beach, but they're not always the mane offenders.

Horses with the trots and their irresponsible owners have also been guilty of leaving the beach in a mess.

A Hatfields resident - who chose to remain anonymous - walks Orewa Beach every day, and has, on several occasions, witnessed horse droppings left on the beach.

SUPPLIED An Orewa Beach walker photographed a toddler investigating horse manure. Note: the toddler was stopped before he could touch the manure.

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On one occasion, she watched a rider dismount after their horse defecated, and expecting to see the manure cleaned up, she was shocked to instead see the rider kick sand over the droppings and continue riding.

On another occasion, she saw a lady scooping manure up with a spade and bucket.

SUPPLIED Horse manure photographed on Orewa Beach.

She approached the rider to compliment her actions, but things quickly turned sour.

The rider dumped the manure into the water, and became "aggressive and intimidating".

"She then followed me down the beach, yelling at me. I was really upset by whole thing. My heart was racing and I just felt awful," she said.

Under the Auckland Council Animal Management Bylaw 2015, horseriders "must remove or safely dispose of any horse manure that is deposited in a public place".

Auckland Council manager bylaws and compliance Max Wilde said "in cases where people are in breach of the bylaw, the council undertakes a graduated enforcement process in the first instance, where the focus is on using advice and education to achieve voluntary compliance".

"If anyone has concerns about horses on beaches, they should call the council on 09 301 0101."

A Rodney Times poll on Neighbourly revealed the majority of respondents think horses should be allowed on Rodney and Hibiscus Coast beaches.

Five per cent believe horses should be banned, while 61.5 per cent say they should only be allowed if owners tidy up after them.

A third of respondents say horses should be on the beach regardless.

Horse rider Alison Hewat from North Rodney said irresponsible owners should be fined instantly, but it is impossible to police.

"As with dogs, it is the uncaring minority that ruin things for the responsible horse riders that pick up droppings," she said.

"Apparently there is a law against people throwing litter from cars yet how often do we hear of any consequence?"