Horse Lover’s Valentine’s Day Chocolate Gifts That Wow

February 14th is Valentine’s Day. In some countries, people might send flowers to their partners or express gratitude from men to women in various ways. In Japan, women traditionally give chocolates, but are your gift chocolates already decided? In this article, we introduce charming ‘horse-themed’ chocolates that are perfect not only as genuine gifts for … Read more

Improve Your Riding Skills with Simple Stretches for Your Body and Flexibility

Enhancing your riding skills can involve various strategies, such as accumulating riding experience by practicing with different saddles, improving your balance, and increasing your flexibility. Among these, flexibility is often said to be higher in children than in adults, which contributes to faster progress in horse riding. As we age, flexibility gradually diminishes. This decline … Read more

Overcoming Riding Slumps: Tips for Different Riders

As you continue riding lessons, you’ll gradually start tackling more challenging skills. But sometimes, repeated failures or lack of progress can dampen your motivation… So, how do riders break out of slumps? Here are some effective strategies! Watch Expert Videos and Lessons In any discipline, ‘learning by watching’ is incredibly important. When you struggle to … Read more

Overcome Horse Riding Fear of Falling Safely and Confidently

Have you ever felt that «being afraid of falling off» is unsettling during horse riding, especially as your skills progress from leading and walking to trotting, cantering, and jumping? This article explains key points to help you conquer that fear. Let’s consider the causes of falling from a few perspectives: environment, horse temperament, and rider’s … Read more

Do Beginners Really Need Spurs? Essential Guide for Horse Riding Novices

As you progress in learning horseback riding, you’ll purchase various riding equipment suitable for your skill level, including spurs. However, honestly, you can control the horse’s leg aids without spurs. Moreover, because spurs are tools that can accelerate the horse’s movement and are somewhat advanced for beginners, some may hesitate to use them. After riding … Read more

Comprehensive Guide to Horse Riding Licenses and Rider Qualifications in Japan

Certifying Organizations for Horse Riding Licenses Japan Equestrian Federation The Japan Equestrian Federation offers the Riding Skills Certification Test, which verifies a rider’s technical ability. There are generally Grades 1 to 5. While British riding is dominant in Japan, the Federation also offers Western riding skill certifications, which is a unique feature. National Horse Riding … Read more