Quick tips and fascinating facts to help you ride smarter and understand horses better.
When thinking of traditional Japanese horseback riding styles, the image of shooting targets with a bow while riding a horse — known as ‘Yabusame’ — likely comes to mind first. However, Japanese-style horsemanship encompasses many other techniques as well. In this article, we introduce various aspects of Japanese-style horsemanship, including gear, typical riding styles, and … Read more
Have you ever been amazed by the excellent hearing or wide visual field of horses? Hearing and vision are among the five senses, or sensory functions, that animals possess. It is said that all animals develop certain functions to adapt to their living environments. Therefore, humans also have these five senses, but the degree of … Read more
Many people might think that horse breeds are limited to Thoroughbreds and Ponies, but in fact, there are over 200 different breeds worldwide. In this article, we’ll introduce some of the most famous horse breeds from around the globe. Main Horse Breeds Throughout history, horses have been selectively bred and categorized into various breeds based … Read more
Among those who enjoy horseback riding, some may have thought about turning their passion into a profession. In Japan, careers involving horseback riding include riding instructors at equestrian clubs and jockeys in horse racing, but the mounted police unit also offers a profession that leverages horseback riding skills. When hearing about mounted police units in … Read more
When looking at a horse’s profile, you might notice unfamiliar terms like bay or chestnut. Since these terms are followed by ‘coat,’ it’s easy to guess they refer to the horse’s hair or fur. However, many such terms like ‘roan’ or ‘grey’ don’t immediately evoke an image of what the horse looks like. In reality, … Read more
History of Baji Park Do you know about Baji Park in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo? When you think of Baji Park, what comes to mind? A large sports stadium? Or perhaps the Olympic venue where events were held? Baji Park is a hub for the promotion of horse riding operated by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). … Read more
Have you ever wondered about the average lifespan of horses? While racehorses are often introduced as three- or four-year-olds, does that mean they are still young, lively youth, or fully mature adults? The favorite horse that carries you on its back—is it an older or a younger horse compared to you? Understanding this can make … Read more
Some people may find it hard to imagine horses sleeping… Compared to humans, horses are said to sleep for shorter periods. In this article, we explore horse sleep, including how long they sleep, whether they dream, and if they sleep standing up. We’ll also answer common questions about horse rest and sleeping habits. When Do … Read more
Many animals with hooves, like cows and pigs, share a similar trait with horses. While they are classified into ‘even-toed’ and ‘odd-toed’ groups based on the number of hooves, what are the structural differences between these two categories? In this article, we focus on hoofed animals and explain the distinctions between ‘even-toed’ and ‘odd-toed’ ungulates. … Read more
