For horse enthusiasts, enjoying videos on television or online is great, but many probably prefer to see and interact with horses in person. For those overflowing with love for horses, farm visits are highly recommended.
Stepping into a farm where many horses live allows you to see these majestic animals in ways you’ve never experienced before, revealing new aspects of their charm. You will also witness the dedicated work of caretakers and breeders, which might inspire you to support the horses even more.
In this article, we’ll explain what farm tours entail, what activities take place at farms, and important precautions to keep in mind during your visit.
Don’t Misunderstand! Farms Are Not Tourist Attractions
Many people associate farms with tourist spots where they can interact with sheep, cows, and small animals, or feed them. However, the farm tours described here are different from typical tourist farms.
The farms introduced here are specifically “breeding and育成 farms” for horses. At breeding farms, you can observe the daily routines and seasonal changes that are not apparent unless you visit in person.
The busy seasons are during the breeding (February to July) and foaling (January to June) periods. Visitors should be aware that staff and horses tend to be tense during these times, and tours should be conducted quietly without causing disruption.
Additionally, unlike tourist farms, farm visits are not available all year round. During sensitive breeding and foaling seasons, visits might be restricted depending on the horses’ condition. Visiting hours are scheduled, and it’s not possible to walk freely around the farm.
What Do Farms Do?
There are two main types of farms associated with horses: breedings and育成 farms. These have different activities and accommodate horses of different ages. Here, we explain the characteristics of each.
Breeding Farms
Breeding farms primarily focus on the production and育成 of Thoroughbreds. Horses at these farms include stallions and mares for breeding, as well as foals born on the farm up to one year old.
Breeding seasons run from February to July, and this is the busiest time of the year. During this period, staff and stallions are especially tense. Occasionally, breeding mares not owned by the farm are entrusted to the farm for breeding purposes.
The foaling season from January to June involves close observation of mares, health management, and exercise to ensure smooth delivery. After birth, the farm continues to monitor the foals, manage their health, and carry out training such as leading and handling.
By fall, when foals turn one year old, they are often auctioned off at high prices, which marks one of the farm’s key roles.
育成 Farms
育成 farms primarily train young horses to become racehorses. The horses here are typically one year old and have never been ridden or started training. The farm’s role is to train and raise these young horses from scratch so they can succeed in racing.
During summer and fall, nutrition management is combined with grazing and exercise to build strength. From autumn, riding training begins, including getting the horses accustomed to saddles and bridles, followed by sprint training and gate exercises, leading to their race debut. Once ready, they graduate from育成 farms.
The 9 Essential Rules for Farm Tour Visitors
There are nine fundamental rules for those wishing to visit farms, outlined here. These are documented on the “Racehorse Homeland Guidance Center” website, and anyone planning a farm tour should read them carefully. Make sure to review these rules before your visit.
1. Check with the “Racehorse Homeland Guidance Center” about visit possibilities
There are specific seasons when visits are allowed or restricted. During the breeding and foaling seasons, horses are especially sensitive. If staff judge that a visit might cause stress, it may be disallowed. Contacting the farm directly is an option, but during busy periods, staff are often overwhelmed, so it’s better to avoid making unwarranted requests.
2. Confirm visiting hours with the “Racehorse Homeland Guidance Center”
Farm schedules are fixed, and visits are generally conducted within set hours. During busy times, the schedule is not adjusted to accommodate visitors. If grazing tours in the middle of the day are common, training sessions may start early in the morning around 5-6 AM, requiring visitors to arrive early.
3. Follow the instructions of farm staff
Visitors must adhere to farm rules. Each farm has its own rules regarding where to go, routes, and how close you can get to the horses. Always respect these guidelines.
4. Do not enter barns or paddocks without permission
In most cases, visits to barns and paddocks are allowed, but entering them without staff permission is prohibited. This could interfere with work and disturb the horses, or cause injury if a horse reacts badly. Such incidents could jeopardize a horse’s career or life.
5. Keep noise levels low
Horses are sensitive animals. Loud sounds and shouting can cause panic and provoke dangerous behavior. A frightened horse might run around or become aggressive, risking injury.
6. Do not touch the horses
When you see cute horses, you might feel tempted to touch them. However, horses are trained not to trust human touch unless introduced carefully. If they dislike being touched, they may bite, which can be dangerous.
7. No smoking on the farm
Smoking is prohibited as farms are highly flammable and have many combustible materials. Despite the national trend of designated smoking areas, some individuals ignore this and smoke outdoors, which is dangerous and should be avoided.
Flashes can be startling and distressing to animals, including horses. Always ensure that camera flashes are turned off during photos.
9. Do not feed the horses
Farm horses are strictly managed in terms of diet. Even if you think feeding might make friends with them or make them happy, do not feed them to avoid health issues.
Additional Notes
This concludes the comprehensive overview of rules and points to consider when visiting a horse farm. Beyond the rules outlined above, there are other things you should be mindful of.
Farm days start early in the morning and continue until late at night. Staff work tirelessly, and their only break is lunch, which they use to rest briefly before returning to work.
Some people mistakenly think that they can call during the lunch break assuming staff are available, but this is highly disruptive and should be avoided.
It’s important to remember that farm staff’s primary role is caring for the horses, not assisting visitors. Never think that guiding tours or responding to visitors is their responsibility. Always remember that visiting is a privilege extended by the farm, and you are there thanks to their kindness.
Summary
What do you think?
Being able to see horses that might become racehorses someday is exciting, and it’s understandable that visitors want to experience this firsthand. The farm staff also appreciates horse enthusiasts’ interest.
However, when visiting farms, it is crucial to follow the rules. Your reckless actions could inconvenience the staff, cause cancellations of future tours, or even harm the horses’ development. It’s important to be well-informed about how to behave during your visit.