Equine Industry in Japan

Highlights from a seminar presented on August 21 To Faculty and students of Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette Indiana

After the end of world war II, there were over I million head were being raised. Now there only around 130,000 horses are being raised. There are about 72,000 race horses. The rest include horses used in the farms, draught horses, riding horses, native Japanese horses and those raised for meat. Horse meat is relished in Japan.

Draught horses are also used in special horse racing occasions . In the race, the horse pulls a 500 to 1, 000 kg load over a 100 meter distance.

Draft horse racing in Japan.

In Japan, Horse breeder has association. The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association or JBBA. The building shown in the picture is a stallion station, in Hidaka area, managed in JBBA. There six such facilities throughout Japan.

High stake horses are raced in race tracts that draw more than 120,000 spectators.

In farming villages, there festivals that show appreciation for horses. Horses are dressed for such festivals. Many people gather to see the festival proceed to the shrine. At the shrine, the farmer reports to the Gods that they have safely finished their farming work and express their appreciation for having the horses.

Horse dressed for a religious festival

In the shrine the farmer offers his appreciation to the Gods for having the horse.

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