RIDING CLUBS IN　JAPAN

By Rachel Moroto an experienced rider and trainer from the United Kingdom.

For those interested in horse riding, you wouldn’t think it, but there are many riding clubs scattered around Japan. Most clubs concentrate on the Classic Position (English saddle), practicing Dressage and Show jumping to World Class level. There is usually no hacking and the lessons are taken place in an arena with other riders taking part. They do tend to like using spurs, neck stretches (elastic string, which attaches from the girth, goes through the bit and over the pole) and other types of training reins. Clubs would be very happy to welcome foreigners and be interested to see your knowledge of riding. 

The level of riding here is lower than countries such as the UK, America, Australia etc. This is because it hasn’t become very popular yet and there is very little land available in Japan to practice the sport. Most land is used to make rice fields, so land is very expensive and most equine products are imported, which makes the sport costly. To have a lesson, it would usually cost around \7,000-\10,000 for a visitor, but they would expect you to become a member if you want to continue regularly. The price can vary on membership depending on which club you visit and there is usually equipment available to hire.

The horses are usually kept in small stables/stalls and are fed on mostly dry food such as Hay Cubes and other concentrates. Horse food is mostly imported and they say that hay is more expensive to import than dry food. Unfortunately the horses do not get turned out to grass land as there is no land (which made my heart sink), but they do get exercised every day. If you go to somewhere like Hokkaido the horses can have turnout and live a more natural lifestyle. The riding clubs usually have their own farrier and treat their horses for illnesses. They very rarely call a veterinarian out.

Here are some useful phrases 

Japanese	English
nami ashi	walk
hiya ashi	trot
kake ashi	canter
uma	horse
tadsuna	reins
kura	saddle
touraku	bridle

TOKYO AREA

Tokyo Riding Club –

This riding club is near Shinjuku about 20 minutes from Tokyo centre. The club is about 5 minutes walk away from the Sangubashi station on the Odakyu line and it takes about 20 minutes walk from Yoyogi Station on the Yamanote line (Green JR line). Its also just on the border of Yoyogi park where the Meiji Shrine is. The riding club mostly concentrates on Dressage, but they do have jumping too. They have a 40 by 60 arena and about 20 stables including a small miniature pony play area where kids can learn to ride, pet, feed and groom the ponies. This is the most expensive riding club I have seen in Tokyo, but it is easy to get to for people who stay or live in the city.

Address: 4-8,Yoyogi-Kamisonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo

Phone:03-3370-0984

Access: Odakyu Line Sangubashi st. for 5 min. on foot

Hachijoji Riding Club –

This club is in West Tokyo. It takes about an hour from Tokyo station to get to Hachijoji and then you have to get a shuttle bus ride from the station, which takes about 20 minutes. This club has similar training to Craine (basically to the book). The club owns a cross-country course for the more advanced riders, but you need to become a member to be able to ride it. Beginner lessons are taken place on a 20m-penned circle.

Address:1-501,Funakicho,Hachioji,Tokyo

Phone:0426-91-1915

Access: JR Chuo Line Hachioji st.

Kunitachi Riding Club –

At this club you need to book a lesson before you can visit the place, otherwise they will not let you in. They have regular riding lesson and travel to go on long beautiful hacks in Japan.

Address: 1622,Yaho, Kunitachi, Tokyo

Phone:0425-72-6802

Access: JR Nanbu Line Yaho st.for 5 min on foot

Chuo exp.way Kunitachi-Fucyu I.C. for 5 min by Car

Bajikouen –

This is a fantastic equestrian place to visit; The Japanese Racing Association owns it and it is known as `Tokyo Horse Park`. They hold many different events from High school level to International. It is a good chance to see Japanese talented and professional riders. Unfortunately they don’t have any schedules in English.

SAITAMA

Alice Riding Club –

A small riding club based in Saitama Prefecture near Kawagoe. They do hacks and run lessons in a small arena.

Address: 258,Matoba, Kawagoe, Saitama

Phone: 049-234-2525

Access: JR Kawagoe Line Matoba st.for 20 min on foot / Welcome and Send off service available

Kanetsu exp.way Kawagoe exit. for 12 min by Car

Sienna Riding Club –

This club is based near Tokorozawa. It takes about 10 minutes by car from Bushi station; if you like the Clubs shuttle bus can pick you up. This is a small club, which own about 50 horses. They compete in competitions in and around Tokyo. Their head groom is the top Show Jumper in Saitama prefecture. They have a 25 by 50 arena, which is very well looked after. They concentrate on Italian style Show Jumping, which gives them the name and they also compete in Dressage. This club has a very friendly and professional atmosphere with excellent instructors; they also have the advantage to have clinics from the Olympic rider Ryoichi Obata san and other professional instructors.

Mr. Hobo and his family own the Club.

http://www.jouba.jrao.ne.jp/club_map/saitama_0400.htm

Address: 3135,Oaza-Sasai, Sayama, Saitama

Phone:0429-52-1676

Access: Seibu Ikebukuro Line Bushi St. 7 minutes by TAXI

UTSUNOMIYA

Fuji Horse Riding Club –

This club has beautiful surroundings with mountains and rice fields. It takes about 10 minutes to drive there from Utsunomiya Station; about 2 hrs drive from Tokyo and 2hrs semi Express train. The club has an extremely friendly atmosphere, which is ideal for people who want to go riding with family. They compete in competitions and regularly run their own clubs friendly competition. They often compete at Nasu Training farm where a Japanese Olympic Show jumper is based. An excellent place to go to if you need to get out of Tokyo and there is also the advantage to go and relax in an Onsen as there are many around. Owned by Mr. M.Fujita

Address: 222,Tano, Utsunimiya, Tochigi 321-0344

Phone:028-652-5401

Access: Tohoku Shinkansen Utsunomiya St. 10 minutes by car

Tohoku Exp.way Utsunomiya Exit for 20 minutes.

YOKKAICHI AERA

Yunoyama Riding Club is based in the lovely mountains about half an hr from Yokkaichi city in Mie-Ken. They have great facilities with a big indoor and outdoor arena. Miho who works there is excellent at speaking English and is a fantastic instructor. She is experienced in Grooming and competing in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

They also own another club called Centrair Riding Club nr Nagoya airport.

http://www.yunoyama.com/access/index.html

Bell Horse Farm near Suzuka City trained the Badminton and Olympic Eventer Yoshi Oiwa as a boy. He is now based with Andrew and Bettina Hoy in Gloucester http://www.hoyteam.com/ . Bell is a friendly little club with different types of horses and ponies. They compete in small dressage and show-jumping events and the owner Mr Mizutani san is a pro at carriage driving his sweet haflingers.

Take a look

http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~bellhf/about.html

Hokusei Riding Farm is a family owned business, owned by Yoko and Isamu Nakamura. Isamu is a professional show-jumper and farrier for Japan. He’s experienced in shoeing horses in Germany, Belgium and Holland and has good English speaking skills. They import nice show-jumpers from Europe and are always trying their best for the Olympics.

http://www.hokusei-rf.com/

If you are interested to concentrate on Dressage La Chevauchee is the stables to attend. They have two stables, one in the mountains about 30mins from Yokkaichi and the other in Aichi-ken. The Owner won the last area competition. They have some lovely KWPN`s and nice Thoroughbreds.

http://www.la-chevauchee.co.jp/

GREEN HORSE TRAINING

 My Sister Genna owns her own horse training business in Ceredigion Wales where Cardigan Corgies and the horse sweat rug Thermatex originated http://www.thermatex.co.uk/contact.php

Take a Peak - http://www.greenhorsetraining.co.uk/

If you have any question about horse riding in Japan, please send me an e-mail.
I will reply as soon as possible.

skst.koichi@nifty.com

I will be very happy to receive your comments, Impressions and any suggestions.

Thank you very much for reading