In this digital age, it’s hard for kids to have wholesome fun. Kids who live in urban cities spend most of their time indoors glued to the screen. Horse riding offers them a fun activity to connect with nature. Furthermore, horse riding benefits are physical and psychological, and it also contributes to developing skills and personal abilities. Even more, Hippotherapy provides a fun and relaxing activity for special needs.
Above all, horse riding is an excellent way to explore nature and magnificent views in Hokkaido. Here are some tips on what to wear to horse riding and horse course information in Hokkaido.
Table of Contents
Horse Riding For Kids: Benefits
You may ask how? The horse does all the work. Instead of easy activity, it’s fun, physically, and inherently relaxing. Horse riding brings a lot of benefits.
1. Physical And Mental health
Horse Riding is an isometric exercise. While riding, you apply core muscles to engage balance and coordinate on the horse’s back. Besides the core, muscles in the back, chest, inner thighs, and pelvis are also strengthened to maintain proper posture.
Additionally, horse riding offers an exercise in mind, and it has been found to have a positive impact on mood. A study on effective horse riding on children’s health involving 106 primary school children by scientists from The Tokyo University of Agriculture found that the gentle bouncing motion on horseback improves a child’s cognitive ability. Also, the low and friendly nicker from the horse enhances the circulation and relaxation of the rider, and it not only improves cognitive ability but improves mood and relieves stress. While riding, you release the mood-enhancing hormone and serotonin, which contributes to the feeling of happiness.
2. Cultivate Character And Life Skills
Horse riding can help to develop a strong character and cultivate valuable life skills in children. You need mutual trust and respect and a series of positive experiences together to build a relationship with a horse, just like it does with humans.
Furthermore, it helps grow maturity and a sense of responsibility. It would help if you took responsibility for the horse. Whether you ride for a few minutes or hours in a course, you’re in charge of the horse’s well-being during the time. Mainly, it can be humble for children and teenagers.
3. Confidence Booster
Many kids are daunted at first when they know they have to be a partner with an animal that is at least twice their size. However, they feel they can tackle anything once they get used to it.
4. Build Social Skill
Although horse riding is an individual activity, there are many human interactions involved in the activity. In Particular, you take classes or courses in the ranch or stable. While riding, there are people in the same class or course for the experience as you do. Therefore, you can make new connections and new friends.
Why Horse Riding in Hokkaido
Considering Hokkaido’s well-known rich natural environment, horse riding can increase your family vacation in Hokkaido. Not just create benefits from horse riding, but enjoy the picturesque view and nature atmosphere on horseback.
Moreover, Hokkaido turns to Whiteland in the winter. You can ride a horse and explore the wonder of Whiteland, and you will be surprised by the difference in the experience in the snow season.
Furthermore, you can even watch horse races in Hokkaido. [Click Here]
What to Wear to Horse Riding Course
Before you decide what to wear to horse riding. You can check the weather and what to wear in the season of Hokkaido. [Click Here] Therefore, you can have a better-organized idea. We know you won’t bring an equestrian clothing set to Hokkaido for a horse riding course. Hence we narrow down some essential clothing for you.
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Comfortable Tops and Bottoms
Wear comfortable clothes in layers that are easy to take off if you feel hot. The bottoms should be long-trousers. And the materials need to be not rough or baggy to ensure both you and the horse are comfortable.
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Shoes
For travellers, athletic shoes such as sneakers will be easy to carry with you. If it’s possible, a pair of shoes with small heels would be a better idea. As a result, your foot doesn’t slip through the stirrup.
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Hat
A riding hat is an essential item for horse riding, and it protects your head from injury. Most of the courses provide riding hats in the class. However, you can ask when you make a reservation.
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Gloves
A pair of suitable gloves provide a grid for the reins and prevent rubs on your hands.
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Sunscreen
The sun’s ultraviolet light can burn or damage the skin all year round in Hokkaido. In winter, snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet light. Therefore you need to protect your body away from ultraviolet light as the rays hit you twice.
Equine Therapy: Hippotherapy (Therapeutic Riding)
Disability holds special needs back from many things. Regardless of that, disability should not limit your life. At least, horse riding won’t restrict you. As mentioned above, horse riding offers many benefits. Hippotherapy provides the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs.
In Japan, Hippotherapy called Jouba Ryouiku (乗馬療育, ホースセラピー). There’s a social welfare corporation that offers horse riding for special needs kids in Urakawa, Hokkaido.
Company: Specified non-profit corporation Piscali
Address: 〒057-0002 Hokkaido, Urakawa District, Urakawa, Nishihorobetsu, 327-9
In the Urakawa Jyouba Park (浦河町乗馬公園, Urakawacho Jobakoenkurabuhausu)
Contact: 090-3629-2842（ホースコミュニティ 江刺・小島）
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Japanese Only [Click Here]
Facebook: [Click Here]
Information
Are you interested in signing your kid up for a horse riding course? Below is a list of the best 9 of horse riding (including 1 Hippotherapy) in Hokkaido. All on the list are kids and beginners friendly.
Northern Horse Park (ノーザンホースパーク)
Location: Tomakomai
Northern Horse Park offers many activities all year round. Such as horse riding, pony show, horse interaction, horse feed, sightseeing carriage, horse sleigh, and more. You can do not only horse riding, but other activities here, and it’s worth you a stop.
NOTICE: Reservations are only available by phone and do not accept reservations on the day of the event.
Opening Hour: 10:00-16:00
Address: 114-7 Misawa, Tomakomai, Hokkaido 059-1361
Contact: 0144-58-2812
Official Website: English and more languages available. [Click Here]
Dosanko Farm Hakodate (函館どさんこファーム)
Location: Hakodate
Most of the horses on the farm are breeds and grow in Hokkaido. They called the horses Dosanko horse (どさんこ馬). From beginner to adventure, the coach will guide you well and friendly. Also, they provide horse riding guide books in Hakodate slang, and it’s pretty fun and relaxed.
Specifically, they offer a course to teach Japanese equestrian art. Yabusame 流鏑馬 (やぶさめ) is a Japan Traditional martial art performance dedicated to gods in Shinto rituals. People arrows from horseback. Nowadays, Yabusame has become an equestrian competition. Not many people teach Yabusame in Japan now. It’s an excellent chance to learn equestrian art in Hokkaido.
NOTICE: Reservation Require
Opening Hour: 9:30-17:00
Address: 180-14 Higashiyamacho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-0834
Contact: 0138-30-1035
Official Website [Click Here]
Lake Toya Ranch (レイクトーヤランチ)
Location: Lake Toya
In the ranch, horse riding with pedigree horses around Lake Toya. Enjoy the magnificent view on horseback with family. Additionally, they have riding tours for kids. You can choose the trails or in the ranch depending on your kid’s age and height. They have 3 ranches in Hokkaido. (other 2 are Rusutsu Ranch, Haruka Horse Ranch). You can book on their website or by calling.
Opening Hour: 8:00-19:00
Address: 44 Tsukiura, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5723
Contact: 0142-73-2455
E-mail: [email protected]
Official Website [Click Here]
Rusutsu Ranch (ルスツランチ)
Location: Rusutsu
It’s in the Rusutsu Resort. They have 3 ranches in Hokkaido. (other 2 are Lake Toya Ranch, Haruka Horse Ranch) You can ride the pedigree horse through Mt. Shiribetsu. Additionally, they have riding tours for kids. You can choose the trails or in the ranch depending on your kid’s age and height. Furthermore, they have a long trekking course that goes along the forest road to the side of Mt. Shiribetsu.
Opening Hour: 8:00-17:00
Address: 13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu, Abuta District, Hokkaido 048-1711 Rusutsu Resort
Contact: 0136-46-3332
E-mail: [email protected]
Official Website [Click Here]
Haruka Horse Ranch
Location: Otaru
It’s a 30 minutes drive from Sapporo, located in the tremendous mountains. They have 3 ranches in Hokkaido. (other 2 are Rusutsu Ranch, Lake Toya Ranch) You can have a magnificent view of Ishikari Bay by pedigree horse riding. Also, there are varied trails for you and your kids.
Opening Hour: 8:00-19:00
Address: 397-78 Harukacho, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0265
Contact: 0134-62-4635
E-mail: [email protected]
Official Website [Click Here]
Earth Dream Kakuyama Farm (アースドリーム角山農場)
Location: Ebetsu
Earth Dream Kakuyama Farm provides many children’s activities. You can enjoy interacting with animals, feeding in the wilderness, horse riding, outdoor jumbo slides, and swing hammocks. For horse riding, you can ride a horse with a couch pulling the horse. Also, they have a course for experienced riders to ride circles in the ranch.
NOTICE: This course needs a reservation.
Opening Hour: 10:30-16:00
Address: 584-1 Kakuyama, Ebetsu-shi, Hokkaido 067-0052
Contact: 011-391-2500
Winter Reservation Number: 080-1973-1497
Official Website [Click Here]
Noboribetsu Horse Park Yu-shun (登別ホースパーク遊駿)
Location: Noboribetsu
About 10 minutes drive from Noboribetsu Onsen. It is a horse-riding club for tourists, and you can interact with horses. Courses range from beginner to adventure are available.
(It require children under age 3 to ride with their parents with no charge fee.)
Tips: If you visit Noboribetsu or Yu-Shun in Spring, you can even view cherry blossoms on horseback. [Click Here]
Opening Hour: 9:00-17:00/Summer, 9:00-16:00/Winter
Address: 231-1 Satsunaicho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0461
Contact: +81143857288 9:00-16:00/Summer, 9:00-15:00/Winter
Official Website [Click Here]
Iwanai Horse Village
Location: Iwanai
The horse courses here are ideas for beginners and kids. Most courses are accompanied by a coach leading your horse, and they take care of you without any risk. However, if you already have experience and want more independence, you may look for others.
Opening Hour: 10:00-16:00
Address: 463-１ Nozuka, Iwanai, Iwanai District, Hokkaido 045-0024
Contact: 0135-62-3686
E-mail：[email protected]
Official Website [Click Here]
Conclusion
I like to ride a horse in the Hokkaido countryside. It’s a way to soak myself into nature. Often I saw wildlife quite close to me. The most special horse-riding course is Japanese equestrian art at Dosanko Farm. Primarily, not many people teach it in Japan now.
In my case, I can’t understand Japanese. 4 places that make me feel pleased, Northern Horse Park, Lake Toya Ranch, Rusutsu Ranch, and Haruka Horse Ranch.
If you visit Hokkaido in Spring, recommend horse-riding at Noboribetsu Horse Park Yushun because Noboribets is famous for not only the cherry blossom but the hot springs. In other words, you can view cherry blossoms, ride a horse, and take a hot spring in Noboribetsu in the Spring. To view cherry blossom in Noboribetsu [Click Here]
If you need an activity that is not too active, maybe you can watch horse racing in Hokkaido. [Click Here]
