Feel the history of Hokkaido's development in the sight of horses running innocently at Tokachi Ranch in winter

The history of the Tokachi ranch was founded on April 20, 1910 as the "Tokachi stallion ranch" belonging to the Cabinet Horse Administration Bureau. There are four types of livestock raised on the ranch: beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, and sheep. In other words, it is a facility that can be said to be the history of livestock farming in Tokachi in the development of Hokkaido.

Many people visit the facility for sightseeing in the summer, but there are plenty of very valuable sightseeing spots such as the popular "Umaoi Exercise" held on the ranch in the winter and the scenic scenery. By all means, while watching the scene with your own eyes and through a camera, please think about the difficulties of pioneering in Hokkaido that our predecessors overcame.

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A great power that can only be found here. Tokachi's winter tradition "Umaoi"!

At Tokachi Ranch, every year in the winter when grazing is not possible, horses run on the snow in order to relieve the lack of exercise in breeding horses and prevent pregnant horses from having a difficult delivery.

The sleigh-pulling horse race at the Banei Racecourse is a popular sightseeing spot in Tokachi, but the "Umaoi Movement" in which the horses, which are about twice as large as thoroughbreds, run through the snowy fields is very impressive.
Whether you want to take a picture or just look at it, this scene is a true reminder of Tokachi's harsh winters.

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In addition to the horse chasing movement, there are many places to see and shoot!

The ranch has two first-class rivers in a total area of 4,100ha, and there are many areas that are off-limits due to epidemic prevention and safety management, but the areas where you can enter are old buildings that have not been demolished and a straight line distance of 1.3. There are many shooting spots such as white birch trees for km and scenic landscapes. The staff will guide you to the shooting spots carefully selected. If the timing is right, you can also see wild animals such as Ezo squirrels, Ezo chipmunks, Ezo snow rabbits, Ezo red foxes, and red-crowned cranes.

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With a souvenir of local sweets ♪

At the end of the tour, you will receive a delicious local treat as a souvenir. After returning home, enjoy the afterglow of the snowy field run The UMAOI while eating souvenir sweets.

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Breeds of horses galloping in chasing movements

・Heavy stallion Breton breed (agricultural horse) Brown color

・Heavy stallion (banma) Percheron breed (agricultural horse) White, black, gray

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<Banma Trivia>

Heavy stallions are used in Banei races, etc., and most of them are crossbreeds.

This is to take advantage of the hybrid vigor of crossbreeding.
There are three breeds: Breton, Percheron, and Belgian.

As hybridization progresses, the effect of hybrid vigor weakens, so a certain level of

It is necessary to secure and supply pure breeds.

The role of Tokachi Ranch is to produce and supply this pure breed.

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●Umaoi exercise scheduled number of horses

136 (as of December 22, 2022)
【breakdown】
○mare
・Pregnancy group A: 30 pigs
・ Pregnancy group B: 31 pigs
・Infertile group: 32 animals
・ Breeding group: 29 animals
○ stallion
・ 1 year old group: 14 animals
*The number of horses in each group may increase or decrease depending on the condition of the horses.

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●Umaoi Exercise Contents

Each group walks about 3 times on an 800m course (15-20 minutes per group).
Mares exercise in 4 groups and stallions in 1 group out of a total of 5 groups.

(The group and the number of animals may increase or decrease.)

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