Hello everyone. I am Tomohiro Nakamichi from Shibecha Town. This is the sixth installment of "Shibecha Weather," where I will introduce the charms of Shibecha Town from my perspective. As March begins and the maximum temperature rises above zero, we are slowly beginning to feel spring in the air. Although full-fledged spring is still a long way off, the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures are warming our hearts as well. This time we would like to introduce Mr. Kohama Masato, who is also a local revitalization volunteer working in Shibecha town. Mr. Kohama moved to Shibecha town from the Boso Peninsula in Chiba prefecture four years ago. Originally from the Mudskipper Kingdom, he is a professional in all living things, having worked as a guide for horse riding at a horse riding club in Tateyama city, Chiba prefecture for many years. He is familiar with not only horses but also various living things, and lives a life in harmony with nature in Shibecha town, which is rich in nature. Kohama focuses on a breed of horse called the "Hokkaido Japanese horse" and is engaged in conservation activities. Unlike horses in general riding clubs, Hokkaido Japanese horses are small in height and have a stocky body type, and are known by the nickname "Dosanko". Hokkaido Washu horses, which have survived in the harsh Hokkaido environment, are said to be more difficult to train than Western horses, and currently they are often consumed as meat. "If things continue like this, the Hokkaido Japanese horse breed may become extinct in the future." Kohama feels a sense of crisis about the future of the few remaining horses native to Japan. "There are not many people who can handle Hokkaido Japanese horses, but from my experience of training various horses, I believe that Hokkaido Japanese horses should be perfectly capable as riding horses. In fact, their bodies are small enough for Japanese people, and they have a gait with very little sway, so I think they have great advantages as riding horses." Kohama believes that if the qualities of Japanese horses as riding horses were more widely recognized, it could make a great contribution to their original purpose, which is the survival of Japanese horses.

Hokkaido Japanese horses Sen (front) and Kizuna (back). They have sturdy bodies and low heights.

In addition to existing training theories, Kohama also incorporates his own unique training methods based on his own experience. "Hokkaido Japanese horses are particularly sensitive, so if they are traumatized even once, it takes a huge amount of time and effort to heal them. It's important to build a relationship with them slowly, bit by bit, to avoid trauma." In particular, with Sen, who has only recently come to the Kohama family, they are spending time building a bond with him, which is the first step in training. "I think that just spending some time together, such as when we're picking up the droppings, or spending time together without having to communicate directly, will gradually build a relationship of trust. Time outside of training is actually very important." " Kohama-san told me with a look of loving kindness.

Kohama-san is gradually building a relationship with Sen. Sen is still young and has a strong sense of curiosity, so it will be exciting to watch him grow in the future.

This time, I was not only able to see Sen, but also the training of another horse, Kizuna. After going through several stages, it seems that he is finally at the stage where he can ride on top. I applied pressure to the horse as if I was pushing it from behind, and used my left hand to encourage it to turn. Some people use a whip, but Kohama applied pressure with his heart and voice. This is a training session for horse riding where you hold the reins from behind and walk while directing the direction of movement. If you can get this far, the next step is to ride higher. By riding roughly, the horse gets used to the sensation of being on top. Also, some horses don't like the sensation of being looked down on from a high place if they are suddenly seated, so this position helps them get used to being on top. "If all you do is ride a horse, walk and look at the scenery, you're missing out on the true enjoyment of horse riding. Horse riding is a form of communication, so you need to think about how you can become friendly with the horse you're riding, how you can connect with it. You need to communicate with the horse. Horses are living creatures, so there are things they like and things they don't like. That's why I think it's only when you can communicate with each other that you can finally appreciate the true charm of horses." In today's riding clubs, the horses that are used are often safe, docile, and gentle for anyone to ride, but if you look at it from a different perspective, doesn't that mean that both the horse and the person have closed their hearts? Also, if people just ride the same course like a machine, doesn't it deepen our understanding of horses as living creatures? After experiencing this himself at the riding club in the past, Kohama now wants to create a space in Shibecha where people can enjoy "true horse riding."

Kohama says, "I want people to understand the charm of horses and then experience the joy of communicating with horses for themselves."

The environmental conditions of Shibecha Town, such as the vastness of the land, the little snow, and the coolness of the summer, are ideal for the horses. Shibecha Town also has a history of raising and producing military horses as a military horse replacement unit. From these perspectives, Kohama believes that there is meaning in raising Hokkaido Japanese horses in Shibecha Town. While living with animals in nature, he thinks about the future of Hokkaido Japanese horses. I'd like to keep an eye on Kohama's future activities. You can also watch the video "Shibecha Biography" on YouTube, which follows Mr. Kohama on video. Please take a look and I hope you will learn about Mr. Kohama's activities and thoughts. Please look forward to the next episode.