Volunteer placement on a horse ranch in Japan

You can choose one of the horse ranches in Japan presented below and let us know your preference. If your preferred horse farm is not available, we will suggest an alternative horse farm.

Horse Ranch in Okinawa

The horse ranch is located on the main island of subtropical Okinawa, about 20 km from the capital Naha and the airport. It houses 11 Yonaguni-uma horses, a rare breed classified as critically endangered, with only about 130 of these horses remaining. These horses originate from Yonaguni Island, the westernmost inhabited island of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The fully grown horses are only about 110-120 cm tall, which classifies them as ponies. This breed is well adapted to the subtropical climate and rugged terrain of the Okinawa Islands. The farm is part of the Yonaguni Pony Society, which is dedicated to protecting and breeding these horses.

To raise awareness about the rare breed, the horse farm takes the ponies to visit kindergartens. To finance the farm's operations, riding tours for holiday guests are offered, taking place on land between late October and early May, and on the beach and in the ocean water during the summer months from May to October. The horses are also used for wedding photoshoots.

The farm is run by the owner, Miwako-san, with two part-time workers and local and international volunteers. Miwako speaks English well.

As a volunteer, you will assist the team with all tasks, including feeding the horses fresh grass that you mow on the farm grounds or its surroundings, cleaning and grooming the horses, cleaning the stables, repairing and maintaining the facilities, accompanying riding tours, kindergarten visits, and photoshoots, as well as taking care of other animals on the farm such as several goats, dogs, and cats. You have one day off per week, which is not always a fixed day of the week.

Horse riding is only possible for people of less than 75 kg body weight. Even if your body weight is under 75 kg, it cannot be guaranteed that you will be able to ride the ponies during your stay. This depends on the other assignments of the horses and their fitness.

Accommodation is provided free of charge in the staff residence of a hotel near the horse ranch. There is a small kitchen that you can use. Alternatively, you can eat in the hotel staff canteen for 500 JPY per meal.

Horse Ranch in Iwate

Mrs. Abe's horse ranch in the northern prefecture of Iwate has 5 horses, including Dosanko horses, also known as "Hokkaido horses," one of the eight indigenous horse breeds of Japan. Dosanko horses are often used as workhorses on small farms, for plowing fields or pulling carts. In the mountainous Iwate, the horses are used to transport felled logs from steep slopes and in dense forests inaccessible to vehicles.

Mrs. Abe is a self-employed nature guide from Tokyo who speaks English well. She moved to the rural region in 2016 with her daughter to be closer to nature and pursue her calling. Her property includes a forest, a meadow, and a garden cultivated for personal use.

As a volunteer with Mrs. Abe, you will take care of the horses, assist with nature tours, gardening, forestry work, for which the horses are also used, perform small maintenance tasks on her property, and spend time with her school-aged daughter, speaking English with her.

You will live with Mrs. Abe and her daughter. Meals are often, but not always, provided. A small allowance can be paid for stays longer than one month.

This placement is only possible from the end of April to the beginning of November.

Horse and Mushroom Farm in Iwate

The farm in Iwate has 21 former racehorses that previously often participated in professional horse races but are now retired. The horses spend their days in the paddock and nights in the stable. The farm provides the horses with a safe and relaxed environment in nature with plenty of fresh grass. In return, the horse manure is collected and sold as bio-fertilizer, and used as a nutrient substrate for the cultivation of high-quality French champignon mushrooms, which are mainly sold to restaurants, including Michelin-starred restaurants. The manure is sent to a company that inoculates it with mushroom spores.

Accommodation is provided in a ryokan located right next to the farm.