There has been little information in the media about the plight of Japan’s horses and livestock. In an article in  thehorse.com, Fumiaki Mizobe, DMV of the Japan Racing Association (JRA) said that ”four riding clubs in the Miyagi prefecture (Sendai) and one in the Fukushima prefecture were submerged by the tsunami” and indicated that, ”at least 75 riding horses in the Miyagi, Fukushima and nearby Tochigi prefectures died as a result of the quakes or tsunami.”

According to Equestrian Australia (EA), the Japanese Equestrian Federation (JEF), has over 6,000 members and well over 3,000 registered horses. (Possibly thousands more horses are in Japan but not registered with the JEF). On 28 March, Equestrian Australia contacted the JEF to offer assistance and support. Souma City, Fukushima prefecture region, (where the nuclear reactors are erupting),  has been famed for its horse breeding for over 1000 years. It is probable that many horses in that area have been killed or injured.

The following information is direct from Elizabeth Oliver, founder of Japanese animal rescue group Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK), a non-profit organisation.

Urgent Plea to Equestrians

“There are not many organizations that can help us (ARK) with horses and cows, so I am hoping you can put out a plea to ANYONE you or any of your readers know that may be able to help. We desperately need local help. We urgently need transport, livestock feed and some property where they can be kept in ‘foster care,’ until further decisions are made.  

At ARK, I don’t know if any of the other groups have been working with horses or cows.  It is such a large disaster area, that no matter how many groups are working with them, they may never come across the same herds or owners. ARK has never taken in horses before and is not set up to deal with horses. However, we would love to be in contact with horse or livestock rescue groups that may be able to help us help these suffering horses. Many people have promised to help us, but so far no one has come through.”  

Two days later, ARK was given permission to send Elizabeth Oliver and a small team of representatives  into Fukushima, part of the epicenter area where the nuclear reactors are melting down. Their plan was to rescue as many dogs and cats in the shortest time possible. Following is another email from Elizabeth Oliver.  

7 April 2011: “The small team from ARK are in Fukushima, staying with a former ARK volunteer. I have never in my life seen such devastation or tragedy. We set off in a van, packed with dog kennels and food, on a two-hour drive on smashed roads. Three traumatized dogs appear on the road but only two are able to be caught. We only had room for one dog crate, so I nursed the matted Shih Tsu. We switched vehicles and rode with Economist (newspaper) Bureau Chief from Tokyo, Henry Tricks, and his Japanese assistant, Amie. We also had a local evacuee as our tour guide. Henry had a geiger counter in the car to register levels of radiation. First police checkpoint into Fukushima’s 20 kilometer No-Go-Zone refused us entry, despite the car having a diplomatic number plate, despite Henry having a press pass, and we had a resident with us!  So we decided to sneak in thru a back route.”  

Fukushima residents were told they HAD to evacuate for one night, so they locked  horses and cows in stables and small pens, and their dogs and cats in their homes, to ensure  their animals’ safety. They were never allowed to return. Weeks have now gone by and their animals are slowly starving to death.  

“Driving further inside the 20km No-Go-Zone, there are no people. Huge numbers of roaming dogs are waiting for owners who may never return and guarding their houses. It is doubtful anyone can ever live there again, due to radiation levels in the soil. We drove back to Joyama’s house and at 11:30 pm another earthquake hit: 7.4 magnitude, that shook the house for a full three minutes.”  

8 April 2011: “Two ARK members drive around picking up dogs…We visit Big Pallette former event stadium, where 10,000 evacuees are living. Dogs are tied to old cars, trees, anything to tie them to. The fear is now the exclusion zone will be extended to 30km or more; a frightening prospect of where people and animals will go. ARK is considering renting a place as a temporary shelter in Fukushima. Fukushima is only one prefecture, but 7 prefectures have been obliterated in the disaster. The scale is mammoth!”  

9 April 2011: Elizabeth sent me seventeen photographs she took that day, showing horses in appalling condition, including several who had already starved to death. They are too graphic to publish here, but can be viewed at pepismartdog.com, if you have a strong disposition. After showing the images to an equine vet who is currently in Japan from the U.K., the vet feels most of the horses need to be euthanized to prevent further suffering.  

Elizabeth continued: “Euthanization is a very delicate issue in Japan. Many refuse to euthanize but I feel the owners will agree to do it. The logistics will be IF we can get permission from officials to go back into the No-Go-Zone. There are also many other horse farms in that area that we didn’t get to visit. With the vet, we have to make maximum use of our time in Fukushima. Fortunately our vet, of Japanese nationality and with a Japanese vet licence, will also come with us on this (if we are allowed back in).”  

From the Japan Equestrian Federation

A correspondence from Yasuhiko Haruta, Managing Director, Japan Equestrian Federation, to Equestrian Australia Chairman, Paul Cargill,  read (in part) as follows:  “There are still a number of devastated places cut off far from relief items. Our urgent operations work together with other association and volunteers for horses/horsemen are working. It is very difficult to give some help for all, we can only do the part. We know that these are not enough, but the transportation start working, so it is going to help in general, I hope. The reactor plant is still very serious. We are feeling bottomless fear. Many of people including horses are evacuated… some of them still near there. We can’t foresee when they are able to return to their original places. Radiation contamination are spread not only air but also to agricultural products, soil, water-works and sea water too… We have very sad news every day, the number of dead/missing people are always increasing, yesterday it was over 27 thousands. Thank you for your thought and prayers, we also send sincere sympathy to suffered people.”  

10 April 2011: Official Japanese racehorse photographer Kate Hunter (@keiblog) told me, “While not sure of the number of race horses in peril, many of the affected area’s expensive racehorses were evacuated within days after the quake, due to their value. The ones who will suffer the most the most are privately owned horses. Most race affiliated farms have been taken care of.”

Japan Resumes Horse Racing

Horse racing recommenced in western Japan just days after the disaster. A decision was made to proceed with participating in the $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup race.  Literally days before the devastating tsunami struck, three Japanese horses had been shipped to Dubai, in preparation for the Cup. These three race horses were previously among many who had been stabled and trained in the Miyagi prefecture. (One of the horse’s stable complex was only 19 miles from the Fukushima  Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.) The trainers discussed scratching their horses, in respect for the grief their nation was suffering, but sensed a victory would bring hope and courage to bolster the people of Japan. According to HorseZone.com, Victoire Pisa had been an outside chance, having never raced against such a strong field of horses, and never on the Dubai all-weather track. The other two Japanese horses were Transcend and Buena Vista.  

The three horses had the spirits of the nation pinned to them when they leapt out of the starting barriers in the world’s richest horse race. Stabled and trained in Sendai, Japan, could one of these horses lift a nations spirits, already buckling and broken?

On 26 March 2011, as Victoire Pisa jumped thru the starting barrier, he smashed his head, causing him to lose ground, his Italian jockey Mirco Demuro later said. Another of the Japanese horses, Transcend, who had a brilliant start, was unexpectedly leading the field of fourteen top horses from five competitive nations. It was not until the home stretch, in full view of an emotionally charged audience, Victoire Pisa broke free and WON!  

What emotions must have been flowing through all who held Japan close. This was a fairy tale in the making. Japan has never been a serious threat in the world of horse racing, but on this day, when Japan needed this win more than ever before, Victoire Pisa won the world’s richest horse race: The $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup. In a 1-2 finish Transcend held onto second place! 

Supporters of Victoire Pisa broke down during the playing of the national anthem, as they wept tears of joy, guilt, pride and deep sorrow. The horse’s trainer said he “hoped the victory would inspire his fellow citizens, who face the monumental task of rebuilding their communities, knowing there are horses and people affected by the tsunami or lost lives… (I) hope that in some way I will give back to the horse riding and horse racing community in Japan.”

Although only a horse race, for a few fleeting minutes Japan remembered how to dance again. Joy sprang out from the Japanese supporters of Victoire Pisa, as if awakening a long-lost friend. As the few minutes of unbridled joy passed by, they served as a reminder that sometimes the seemingly impossible can be achieved! We hold Japan and its animals in our hearts. We pray Japan recalls it’s ancient history of strength, courage and bravery, dating back many thousands of years. The world is with you Japan. We know you are suffering terribly and so many throughout the world are doing all possible to bring you some relief. Do not lose hope. Do not give up in despair. Remember Victoire Pisa. Miracles can happen.  

For Japan’s horses: The world looks twice as nice, when seen through two big brown ears.    

To become involved with helping Japan’s horse  survivors, please contact me @PepiSmartDog, or leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Even moral support is welcomed by ARK. Donations to ARK can be made via Paypal on Ark’s website at http://www.arkbark.net. Funds will be used for animals made homeless by the Tohuko-Pacific earthquake and tsunami.  

All photographs courtesy of Elizabeth Oliver & ARK, except Victoire Pisa photo, courtesy of Kate Hunter. 

Tagged as: Animal Refuge Kansai, ARK, Elizabeth Oliver, Equestrian Australia, Fukushima, Fumiaki Mizobe, HorseZone.com, Japan, Japan Racing Assn., Japanese Equestrian Federation, Kate Hunter, Paul Cargill, Yasuhiko Haruta