The vast plain of the Tokachi region.

You can experience the scenery differently by horse.

Lush forests and grassy meadows make for the perfect place

to go horseback riding.

Good job! Good job! Yes!

This time, we'll visit the wilds of Tokachi on horseback.

Wild Hokkaido!

The Hidaka Mountain Range stretches south from central Hokkaido.

The Tokachi region sits at the foot of this mountain range,

and is where our adventure will be today.

Isis Berns hails from Canada.

She loves horses and has ridden them in Canada,

as well as in Hokkaido.

- Hi!
- Hi!

Good morning!

Hello. I'm Tanaka.

Nice to meet you. I'm Isis.

Our guide today is Tanaka Jiro.

He's a horse breeder and the owner of this ranch.

So, I know this is a horse ranch,

but I didn't see any horses around. Where are they?

Well, they're out somewhere in that forest.

I thought we would start today by having you catch your own horse.

Let's go out now and find you a horse.

You mean like... like that?

You'd catch one like that?

On the unique tours here, you not only get to ride a horse,

but you also have the chance to care for it and get it ready to ride.

The goal is to get you well-acquainted with your horse.

So, I want to catch the horse,

but do you have any advice for that?

Well... The most important thing is to relax.

Okay, relax.

Breathe deeply.

So as not to startle the horse, you must first relax.

If you're not relaxed, the horse also won't be relaxed.

Go ahead.

Wow, it's beautiful here.

There are about 14 hectares of grazing land here,

as well as forests and streams.

16 horses roam freely here.

There's one! There's one!

It's probably come for water. Let's watch.

It's a Japanese breed we call Dosanko.

Dosanko is the local name of the horses native to Hokkaido.

They've been here since long ago.

Smaller than a thoroughbred,

its sturdy legs make it well suited to mountain forest terrain.

They review the steps for capturing a horse.

Come on!

And in that instant, what do you do? When you get the halter on it, what do you do?

Breathe. We have to breathe and keep talking in a low calm voice.

If you hold your breath as you come up to it and make a sudden move,

it'll be startled, so you have to talk to it calmly.

As horses are herbivores,

if you approach them with your breath held,

they might startle and run away.

If you breathe deeply and remain calm,

they will relax and allow you to halter them.

Which one would you like?

They're all so beautiful.

Really?

But that white one looks elegant.

That's true.

Look! look!

Her name is Luna.

One of the horses walks right up toward Isis.

Isis has decided she'll partner with this one,

Luna.

She tries to halter her, but...

Not yet, not yet! Okay, okay!

Isis is experienced at riding,

but she's never put a halter on a horse before.

Is her anxiety affecting her?

It looks like she's having a hard time.

Can we try together? Yeah?

Let's try, yeah? Woah!

You want to be on camera, that's what you want to be, right?

Come on.

She tries to relax and give it another try.

Let's try, yeah? Let's try.

There we go, there we go.

- Good job!
- Good job!

Good job. Look at you!

This time it went smoothly.

I think it went very well because she wasn't afraid of you.

This is amazing. Look at you. You are beautiful.

Yes, you are! You're beautiful!

Now for the "SENSEI's TIP."

Communication between horse and rider is very important.

There are many ways you can build rapport with a horse.

For example, walking together.

On his ranch, Mr. Tanaka has each rider spend time

strolling with their horse, stopping from time to time.

Grooming it is also important.

While cleaning the horse,

you can pick up on places it doesn't like to be touched.

Be sure to check on its reactions, too.

Talking to the horse is also helpful.

These methods of communication may work with other animals as well.

Try it for yourself!

Isis has saddled her horse.

She and Luna are ready to explore.

Shall we get moving?

Let's go!

They follow Mr. Tanaka.

They will meander through the forest for about an hour today.

This feels great.

It feels so good.

It's October.

They move along through the hushed forest.

It's so nice.

You can see the autumn leaves up close on horseback.

The horses climb up the steep path with powerful strides.

Up ahead is a scene that Mr. Tanaka recommends.

Beautiful, isn't it?

This is gorgeous.

I love that you can see so many different trees,

and also the mountains in the distance.

Through the trees, the mountains in the distance come into view.

Yeah, this timing is perfect.

With the sun hitting the trees like this, everything's just gorgeous.

Look at that, we're almost home.

Isis enjoyed her exploration of the autumn hills on her horse.

Her tour for the day has come to an end.

All right.

Okay!

Isis shows Luna her gratitude.

Got it? Yeah?

All right!

It was a wonderful experience.

And I've ridden horses many times before,

but I've never felt so personal

and so close to the horse like this.

And I think it's because I knew the horse chose me and I chose the horse,

and we really just trusted each other like that.

So, it was really special.

The next day.

Isis will go riding again today,

in search of some different views of Tokachi.

You know where we're going to go?

Today, I'd like to go out on the grassland.

Okay. There's a big field?

That's right.

Today, I'd like for you to try to ride in front of me.

Not behind me like yesterday, but next to me or in front. I'd like to try that today.

Okay! This is exciting!

Okay, Luna, are you ready?

- Go!
- Let's go.

Yes! Good! Good! Good!

Thank you for listening!

All right, we're off to a good start here.

Yeah, good job!

Come on!

When guiding a horse,

you must send precise instructions regarding speed and course.

For example, if Isis pulls on the reins with her right hand,

Luna will turn right.

Isis will use the reins to adjust their course.

She controls the horse's speed by kicking her heels

against different points on its side.

In either case, the amount of force used is important.

Come on, Luna. There we go, there we go.

Each horse will react differently,

so she must adjust her hand and heel movements to Luna.

Once they are through the forest, a wide expanse of green comes into view.

I love this. Turn right here?

- Okay.
- Yeah.

Today's course takes them to a private park.

I love how rolly the hills are, but then the mountains in the background!

It's very beautiful. It's the Hidaka Mountain Range.

Doesn't that feel good?

The vast plains and the majestic mountains surrounding them

create a gorgeous view.

Mr. Tanaka has been keeping an eye on Isis and Luna.

Here, he gives her a special experience.

He gets the horses trotting as though they are jogging.

When Isis gives Luna a gentle kick on the side...

She begins to trot.

- Good.
- Good, good.

Good job, Luna.

Good job. There we go!

Running across the meadow,

feeling the horse breathing beneath you,

is the best sensation.

Good job. Yes, good job.

Good job. Come on.

Thank you for listening, Luna. See? We can have fun, right?

Let's go.

Let's go!

After fully enjoying the meadow, they finally head up a little hill.

What will the view be like there?

They'll hurry up to the top.

Ready, Luna? Let's go.

Let's go. Good job! Yes! There we go.

Good job!

There we go. Good job.

The horses take on the steep climb with ease.

There we go.

- Yoo-hoo!
- Good! Good! Good!

Yes!

Wow, look at that view!

Look at that! Wow!

While on horseback, they can see the entire Tokachi area.

There's no better sight.

I really love the horses, so I'm really moved.

And to ride here in the middle of this beautiful forest of Hokkaido

is really special.

I could feel what the horse wanted,

and the horse could feel what I wanted,

and it felt like we became one.

I learned so much from this one riding experience that I'll never forget it.

Thank you, Tanaka-san. You're a great coach!

Thank you very much.

Wild Hokkaido! takes you on great activities

in the great outdoors of northern Japan.

Join us next time for another adventure!