Class held for children to interact with horses | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News - NHKニュース

A major Japanese horse racing operator has held a class at an elementary school in northern Japan to help children become familiar with horses.

The Japan Racing Association, or JRA, organized the event at Yunokawa Elementary School in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, on Thursday.

It was joined by a total of about 80 third and fourth graders, with four horses from Hakodate Racecourse.

The children learned that horses stand on what are equivalent to humans' middle fingers, and that a horse's heart is as large as a volleyball. A JRA official said those characteristics allow the animals to run fast.

The students watched a thoroughbred run and touched the horses.

A student said he was surprised that the animals were warm and soft.

Racecourse vice head Takano Yuji said these days, there are fewer opportunities to interact with horses, and that he is glad the children enjoyed the event. He added that he hopes they will also be interested in horse-related work.