Ban-ei – Rare Horse Breed of the Week

Today’s rare breed for this week comes from faraway Japan & like many breeds of island nations, they are very rare indeed. The Ban-ei horse is a blend of Percheron, Belgian & Breton blood, specifically bred in Japan for a unique type of racing.

That’s Some Big Racehorse

Draft racing or ban-ei keiba is a race in which a draft horse pulls a heavy sled over hills for a total of 200 meters. The weight of the sled is the handicap which (like weights in standard racing) varies based on the age & track record of each animal.

Percheron & Brenton stallions are imported every year to contribute to Ban-ei bloodlines.

Family Business

There was once four draft racetracks in Japan, however today the Obihiro is the only remaining track & most of the horses are bred nearby in Hokkaido. Racing has been a tradition on Hokkaido since the regain was first inhabited so their breeding retains traditional elements. Due to the lack of need & relative isolation, the Ban-ei is a very rare horse breed.

Learning More

Be sure to check out our own Ban-ei page – we couldn’t find any official sites for the breed.

Have Pictures?

As of now we have very few images of the Ban-ei for our informative page on them. If you have images (or information about the breed) you’d be interested in sharing, please get in touch today.