[Japan First] Horse Value Launches 'Umabi,' a Free App Creating 'Healing Habits' Through Horse Live Streams
Horse Value launched 'Umabi,' Japan's first app for real-time horse viewing via smartphone. Aiming to provide mental healing while creating second careers for retired racehorses, the app saw 2,500 registrations in its first three days.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:33 (5h 31m after Collected)
The General Incorporated Association Horse Value (Headquarters: Minami-soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) launched 'Umabi,' Japan's first free smartphone app for viewing real-time horse footage, on April 25, 2025. Umabi aims to deliver 'healing and energizing' experiences through live horse videos. Users can select their 'favorite horse,' enjoy login rewards and event streams, and 'visit' their horses anytime.
As of the 28th (three days post-release), over 2,500 users have registered, with many positive comments such as 'I watch it every day because it's healing' and 'It's irresistible for horse lovers.'
■ Development Background
'Daily Recovery Time' Needed in a Stressful Society
In modern society, fatigue and stress accumulate easily due to work, relationships, and information overload. Consequently, there is a growing need for 'healing habits' that allow for a quick mental reset during the day.
While animal interaction is known for its positive effects, opportunities to interact with large animals like horses are limited and difficult to access daily.
Horse Value noticed during their activities that 'simply watching horses calms the mind.' To bring this experience to more people, they developed 'Umabi,' enabling users to connect with horses via smartphone regardless of location or time.
A New Proposal for Retired Racehorse Utilization
In Japan, many racehorses retire annually, but not all find new roles, making the lack of second careers a long-standing social issue. Only a few find roles in riding or tourism, leaving many unable to demonstrate their value.
Horses naturally possess a calming presence; their mere existence has value. However, this charm is usually confined to specific locations.
To address this, the app live-streams the daily lives of horses belonging to Horse Value, delivering their value as 'healing' to society. This creates continuous roles and revenue opportunities for retired horses, proposing a new value cycle for horses that were previously difficult to utilize.
■ What is 'Umabi'?
Umabi is Japan's first app for daily live-streaming of horses. Users can watch real-time footage and support their 'favorite horse.' By incorporating the act of 'going to see' horses into daily life, it offers a new, sustainable experience.
- Real-time horse monitoring via live streaming.
- Get off-shots of horses through daily logins.
- Increase intimacy with your favorite horse each time you log in.
■ Main Features
- Real-time horse footage available anytime on smartphones.
- Experience 'visiting' your favorite horse daily.
- Earn original images through logins.
- Push notifications for YouTube live events with direct app-to-stream transition.
- Completely free to use.
■ Developer Comment
Ryoji Takada, Director, Horse Value:
'I’ve personally experienced that just staring at a horse without thinking can make your heart feel lighter or give you a bit of energy. Horse interaction is something very much needed today. For those tired of daily life or relationships seeking healing, I believe horses have the power to respond. Umabi allows you to receive that power from your phone without going to a ranch. While I hope people eventually visit in person, I'm happy if opening the app to "see a horse" becomes one of your healing options.'
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, they plan to expand live streaming, enhance event content, and launch user-participation projects to provide new ways of interacting with horses. Leveraging their expertise, they aim to create new value starting from the app.
As of the 28th (three days post-release), over 2,500 users have registered, with many positive comments such as 'I watch it every day because it's healing' and 'It's irresistible for horse lovers.'
■ Development Background
'Daily Recovery Time' Needed in a Stressful Society
In modern society, fatigue and stress accumulate easily due to work, relationships, and information overload. Consequently, there is a growing need for 'healing habits' that allow for a quick mental reset during the day.
While animal interaction is known for its positive effects, opportunities to interact with large animals like horses are limited and difficult to access daily.
Horse Value noticed during their activities that 'simply watching horses calms the mind.' To bring this experience to more people, they developed 'Umabi,' enabling users to connect with horses via smartphone regardless of location or time.
A New Proposal for Retired Racehorse Utilization
In Japan, many racehorses retire annually, but not all find new roles, making the lack of second careers a long-standing social issue. Only a few find roles in riding or tourism, leaving many unable to demonstrate their value.
Horses naturally possess a calming presence; their mere existence has value. However, this charm is usually confined to specific locations.
To address this, the app live-streams the daily lives of horses belonging to Horse Value, delivering their value as 'healing' to society. This creates continuous roles and revenue opportunities for retired horses, proposing a new value cycle for horses that were previously difficult to utilize.
■ What is 'Umabi'?
Umabi is Japan's first app for daily live-streaming of horses. Users can watch real-time footage and support their 'favorite horse.' By incorporating the act of 'going to see' horses into daily life, it offers a new, sustainable experience.
- Real-time horse monitoring via live streaming.
- Get off-shots of horses through daily logins.
- Increase intimacy with your favorite horse each time you log in.
■ Main Features
- Real-time horse footage available anytime on smartphones.
- Experience 'visiting' your favorite horse daily.
- Earn original images through logins.
- Push notifications for YouTube live events with direct app-to-stream transition.
- Completely free to use.
■ Developer Comment
Ryoji Takada, Director, Horse Value:
'I’ve personally experienced that just staring at a horse without thinking can make your heart feel lighter or give you a bit of energy. Horse interaction is something very much needed today. For those tired of daily life or relationships seeking healing, I believe horses have the power to respond. Umabi allows you to receive that power from your phone without going to a ranch. While I hope people eventually visit in person, I'm happy if opening the app to "see a horse" becomes one of your healing options.'
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, they plan to expand live streaming, enhance event content, and launch user-participation projects to provide new ways of interacting with horses. Leveraging their expertise, they aim to create new value starting from the app.