Now more than two weeks after the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, the equine industry in the country is beginning to rebuild. New details continue to surface about the extent of the damage, but the industry as a whole is working to move forward.

"There still are minor (after)shocks in eastern Japan," said Fumiaki Mizobe, DVM, of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), adding that the ongoing situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant remains a concern to area residents.

Mizobe said that four riding clubs in the Miyagi prefecture and one in the Fukushima prefecture were submerged by the tsunami and suffered structural damage. He also relayed that at least 75 riding horses in the Miyagi, Fukushima, and nearby Tochigi prefectures died as a result of the quakes or tsunami.

While officials are still surveying the damage in some areas, local organizations are stepping up to help horse owners care for their surviving animals

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