Umamusume: Pretty Derby devs urge fans to not pester real-life racehorses

Umamusume: Pretty Derby devs have issued an official statement asking fans to respect racehorses when visiting the IRL ranches.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby has quickly gone viral with millions of fans around the world logging in to train their favorite characters. The popular mobile title has even garnered attention from popular Twitch streamers like Ludwig and Northernlion, with both enjoying the adrenaline-fueled nature of the game’s races.

What makes Umamusume: Pretty Derby so unique is that its anime horse girls are based on real Japanese racehorses. Interest in the game’s IRL horses has quickly led to horses like Haru Urara and Gold Ship going viral, and as interest in the game continues to grow globally, fans have started visiting the ranches where these iconic horses were born, raised, and retired.

However, as pointed out by Automaton, Umamusume devs have revealed that some visitors have crossed the line by entering private property without permission and taking unauthorized photos.

Umamusume devs outline rules for visiting IRL racehorse ranches

“Horses are very sensitive creatures and can become startled or stressed by small things,” the statement reads. “Ranches are precious places of life where everyone at the ranch pours their heart and soul into caring for them every day.”

To prevent further issues, Cygames is directing all fans to consult the Racehorse Hometown Information Center for approved tour times and availability. They’ve also emphasized that fans should never contact individual ranches directly, as this can interfere with daily operations.

The developer has outlined nine official rules for visiting ranches:

Contact the Racehorse Hometown Information Center to inquire about availability.
Confirm approved visiting hours in advance.
Follow all instructions from ranch staff.
Never enter stables or pastures without permission.
Avoid loud noises or shouting.
Do not touch the horses.
No smoking on the premises.
Do not use camera flashes.
Never feed the horses anything.

The devs also note that violating these rules could result in visitors being barred from future tours, and may damage the trust that allows these ranches to work with the game in the future.