Tales from the cockpit: The Thoroughbreds

[trof]

This is a fairly short one, I think.

I worked for a Japanese corp. for 10 years.
In both business and government they have some rules and regs that we consider...strange?
But there's usually a method to their madness.

Thoroughbred horse racing is big in Japan, but Japanese breeders don't like outside competition. So, in order for a horse to race in Japan, it must be BORN in Japan. Clever, hunh?
I think this was originally aimed at the Saudis, but it applied to all foreigners.

I'm sure it comes as no surprise that we wily westerners are good at finding ways around rules we don't like.

So that's how I found myself ferrying a planeload of American thoroughbred mares in foal to Japan. Most all of them were from the big Kentucky horse farms.
The pregnant horses would drop their foals at a facility in Japan and then we'd bring the mares and colts back.
Of course the colts were born in Japan and thus eligible to race there.
:-)

[sammythecat]

1. Enjoying your stories.

Look forward to more. :hi:

[trof]

6. "I gotta million of them."

Yuk yuk.
;-)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. They don't call them Horse Traders for nothing.

Beware:D

thanks for this one, Trof :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear trof!

Ah, now that's damn clever!

Good thing the Japanese didn't require the foals to be conceived in Japan...;)

Keep 'em coming!

Great stories...

:hi:

[trof]

7. Thanks. There were times we thought the Japanese were absolutely nuts.

Later I'll tell about suffering through their 747 "training program" in Tokyo. Talk about your culture clashes.
And 'Radio School'.
That was surreal.

Bottom line was they 'teach' by rote memorization while we teach by logic and reasoning.
It took some getting used to.

[Callalily]

4. Ah, leave it to the Americans

to display ingenuity!

Speaking of traveling with livestock. I have a friend who is an engineer. He was traveling from point A to point B in Indonesia. Of course his company flew him "first class" because behind the curtain were goats. Yes, live goats where you would expect passengers.

Give me a conventional flight any day, thank you very much. ;)

[trof]

5. Wait till I tell about my 4000 mile cattle drive.

Yeehaa!
Git along little doggie.
;-)

[Haole Girl]

8. Interesting

I want so much to share airline stories, myself, but I know I can't. We have a confidentiality clause that prevents us from doing it.

Hope you'll share more of your stories! :hi:

[trof]

9. 'Confidentiality clause'? Wow. Too bad.

When did 'they' start doing that?

[Haole Girl]

10. I signed one at the last two airlines I worked for ...

one in '94 and this one in '96.

I can't tell you how difficult it is, at times, not to tell people some of the crazy things that happen at work!

[trof]

11. Just don't name names?

[Haole Girl]

12. I wish it was that simple

But after a flight attendant was fired for blogging about her job (with the same airline I work for), it made me pretty paranoid about it.