新年は馬・午が干支です。編集委員と会員の皆様でユニークな馬の学術雑誌にしましょう。
　馬事往来には，日本伝統のウマ文化として185年の伝統ある武士道を背景とした八戸馬打球を平野直氏に，カナダの非営利団体である障碍者乗馬施設の活動状況の紹介を川喜田健司氏に，フランスの国家的な重要行事・任務（安全）を守っている馬達の選抜や活躍状況を沢田康文氏に，東京大学付属農場の純血クリオージョ種の生産と現状の紹介を遠藤麻衣子氏に，日本在来馬の希少価値を認知した上で300年後の在来馬の保存構想を岩田光太氏に寄稿を願った。
　特別記事には，9回目のドバイワールドカップレース観戦での数々のドラマを三浦暁子氏に，乗用馬の取引で頻繁に起こるトラブルを未然に防ぐために売買手続きと法律問題を八木由里氏に，大学馬術部紹介に弘前大学を取り上げ一戸義規氏に投稿頂いた。
　2003年の15号から55号に至る10年間本誌の編集委員長を務めさせて頂き今号で退任することになりました。一重に会員の皆様を初め投稿者，レフリーそして編集委員やアイペック担当者の本誌に対する熱意とご協力の賜物と深く感謝しているところです。今後は楠瀬新委員長に引き継ぐことになります。どうか今までにも増して新委員長を中心に日本の馬学会誌としての真価を存分に発揮して頂くことを祈念して筆を置きます。　（兼子樹廣)

　兼子先生の後任で，新たにヒポファイル編集長を勤めさせていただくことになった楠瀬です。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
　以下に，簡単な自己紹介をします。
　私がウマを対象として研究をはじめたのは1981年でした。それまでの4年間は，もっぱらラットを用いて動物行動の研究手法を学んでいました。1982年にJRA競走馬総合研究所に入所して以降は，生産牧場，育成牧場，競馬場などをフィールドにして，およそ30年，サラブレッドを対象に行動学的研究を続けてきました。現在は（公社）日本装削蹄協会に勤務しており，リサーチの現場からは離れてしまいましたが，装蹄業界をとおしてウマとの縁は今でも続いています。
　正直に言いますと，このヒポファイル55号の記事の編集は，ほとんどが兼子先生によるもので，唯一私が関係したのは書籍紹介の頁だけです。
　書籍紹介の頁には日本ウマ科学会編の2冊の新刊が紹介されています。
　1冊は『ウマ大図鑑』ですが，小中学生向けとはいえウマ好きでも知らないような知識が諸処に記されており，大人でも十分楽しめる本といえます。
　もう1冊は『競走馬ハンドブック』です。このたび本会の新会長になった青木修先生を中心に，ウマの研究や育成の各分野エキスパートが分担執筆した，他に類書のない書籍とすることができます。ことにバイオメカニクス，最新のウマの生理学，繁殖学，育成技術を解説した章などは，きわめてオリジナル性の高い章といえます。書名に「競走馬」とありますが，乗馬関係者でも十分参考になると考えられます。是非，座右に置いていただきたい書籍といえます。
　さて，ヒポファイルも長い歴史を持つ雑誌に成長しました。会員諸氏が出版を待ち望む，さらに有意義な雑誌になるように努力するつもりですので，みなさまのご協力をよろしくお願いいたします。　（楠瀬　良）

　The animal symbol for 2014 according to the Chinese zodiac is the horse. I'd encourage all of us on the editorial committee and our members to make this a unique scientific journal about horses.
　For Equine Comings & Goings, we invited the following contributions: a look at Hachinohe equine lacrosse, which has a 185-year tradition as part of traditional Japanese horse culture rooted in the context of bushido (the Samurai way), by Tadashi Hirano; an introduction to the activities of Canadian nonprofit Community Association for Riding for the Disabled (CARD), by Kenji Kawakita; a look at the selection and activities of the horses that stand guard over France's important national events and assignments (safety), by Yasufumi Sawada; an introduction to the University of Tokyo Animal Resource Science Center's production of thoroughbred Criollo horses, by Maiko Endo; and a vision for preserving Japanese native horses 300 years from now, based on an acknowledgment of their scarcity value, by Kouta Iwata.
　For our special articles, we have contributions from: Akiko Miura, who shares some of the numerous dramas she observed while watching the 9th Dubai World Cup race; Yuri Yagi, who discusses sales procedures and legal problems in order to prevent the troubles that frequently occur in horse trading; and Yoshiki Ichinohe, who covers Hirosaki University in this issue's introduction of a university equestrian club.
　Having served as the journal's editor-in-chief for 10 years, from issue 15 in 2003 to issue 55, I am retiring as of this issue. I am deeply grateful for having been able to stay with the journal this long, which I attribute to the enthusiasm shown toward the journal by all our members as well as our contributors, referees and editorial committee members, and IPEC liaisons, and to the results of their cooperation. From this point forward, Ryo Kusunose will be taking over as the editor-in-chief. So, as I lay down my pen, I express my hope that the new editor-in-chief and the rest of the team will exert the journal's true value as Japan's equine journal to the fullest, even more than has been done thus far.　 (Dr. Mikihiro KANEKO)

　My name is Ryu Kusunose, and I have the privilege of assuming the post of Hippophile editor-in-chief from the outgoing Dr. Kaneko. I am grateful for this opportunity.
　Let me introduce myself briefly.
　I first began conducting research on horses in 1981. For the 4 years before that, I had been learning research methods for animal behavior that solely used rats. After joining the JRA Equine Research Institute in 1982, I spent around 30 years conducting behavioral research on thoroughbreds in such fields as breeding farms, rearing farms, and racetracks. At present I work for Japan Farriers Association (a public service corporation), so I have left the research scene, but my ties to horses continue by way of the farrier industry.
　To be honest, most of the editing of the articles in this 55th issue of Hippophile was done by Dr. Kaneko; the only one I was involved with was the book review section.
　In the book review section, two new publications edited by the Japanese Society of Equine Science are introduced.
　One is the "Uma Daizukan" (Big picture book of horses), and although it is geared toward elementary and middle school students, it is chock full of information that even horse lovers won't know, making it a book that adults can enjoy as well.
　The other book is "Kyosoba Handobukku" (Racehorse handbook). Written primarily by Osamu Aoki, who has just become the new chairman of this society, as well as other experts in fields such as equine research and rearing, we can consider it a book that's in a class of its own. Its chapters expounding on biomechanics, the latest equine physiology, theriogenology, and rearing techniques are highly original. Although the book's name includes the term "Racehorse," I think it is amply informative for anyone involved with horseback riding. I believe it is definitely a book worth having by one's side.
　Finally, Hippophile has grown into a journal with a long history. I intend to strive to make it an even more meaningful journal whose publication will be anxiously awaited by all the members. I ask for your kind cooperation in that effort.　(Ryo Kusunose)