HORI closely associated with other disciples at the Navy Training Center such as Ryoma SAKAMOTO; HORI had a strong interest in Ezochi (inhabited area of Ainu, today's Hokkaido) and Russia, and he even made a plan to visit northern area of Japan with Ryoma SAKAMOTO for inspection.
この時に門下の坂本龍馬などとも親しく交わり、蝦夷地やロシアに強い関心を抱いた持った堀は龍馬と共に北方視察を企てたこともあった。