Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 184 Meeting Day

At 5 o'clock in the morning, another day began at Mejiro Ranch.

A week has passed since the Ruyue Award.

The camp decided to let Atalanta return to Xiaolin Ranch for four weeks of recuperation.

Then, a little before the cherry blossom viewing, we went to the training center in Ritto for pre-match adjustments.

Almost on the same day, Mejiro Sakuya also left Kobayashi and headed for Oi quarantine.

As Pegasus finished his winter grazing and moved on to individual training and adjustment, the once bustling pasture became a little quiet.

In the lounge, Kitano walked in yawning and staggering.

Zep had his own corner of the sofa.

Bringing the steaming mug to his lips, the German half-closed his eyes, his free hand lazily tapping away at the keyboard.

"Good morning--"

After saying good morning to each other perfunctorily, Kitano picked up his cup and made a hot drink.

Unlike Zep, he opted for a sweeter hot cocoa.

Although I don’t dislike coffee, a cup of hot drink like this seems to be more suitable for fighting the cold morning.

He placed the mug on the low table, sat down cross-legged, and placed the open magazine on his legs.

While flipping through the pages, he slowly stirred the hot cocoa in the cup with a spoon.

"Ugh--"

Rachel Ho, who had walked into the lounge at some point, let out a somewhat gloomy sigh.

"Master Hattori will be here today..."

As if he didn't understand the resentment in the girl's tone, Asayama replied seriously, "The scheduled time is 3:30 p.m."

Although it was still early in February, the direction of the starship's entry had already been decided.

During the training process, the smart, obedient and well-behaved deer-hair pony rarely requires any worry.

Even the new team at Mejiro Ranch successfully completed most of the training projects.

Generally speaking, most yearlings will be saddled and ridden before winter.

On the day when the branches of trees by the Wudan River turned into frost, Lavid saddled the starship and hung the bit.

Most horses hate this process, even years after retirement.

However, there is no such problem on the starship.

As always, he quickly got used to the saddle and bit.

But so much for the saddlery and riding exercises.

"Don't put too much strain on the starship's back for now."

Keeping Kitano's words in mind, the ranch staff patiently cared for its back, which was softer than that of horses of the same age.

No matter how famous a horse is, the right to ride on its back for the first time belongs to the stable attendants at the ranch.

But at Mejiro Ranch, such a day has yet to come.

After the short autumn after the auction, Hokkaido entered a long winter.

Although it is quite small in size, Mejiro Ranch, sheltered by the Hidaka Mountains, is relatively warm in winter.

This winter is a critical period for foals during their growth and development period.

The starship, which had a moderate appetite, could eat about three liters of grass at a time, and then run freely on the grazing land that the ranch staff had worked hard to clear.

In the season when snow still remains, this childish deer-hair pony already looks like its father as it runs.

The same soft feet and the same solid skeleton.

and also--

The relaxed horse body made everyone on the ranch a little worried.

The first test ride was when the Torama River was about to thaw.

“As soft as cotton and very comfortable to ride.”

This is how Rachel Ho, the lightest rider on the ranch and the one who was elected by everyone to be the test rider, felt when she rode the Starship.

“It’s very maneuverable.”

At that time, Lavid, who was observing from the side, expressed such emotion.

Even with Rachel Ho, who had little riding experience, the starship still managed to react to her clumsy maneuvers. The deer-maned pony calmly took its first steps in the chilly wind.

Then, run faster and faster.

It was an instinct that seemed like joy, as if to confirm one's own strength.

Even the top-performing Starship occasionally reveals this side of itself.

As if possessed by something, it pranced around on the Sanshi Hill.

But soon, the girl on the saddle pulled the reins as Kitano and Lavid spoke.

The deer-haired pony quickly stopped walking obediently.

It's not time to run wild yet.

"Let this kid start with something less intense."

This proposal was agreed upon by all members at the ranch meeting.

That night, Kitano contacted Hattori, the former jockey who was a trainer in Saga.

Upon learning that Kitano wanted to send a racehorse that might debut later to his stable, Hattori agreed without hesitation.

Then, a request was made to see the pony in person.

And today is the day that Hattori comes to visit.

Soon, it will be time to say goodbye.

In a somewhat subtle and heavy atmosphere, today's work officially began.

First up is the morning feed.

Mejiro Ranch usually feeds imported raw grass, and the specific feed formula is modified according to the different needs and preferences of each horse.

After feeding, the few horses on the ranch will be taken to graze in the snow.

Kitano and the ranch staff took advantage of this time to have breakfast.

After that, clean the stables, maintain the tools, clear the snow, drive away wild animals, and repair the fences.
Spend day after day in all kinds of complicated and busy life.

Horse breeders have little time to themselves.

If a horse is injured or sick, the workload will increase.

If any emergency occurs, you must make use of the limited sleep time, even if you have just laid down, you must get up.

Even a small ranch with just one breeding mare and one foal has a lot to offer.

At noon when the sun climbed over the Hidaka Mountains, people from the ranch gradually arrived at the Japanese-style room for the dinner.

Lunch was Sukiyaki. As soon as I opened the paper door, I could smell the aroma of beef.

Generally speaking, sukiyaki is mostly made with vegetables, but at Mejiro Ranch, sukiyaki means beef.

The beef portion will be cooked later, and before that the vegetarian portion will be prepared for Ravid.

I ate it with hot rice and soon I was sweating profusely.

After a short lunch break, it was time to get busy again.

In the afternoon, Kitano was doing a routine check on Dazzling in the stable.

In late April, this mare, the only one at Mejiro Ranch, will be sent to Gumoya Ranch.

If nothing unexpected happens, I will spend at least ten months there.

As if she had a premonition that she was about to become a mother, or perhaps because she often grazed with Starship on the adjacent land, her dazzling and oppressive eyes seemed to soften.

"Very good, all the values ​​are correct."

After finishing the inspection, Kitano stood up and gently stroked the black deer-haired horse's neck.

At this moment, a familiar voice came from the corridor outside.

"Long time no see, President Kitano."

After a while, Kitano and the visiting Hattori walked side by side towards the grazing ground.

There was still surprise on Kitano's face.

Even now, it is hard to believe that the guy in front of me who is inflated like an air balloon is actually the former rider Hattori.

Hattori, whose figure had become noticeably rounder, walked to the edge of the fence, squinted his eyes, and happily greeted the dazed pony.

"Hello, son of the Golden Ship."

(End of this chapter)