Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 370 Separation and Encounter

The Thursday after the end of summer.

I felt restless from the moment I woke up, and I was also absent-minded during my morning work.

And just like that, time flies.

With the inspection of the last stable completed, only one task remains—

When the young horse is weaned.

As a first-time mother, Dazzling Action provided Yuehuang with ample milk for six months starting in February after her successful delivery, silently enduring even when the foal behaved poorly.

She was said to be a robust and irritable trotting horse, but after having children, she became a complete idiot mother.

To this day, Black Deer Mane mares still haven't learned to turn their ears away from their foals.

The small grazing area specially fenced off outside the stables, and a narrow space enclosed by crash barriers, constitute the entirety of Moonbeam's world so far.

"Well then, let's begin—"

With Lavid's words as a starting point, the ranch members all stood up.

For a fleeting moment, even the Indians showed a hesitant expression, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't.

Let's begin.

Take a deep breath, then exhale sharply.

They took the lead.

The heavy gate swung open with a sound, and the blue deer-haired foal, which was suckling beneath its mother, alertly raised its head.

In its fourth month at Mejiro Ranch, the Aoshika foal born in 2028 by Dazzling Action has grown into a young horse.

The previously awkward hip lines now appear fuller and smoother, and the gradually fading baby hairs begin to reveal the temperament of a stallion.

"It's time—"

She gently pushed away the head of the young black horse that was trying to hide under its mother, and then fastened the leash.

The foal with the green deer hair stamped its hooves excitedly as usual before grazing, but its mother gently wrapped her neck around it.

As I straightened Yuehuang's disheveled riding coat, I felt a slight tugging sensation from his sleeve.

Suddenly, the wet tip of her nose pressed against the chest of her work clothes, just like countless past mornings when shepherds were herding sheep, the dazzling gesture of her nose rubbing against her head in a coquettish manner.

The moment the buckle clicked shut, a faint warmth still lingered on my chest.

"I'm sorry, Mu-chan."

He stroked the black deer mare's head with the same pressure as usual.

On the other side, Yuehuang had already begun to impatiently pull the rope towards the door.

After securing the leash to the dazzling maneuver, he took a heavier step than usual.

Outside the stables, the summer sun, which still refuses to give up, warmly welcomes the people and horses.

After walking along the gravel path in front of the stables, passing through the ranch gate, crossing the road, you will finally arrive at the ranch's north shed.

Under a sky so blue it hurts to look at it, a vast, flat land covered with tender green grass.

Seemingly uneasy about the unknown and unfamiliar place before him, the young black horse clung to his mother and tentatively hummed.

On the grazing ground, a deer-haired mares were nibbling at the grass close to the ground.

Hearing the noise coming from the other side of the fence, Megumi twitched his ears before slowly raising his head.

"Don't be afraid, that child seems very gentle."

While stroking the young black horse's head, Zep cast a worried glance toward the grazing area.

Fortunately, Meguro didn't unleash his usual "sudden sprint" at this moment. As if moved by the scene before him, or as if the combined comfort from his mother and the human had taken effect, Tsukiko's tense muscles gradually relaxed, and he began to take steps following the leash.

The next instant, the gate to the grazing area opened, but only one animal entered the newly opened grazing area.

The door closed again, and Rachel Ho and Laverde, who had been waiting on both sides, immediately took action, using words and gestures to soothe the obviously agitated Dazzling.

A loud sniffling sound came from the face of the German who was walking south along the leash.

This was followed by a scream of pain: "I almost got bitten!"

Having not resisted the force from the other end of the leash for a long time, the black deer-haired horse looked at the grazing area and made one anxious call after another.

The neighing from behind grew louder, and the young black horse's innocent face became somewhat hesitant.

When I turned around, my familiar mother's figure had already disappeared on the other side of the road.

"Huh, am I the only one here?"

Its fluffy ears drooped down little by little, and it lingered for a long time at the edge of the fence, far from the grazing area, before letting out a tender neigh calling for its mother.

Removing the stubble from its mouth, the deer-haired horse in the middle of the grazing area slowly approached on its own initiative.

My mood became a little tense at this moment.

Whether they fight or sleep together like cats and mice, no one knows in advance what will happen when these two mischievous troublemakers meet.

However, Meguro Traveler did nothing but walk up to the young black horse and carefully rub his grass-covered nose against its neck.

Yuehuang immediately perked up its ears, shrank back slightly, and scrutinized the suddenly approaching behemoth with a suspicious look.

But the deer-haired horse did not leave; it simply stood patiently in place.

She continued to gently soothe him with her nose, again and again.

Gradually, the young black horse's tense body relaxed.

Still acting like he was sulking, he lowered his head and nibbled at the grass at his feet, making some complaining groans.

"Hey, aren't you coming over?"

The deer-mane horse, raising its head and neighing as if its patience had run out, had a rather ferocious expression on its face.

Not only was the young dark horse startled, but even the people observing through the fence were taken aback.

But after a while, Yuehuang lowered his nose slightly to show his submission.

And so, the young black horse, humming somewhat aggrievedly, followed behind the deer-haired horse.

One after the other, their pace quickening as they walked, the two figures gradually headed towards the wider expanse of the grazing land.

The wind blowing from the Puhe River, passing through the mountain pass, brushed against my skin, and the chill it carried made me shiver.

Summer in Hokkaido is very short.

Mejiro Ranch, located on the edge of the Hidaka Mountains, already has the feel of autumn before September.

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"[@Mejiro_JP:]"

We sincerely apologize for the concern caused to our fans by the incidents involving Meshiro Spirit's diagonal movement and fall during the race at the 2-year-old race held in Menbet today.

It's reassuring that neither the horse nor the rider was injured, and the Ishikawa rider is in high spirits for the next few races.

Feedback from Coach Tanaka: "This kid might have overexerted himself, but his leg strength has improved compared to the last match."

In the next game, perhaps
In any case, thank you very much to everyone who has supported me so far.

——Mejiro Ranch

(End of this chapter)