**Chapter 32: Kitano's Lameness Management Style**
"Regarding feeding, high-sugar feeds should be restricted, with low-sugar forages like timothy hay as the main component, to avoid energy spikes that could cause agitation."
"TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) two to three times a week to relieve muscle tension in the lame leg, and if necessary, cold laser therapy can be considered to prevent the worsening of blood circulation and nervous system conditions."
"Maintain the intake of magnesium supplements such as flaxseed and alfalfa to support the muscular and nervous systems."
"Vitamin E and selenium usage must strictly follow body weight."
"B-complex vitamin injections."
"Regular hydrotherapy."
After hitting the enter key for the last time, Kitano closed the research papers he had used as references on his computer screen one by one.
"Thank you very much, seniors," he murmured to himself.
Drawing on the footsteps of his predecessors allowed him to avoid many detours from the outset.
The management plan tailored for the Resistance Queen, who suffered from Stringhalt, was finally completed today.
Just in time before her official stable entry.
Although the comprehensive management plan from the United States was already very mature, he chose to create his own plan after drawing on some parts of that one.
It wasn't that Kitano was determined to prove his achievements in veterinary medicine, nor was the Resistance Queen's condition more special than other horses.
The reason for doing so was actually easy to understand.
The original comprehensive management plan was simply too expensive.
And the management plan designed by Kitano successfully compressed the cost to 40% of the original plan.
As for the effect, that remains to be seen.
The cost of this plan was mainly concentrated on the early-stage modification of the affected horse's living environment.
To reduce the risk of a lame horse slipping, at least the daily stable needed an additional layer of rubber anti-slip mats.
According to Nishiken Ranch's specifications, the area needing to be laid was about twenty square meters.
The cost was two hundred thousand yen.
Additionally, to minimize temperature changes affecting the lame leg, a floor heating system needed to be installed in the stable.
This part of the cost was five hundred thousand yen.
After avoiding expensive and uncertain surgical interventions, the remaining parts became much simpler.
As a member of the Hokkaido Horse Owners' Association, Kitano's racehorses only needed to pay five thousand yen each time to use the local Hidaka hydrotherapy facilities.
More importantly, during the treatment process, especially the electrical stimulation therapy, the equipment and labor costs, which accounted for most of the expenses, could all be saved.
Inside Kitano's clinic, there was a Dynatronics electrical stimulator with high-precision adjustment.
Moreover, he himself was a licensed veterinarian proficient in electrical stimulation therapy.
After rechecking the management plan several times with some lingering unease, Kitano finally stood up from his computer desk.
However, before Resistance Queen's official stable entry, an interdisciplinary discussion meeting still needed to be held to anticipate future training and competitions.
Driving to Nishiken Ranch, Kitano smelled a medicinal aroma from afar.
He knocked on the door of the lounge, pushed it open, and found the white-haired young man brewing some kind of herbal soup.
On the other side of the sofa, Ogawa Kanna, wearing black-rimmed glasses, was writing something with her head down.
"Good morning, Mr. Kitano." The girl raised her head and quietly greeted Kitano.
After returning the greeting, Kitano tilted his head slightly and asked, "Masaru, is your cold still not better?"
"No, this is a traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal remedy I found online. It's said to be effective in alleviating muscle spasms in racehorses," Ogawa Masaru replied, turning around and scratching his head.
Ogawa Kanna pouted but didn't say anything.
"But I'm not sure if it works. I should have asked you first, Kitano-ge."
"Licorice and peony, right?" Kitano only glanced into the pot and identified the ingredients of the herbal soup.
"The ingredients are correct, but too little water was added. This isn't enough for a single dose."
"Oh, oh! So that's how it is—" Ogawa Masaru nodded repeatedly, while Kitano gently patted the young man's shoulder.
"You're preparing this for the Resistance Queen, aren't you?"
Besides the Resistance Queen, he hadn't heard of any other horse at Nishiken suffering from muscle spasms.
Otherwise, Ogawa Take would have called the clinic long ago.
"That's right! Yesterday, when Omega-chan first arrived at the ranch, I saw her walking with such a pitiful gait, so..."
"I just thought about what I could do for her." The young man lowered his head, a little embarrassed.
"You did great, Masaru." Kitano's tone softened.
As a uniquely Japanese alternative therapy, traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal compound prescriptions can indeed play a certain role in conservative treatment for Stringhalt symptoms in racehorses.
Though quite limited.
However, in situations with tight budgets, such treatment methods are what most Japanese racehorses suffering from Stringhalt can afford.
"Next, leave it to me!" he said, patting Ogawa Masaru's shoulder again.
"Eh?" The young man raised his head, a little confused.
Was it a secret recipe passed down through generations of veterinarians, or something like Sasabari (acupuncture with bamboo needles)?
Ogawa Masaru followed behind Kitano with an expectant look, eager to witness the methods of a professional veterinarian.
However, they weren't heading in the direction of the stables.
"May I sit here?" Kitano asked the girl.
"Of course, please sit down, Mr. Kitano." Ogawa Kanna nodded and replied, after briefly tidying up the scattered papers on the sofa.
Putting away her glasses, the girl curiously watched his profile.
Sitting on the sofa, Kitano opened the briefcase he carried with him.
Then, he took out a personal computer.
Opening the document he had just edited, Kitano explained, "This is my management plan for the Resistance Queen's lame leg."
"However, there's still a part that needs to be discussed with Mr. Ogawa and Tanaka before it can be further supplemented."
"Huh?" Ogawa Masaru's expression looked a little surprised, but soon he was drawn to the text on the computer and began to read intently.
"Seven, seven hundred thousand yen—" Just seeing the estimated budget for the initial site modifications, the young man's heart was already greatly shaken.
As for the long string of specialized terms composed of katakana in the subsequent sections, he could barely understand any of it.
"Is it worth it, Mr. Kitano?" Ogawa Kanna suddenly asked.
"The cost invested in the first year alone will probably exceed one million yen, won't it?" The girl tilted her head, a little puzzled.
"Whether it's worth doing, I actually find it hard to judge."
In fact, Kitano wasn't very confident even in the plan he designed himself.
"However, as a Horse Owner—"
"At least within our capabilities, we should try to do something, right?" This was also his plan before he became the Resistance Queen's Horse Owner