**Chapter 38: Lead Horse and Breaking In**
"It's time for pasture, Pegasus—"
Early in the morning, Ogawa Masaru walked into the stable with a lead rope.
Opening the gate, he was greeted by Mejiro Pegasus's dusty grey hindquarters.
Even with its grey coat, which made it difficult to discern its condition, one could subtly feel the growing muscle tension within its body.
"It's time for pasture!"
Standing outside the stable, Ogawa Masaru urged it softly.
When in the stable, Mejiro Pegasus would occasionally enter a self-absorbed state like this.
In such a state, if he were to disturb it rashly, even if the person was the most intimate Ogawa Masaru, it would fly into a rage.
After a while, Mejiro Pegasus finally twitched its ears and slowly turned around.
Taking out the lead rope, the grey horse cooperatively raised its head.
"Alright, let's go!"
While Ogawa Masaru turned to close the gate, Mejiro Pegasus let out a low growl towards the stable directly opposite.
Ocean Fleet2024, which had been leisurely eating, immediately lowered its head, its tail tucked tightly between its legs.
Mejiro Pegasus let out a triumphant snort from its nostrils.
"Pegasus!"
Ogawa Masaru looked at the scene before him with a helpless expression.
Although not superior in physique, Mejiro Pegasus unexpectedly became the lead horse of the ranch not long ago.
Besides having to be put first during pasturing and feeding, there were many other troublesome aspects.
After becoming the lead horse, Mejiro Pegasus added scaring other horses to its many hobbies.
Especially Ocean Fleet2024 in the opposite stable, it seemed to be intimidated by it several times almost every day.
Mejiro Pegasus proudly raised its head at Ocean Fleet2024's submissive posture.
Then, as if inspecting its army, it maintained a 'dressage-like' walking posture with its chest puffed out and stepped out of the stable.
For those with little experience or who didn't understand Mejiro Pegasus well, they might mistake this for a positive signal from the grey horse before pasturing.
But as the staff member who had spent the most time with it, Ogawa Masaru knew that this fellow was simply being smug.
However, apart from this, there were no overly outrageous behaviors.
It also handled the responsibilities of a lead horse very well.
As they approached the pasturing area, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
Although there were some minor issues, at least Mejiro Pegasus didn't cause any more trouble along the way.
Just as he was thinking this, the grey horse suddenly stopped.
Under Ogawa Masaru's somewhat uneasy gaze, Mejiro Pegasus twitched its lips and yawned.
Then it continued to follow the lead towards the pasturing area.
It was great that nothing bad happened.
Just like that, one person and one horse arrived at the pasturing area.
Untying the lead rope, the next second Mejiro Pegasus shot out like a playful husky.
"Be careful!"
Closing the gate of the pasturing area, Ogawa Masaru didn't forget to remind him.
Though Mejiro Pegasus wouldn't listen to him anyway.
On the other side, Ogawa Take also began the breaking-in work for the yearlings.
Although he had experience studying in American stables in his early years, he was not like traditional American Trainers, who pursued training racehorses as early as possible.
In this regard, he was more like a European Trainer who favored "natural rearing."
Besides necessary basic training and adaptation exercises, he also focused on developing the racehorses' social and group abilities.
Ogawa Take believed he had considerable experience in breaking in yearlings.
Since the ranch opened, most of the yearlings broken in by him had successfully met the standards of qualified racehorses.
But today, the work got off to a difficult start.
"Let's tidy up the surroundings first, my eldest daughter."
He rubbed his somewhat throbbing head and said to Ogawa Kanna, who was assisting him.
The stable was a mess, with many wood shavings used as bedding even floating onto Ogawa Take's white hair.
Since just now, Ocean Fleet2024 had been pressed tightly against the wall, constantly making short snorting sounds as it breathed.
Ocean Fleet2024, being in the latter part of its yearling year, should theoretically have already received most of its basic training, capable of overcoming fear, learning to wear equipment, and receiving simple commands, starting to work towards building stamina and adapting to the track.
But the Kurige horse before him hadn't even managed the most basic desensitization to humans.
As for further training, it was completely impossible to even start.
Ogawa Take's method was to use electric toys to first conduct the most basic desensitization training for Ocean Fleet2024.
As a result, the Kurige horse turned into its current state under the attack of the electric crab.
"This really is difficult to handle—"
A dejected Ogawa Take plopped down into a pile of wood shavings.
Although he was initially furious with Murata Ranch, the producer, when he took over, even thought that they completely lacked knowledge of breaking in.
After actually taking over, Ogawa Take somewhat understood the difficulties on the part of the producing ranch.
With Ocean Fleet2024's excessively timid nature, the progress of any training program would become incredibly difficult.
"How about trying to establish a reward system, Dad?"
While tidying the stable, Ogawa Kanna suggested.
"A reward system? That's something we can try."
Ogawa Take nodded his head, and a shower of wood shavings immediately fell from his head.
"Masaru—"
After a while, Ogawa Masaru, busy cleaning the stable, poked his head out.
Seeing Ogawa Take's somewhat disheveled appearance, he forcefully suppressed his laughter.
"What is it, Dad?"
He asked in a somewhat strange tone.
"Speak properly to me!"
Ogawa Take first glared at him, and then asked, "Does this child usually have anything he likes to eat?"
He pointed to Ocean Fleet2024, who was secretly peeking from the corner.
"Probably not, he's one of the rare good children at our ranch who isn't picky about food!"
Ogawa Masaru replied proudly.
Although its food intake wasn't particularly large, Ocean Fleet2024 basically accepted any feed given to it.
"In that case, it's going to be difficult."
The method of establishing a reward system through food temptation seemed unfeasible.
"Hey, Kanna, how did Dad end up looking like this?"
Ogawa Masaru asked curiously in a lowered voice.
Although he had encountered difficult temperaments before, this was the first time he had seen Dad so disheveled in his most proficient area of breaking in.
"Add 'Older Sister' after Kanna properly!"
Ogawa Kanna sharply knocked her younger brother's head.
However, she still quickly explained the cause of the situation.
Though she didn't expect this idiot to come up with any solutions anyway.
"I see…"
Ogawa Masaru grimaced, rubbing his still throbbing forehead.
"How about… trying to have Mejiro Pegasus assist in its training?"
He cautiously raised his hand to suggest.