**Chapter 39: The First Step of Taming**
"Mejiro Pegasus to help?"
Ogawa Kanna repeated, her voice a little hesitant.
"Are you an idiot!"
The girl tapped her brother's head.
"That Pegasus will only lead O-chan astray!"
While Pegasus could complete training content well, it was impossible to imagine what it would be like for Pegasus to assist with training.
It would definitely be a very strange development—
"For Pegasus to assist with training..."
Ogawa Take, on the other hand, seemed to be genuinely considering the suggestion.
Ogawa Masaru's proposal was not without reason.
When he took Mejiro Pegasus out to graze, he noticed Ocean Fleet2024's seemingly insignificant movements.
In addition to fear, it also showed submission to Mejiro Pegasus, who was the lead horse.
This indicated that Ocean Fleet2024 could, at least to some extent, be influenced by the lead horse.
Thoroughbreds are highly social animals that assess the safety of their surroundings by observing the behavior of their companions.
If the lead horse remains calm in the face of a specific stimulus, other horses in the herd will consciously imitate it, and the time required to adapt will also be shorter.
In addition, the presence of a lead horse can provide psychological support to timid horses, reducing their tension.
Young horses are more likely to relax when they are near a familiar and trusted "role model."
However—
Even Ogawa Take had little confidence that Mejiro Pegasus could take on the role of a "role model."
The fact that it usually intimidates other horses was enough to give him a headache.
Hoping for it to play a positive role in training might be difficult.
"We should give it a try."
After thinking it over, he still nodded and said.
Although the method of using a lead horse to assist timid horses in the herd with training had not been attempted, it was theoretically consistent with the natural habits of horses.
However, in assisted training, the negative feedback from the lead horse could also be transmitted to the trained foals as a somewhat negative example.
But there was no other good way.
After receiving affirmation from his father, the boy, who had been a little guilty, immediately looked at his sister triumphantly.
"Tch—"
Ogawa Kanna deliberately turned her head away.
After grazing, Ogawa Masaru led Mejiro Pegasus and Ocean Fleet2024 into a slightly larger stable together.
As usual, after intimidating Ocean Fleet2024, Mejiro Pegasus, covered in quite a bit of mud, occupied the center of the stable.
The Kurige horse had no choice but to huddle in the corner.
Ogawa Take rubbed his head, a little headache.
It was a bad scene from the start.
However, they still had to try.
Taking out the electric crab, Ocean Fleet2024 immediately showed a posture as if facing a formidable enemy.
In contrast, Mejiro Pegasus only took a few quick glances before turning its head away.
It didn't seem to care at all.
Activating the toy, Ogawa Take placed it at Mejiro Pegasus's feet.
Then, he and the two of them exited the stable.
In normal desensitization training, guidance from the trainer is necessary.
Sometimes, when progress is not smooth, the trainer will even personally play the role of the "lead horse" to provide assistance to the trained horse.
But Ocean Fleet2024 was a special case.
It was simply too timid.
Mejiro Pegasus's ears tilted slightly forward, and it easily used a single hoof to pin down the scurrying electric toy on the ground.
Then, it released its hoof.
After the crab crawled a short distance, it stepped on it again.
It looked like it had started playing.
In the corner, Ocean Fleet2024 cautiously tilted one ear.
After a while, the Kurige horse's front hooves alternately lifted slightly, slowly moving to a closer position.
The muscles in its neck remained tense.
Then, it began to frequently bob its head up and down.
Outside the stable, the three of them saw this scene through the observation window.
"It seems to be working!"
Ogawa Masaru lightly waved his fist.
"It's still early, let's keep watching."
Patting the boy's shoulder, Ogawa Take said in a low voice.
The desensitization contact had only completed the first stage.
Next, there was an even more important step.
Ocean Fleet2024's nose was inching closer to the electric crab.
Then, it lightly brushed against it, like a dragonfly touching the water.
"It worked!"
This time, even Ogawa Take's face showed a relaxed expression.
Horses usually touch target objects with their lips or nose, using this "marking" behavior to indicate acceptance of the stimulus.
At least, Ocean Fleet2024 had successfully overcome its fear of the electric toy in front of it.
"Now we have to press on while the advantage is ours."
Ogawa Take turned and instructed, "Masaru, go get the soft brush!"
In a state of curiosity, horses' learning efficiency often improves.
However, for Thoroughbreds, their attention span is shorter, usually shifting their focus after 2-3 minutes.
"Understood, Dad!"
Ogawa Masaru rushed to the tool shed.
Soon after, the boy returned, holding the soft brush that Ogawa Take had requested.
Ogawa Take planned to conduct touch desensitization, which is also a basic training item.
Normally, this training should have been done during the period when yearling horses establish trust with humans.
The taming content that Ocean Fleet2024, at one year and five months old, was behind on was far more than just this.
Taking the soft brush, Ogawa Take cautiously approached the Kurige horse.
It immediately entered a state of alertness.
It seemed he would have to use the same trick again.
Sighing, he first shifted his target to Mejiro Pegasus.
Feeling the soft brush pass over its neck with appropriate force, Mejiro Pegasus let out a satisfied snort.
He repeated this for a period of time before slowly shifting his target back to Ocean Fleet2024.
The Kurige horse's muscles instantly tensed up.
However, its attitude was much softer than at the beginning.
With the gentlest possible force, the brush in Ogawa Take's hand brushed over Ocean Fleet2024's short neck.
He could clearly feel the Kurige horse's body trembling.
He did not rush to extend to sensitive areas like the abdomen or limbs, only confining the touching to Ocean Fleet2024's neck.
"Good boy, good boy..."
On the other side, Ogawa Masaru continuously used verbal cues and gentle pats on the shoulder to try and soothe the Kurige horse's emotions.
Ogawa Take repeated the same action until Ocean Fleet2024 relaxed.
"This is really difficult—"
He led Ocean Fleet2024 back to the stable, then closed the gate.
He felt a clear sense of fatigue, both physically and mentally.
Judging by today's progress, even the most basic training content would probably take more than four months.
"But, at least there's a way now."
What they could do should be more than what Murata Ranch could do.
I caught a cold from the rain this afternoon, so there's only one update today.