Racing Horse Transport

"Not even as good as most of the stock listed on Rakuten Used Horse Market."

That was Ogawa Joe's blunt assessment of Ocean Fleet 2024.

However, when he received Kitano's request to transfer the horse to another farm, he readily agreed.

Yearlings purchased by owners would usually remain at their breeding farm for some time.

However, there were exceptions.

If the buyer was also an owner-breeder, or had a particularly close relationship with another farm, they would often submit a transfer request to the breeding farm.

Ocean Fleet 2024 had been bred by Murata Farm, whose offspring had performed well in both regional and central racing.

Both its staff and facilities far surpassed those of a small farm like Nishiken Farm.

Yet Kitano had still requested a farm transfer.

An animal's temperament was the result of a dynamic interaction between inherited traits and its later environment.

As a veterinarian, he understood that clearly.

Ocean Fleet 2024's current temperament could not be blamed entirely on the breeding farm.

But there was no denying that the farm had influenced it to some extent during the process.

Judging from the outcome, that influence had not been particularly positive.

"The total, including tax, is 6.6 million yen. Please keep the receipt safe."

Once he accepted the documentation from the Hokkaido Market staff, the transaction was officially complete.

Ogawa Joe, acting as the entrusted representative, then began handling the handover procedures.

Afterward, Ogawa Masaru and Ogawa Kanna would be responsible for loading the two yearlings onto the horse truck.

As both owner and breeder, Nishiken naturally had its own means of transporting horses.

These specialized vehicles, commonly called "horse buses," were not especially rare in Niikappu Town, a horse-producing region.

In the South Kanto Region, owners and breeders usually entrusted racehorse transport to JRA's subsidiary specializing in transportation.

However, in Hokkaido, where transportation was less convenient and small and medium-sized farms were numerous, breeders generally bought their own horse trucks.

From the outside, these vehicles often resembled small buses, while their interiors were laid out like simplified stables.

Nishiken's horse truck was a Mitsubishi Fighter. Its compartment could transport four racehorses at once, along with two stablehands responsible for caring for them during the journey.

Ogawa Kanna easily led the bay yearling filly her family had purchased into the horse truck.

Then she folded her arms and looked at her younger brother, who was drenched in sweat.

"Easy now, don't be scared..."

Ogawa Masaru gently patted Ocean Fleet 2024's back, trying to soothe the horse's anxiety.

The chestnut horse showed the whites of its eyes, while its nostrils had been constantly making snorting sounds from the very beginning.

Even the staff member helping nearby wore a helpless expression.

"Okay, I won't hurt you."

The boy's movements grew even more cautious, afraid that one careless motion would further agitate Ocean Fleet 2024.

Horses were five to ten times more sensitive than humans to sudden movements and noises, and Thoroughbreds were particularly sensitive even among horses.

Not to mention Ocean Fleet 2024, who was extraordinarily sensitive even by Thoroughbred standards.

"How about putting some 'gear' on her?"

Ogawa Kanna suddenly suggested.

"Put gear on her?"

Ogawa Masaru paused.

Still, he followed Ogawa Kanna's suggestion.

For racehorses that did not handle transport well, certain equipment was often used to reduce the stress they endured on the road.

Ear covers, hoods, blinkers, shadow rolls...

In a somewhat desperate attempt to try anything, Ogawa Masaru quickly fitted Ocean Fleet 2024 with a full set of gear.

Although the chestnut horse protested throughout, thankfully she did not resist too violently.

Once fully equipped, Ocean Fleet 2024 finally became willing to move her hooves a little.

With the help of several staff members, they finally managed to load the chestnut horse into the compartment.

"Looks like you've been through quite a battle—"

After finishing his discussion with Kitano, Ogawa Joe arrived to find exactly that scene.

"We've got our work cut out for us from now on, Dad."

Rolling his slightly aching arm, Ogawa Masaru spoke with a wry smile.

Though it had only been a short time, dealing with Ocean Fleet 2024 had already left him mentally and physically exhausted.

By comparison, even handling Mejiro Tenma when she threw a tantrum seemed much easier.

"This is only the beginning. Keep your spirits up!"

Ogawa Joe patted the boy on the shoulder.

"Still, Mr. Kitano really does have... a unique eye."

So far, all three horses Kitano had entrusted to Nishiken for management were the sort that left a deep impression.

In a sense, that counted as skill in judging horses.

Ogawa Joe shook his head again, then closed the compartment and climbed into the driver's seat.

When the vehicle started, Ocean Fleet 2024 let out an uneasy neigh.

Then the chestnut horse tried to turn in circles within the cramped space.

She failed.

Though she was small, each horse was allotted extremely limited space in the truck, and the lead rope was firmly secured to the rail.

There was not much room for them to stretch out inside the vehicle.

Safety was certainly one consideration, but for Nishiken Farm, economics was the greater reason.

Even as a used vehicle with considerable mileage, this transport truck had still cost more than six million yen.

Horse racing was just that expensive a sport.

It was said that some central racing owners had custom transport compartments made specifically for their racehorses, capable of handling even overseas campaigns with ease.

But for Nishiken Farm, that was simply far too distant a prospect.

"Play her some music, A-Sheng!"

Ogawa Joe glanced through the transparent observation window behind the driver's seat at the situation inside the compartment.

Transporting her in that state would not do.

For racehorses that handled transport poorly, every transfer between the track and the turnout grounds had to be treated carefully.

If transport was mishandled, restoring the horse's condition afterward alone could take one or two weeks.

Not to mention the weight they might lose during long-distance travel.

For a small horse like Ocean Fleet 2024, a sudden plunge in weight could even endanger her life.

"M-Music?"

"Idiot, you still have a lot to learn!"

Ogawa Kanna rapped her younger brother on the head, then took out her phone and opened the music player.

She adjusted the volume to an appropriate level and pressed play.

A soothing melody immediately filled the compartment.

"If she still has an appetite, try feeding her something to distract her."

"But if she's carsick, forget it."

After giving those instructions, the girl watched Ocean Fleet 2024's reaction.

The effect was limited, but the horse did seem less tense.

Meanwhile, the bay filly had already begun rhythmically bobbing her head along to the music.