Better Safe Than Sorry

October was just around the corner. The September auction had only just ended, and the autumn auction was already about to begin.

As both an owner and a breeder, he naturally could not avoid being busy during auction season. The farm's only two horse transporters had also recently been loaned out to neighboring farms for continuous use.

Still, since there were no plans for the autumn auction for once, the farm's actual workload had become somewhat lighter instead.

Other than receiving owners and breeders who visited the farm during breaks between auctions, most of their attention was focused on the yearlings.

The twenty-four-hour turnout that had begun some time earlier had finally allowed Moon Radiance, who had just recovered from hives, to start gaining weight in the early autumn after weaning.

Although the increase was not substantial, watching the farm's homebred foals grow brought a different kind of satisfaction from winning races as an owner.

—Including President Fujita and Sasaki, they had once again turned down quite a few familiar owners' purchase offers, whether made jokingly or in earnest.

It was still far too early to be content with the current situation.

From October through November, temperatures in Hidaka and Mitsuishi had yet to become truly severe.

This was precisely the precious time to make every necessary preparation.

There was still plenty of fresh grass at the farm, but judging by previous years, it would quickly run out after the snow began falling. They would then have no choice but to start feeding hay early.

Thanks to the newly purchased agricultural machinery, the farm had managed to stockpile a large amount of hay for the harsh winter despite its limited manpower.

However—

With so many voracious eaters laying siege to it, this winter would probably be another hard battle.

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