Hoofbeats at the start of the new year

At least things at Nishiken Farm could ease up a little—that was the wish I had made during my New Year shrine visit. Yet from the moment I woke up on New Year's morning, life proved even busier than it had been last year.

After finishing the morning inspection, which continued even on holidays, I did not leave right away as I usually did.

"Looks like you've settled in, Laurel."

The horse housed in the stall beside me was Meisho Gekkei. After ending her racing career with a third-place finish in the Arima Memorial, she had been entrusted to Nishiken Farm as one of the club's broodmares.

Although she had seemed a little uneasy when she arrived at the farm in a horse transport early that morning, by now she was already bobbing her head and chatting with her new neighbors.

What a relief that they're getting along—

With that thought, I opened the panel in front of me.

[Meisho Gekkei]

[Female, 5]

[Dark bay]

[Sire: Noda Ken-kun]

[Damsire: Gone Home]

[Power]

Even before checking Laurel's breeding trait for the first time last month, I had suspected she might be difficult to find a suitable match for domestically.

Sure enough, both her breeding trait and the Advisory Team's recommendations pointed toward dirt-oriented stallions in North America, just as I had expected.

Had she belonged to an individual or to Nishiken Farm, there would naturally have been little reason to hesitate.

But—

Since she belonged to the club, there were suddenly far more things to consider, from the other directors' opinions to the prospects for selling shares in her foal.

As these thoughts ran through my head, I made my way toward the lounge.

"I'm back—"

I opened the door, glanced at the extra pairs of shoes in the