One afternoon, after the morning work had ended.
While checking the progress on the damaged sections of the pasture fence, I walked over to Ravide, who was leaning against the tractor.
"Once all the snow has melted, let's turn the area that was originally used as a carrot field into pasture."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"The section we were planning to use for dairy cows too."
"Eh! Why—"
Before Ravide could say anything, Zepp, who had been dozing in the tractor's driver's seat, let out a distinctly startled cry.
"We worked so hard to clear that field..."
"But we have more horses now... If we want everyone to have enough grazing space, this is the only way."
The deputy farm manager looked reluctant, but as someone raising horses in Hidaka, he had reasons why this had to be done.
Generally speaking, a pasture needed to average about one chobu per horse.
At the farm as it stood, there were a fair number of retired horses that required comparatively less grazing space, but the total pasture area had never truly met the standard of "one chobu per horse."
The shortage of grass could be covered by buying from the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives or, in emergencies, using the Amulet, but foals, broodmares, stallions, and retired horses alike needed sufficient exercise to live healthily. Even if it meant turning comparatively more valuable orchards into cheaper pastureland, the grass had to be grown. Small and medium-sized farms in Hidaka and across Hokkaido had all been built through sacrifices like these.
"In that case, the conversion work can wait until after the snow melts, but we need to start testing the soil's pH now."
The farm manager pulled a crumpled cigarette from his breast pocket and put it between his lips without lighting it.