On a Pale Horse (Umamusume/Youjo Senki)

[Aigloss]

Also, isn't 70 the human average, as well? I think you might have reverse biologied yourself into making them human-aligned.

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In Japan its around 85. And 15 years average lifespan difference is huge

 

[JamJackEvo]

Tazuna: And this right here will be your new office. Do you have any other questions?

Therapist: Yeah. I know it's kind of late to be asking this since I'm already hired and signed the contract, but... why exactly does Tracen require the services of a trauma therapist like me?

Tazuna: Mainly due to one of our students who has, so far, traumatized 5 other students during a race.

Therapist: Oh dear, what did she do?

Tazuna: That's just it. She did nothing. But her mere presence in the tracks terrifies the other students.

Therapist: Uhm... okay, but surely it's not that bad—

Tazuna: Kaunsera-sensei, I've already taken the liberty of compiling the psychological reports of the affected students due to Shirogane Orzel. If you will read through them, you'll come to understand somewhat.

Therapist: ... how on earth can an Uma even traumatize just from presence alone?

Tazuma: I assure you, sensei, that for an Uma like Shirogane Orzel... she puts the uma in trauma.

 

[Impstar]

It's interesting to see how instinctual umas are in this story compared to humans. An uma with an unnerving air around her is enough to drive uma into a blind panic (nice metal sounds optional). Going back to the analogy with how Shiro is like a human who does not blink, I would rate her as mildly unsettling but hardly panic inducing, from a human perspective.

But she caused multiple uma to go into nearly blind panics. I know that there probably is a bit of exaggeration for comedic effect, but it also makes me interested in the psychology of uma that this would actually happen at all to this degree. Especially since despite being in a blind panic, they weren't actually in a blind panic because they were still racing and not just running away from her as fast as possible.

Of course not every uma is like this. In fact it seems like most uma aren't THAT scared of her. She's never scared her aquaintances at Tracen like this, and while we don't exactly get to see into every uma she's racing's mind, most of them are probably a lot steadier as well. But that it has happened at all, multiple times at that, shows there's definitely something going on.

 

[Maiden_Soliloquy]

I think it's mostly cause of her attitude during races and her eerily blank face. iirc she pins her ears back to streamline(?) and ears pinned back signify anger and/or rage. Forgot exactly what it means on horses but close enough.

It may also just be the pressure not helping with all of this as well.

 

[Melmar]

Shirogane puts on what is for honses an "I'm going to chase you down and beat you to death," face when she's racing. Putting on armor and having a (for show) weapon only compounded that.

If they knew about the theoretical irl version stomping a bear to death, they'd be a lot more worried.

 

[Impstar]

Shirogane puts on what is for honses an "I'm going to chase you down and beat you to death," face when she's racing. Putting on armor and having a (for show) weapon only compounded that.

If they knew about the theoretical irl version stomping a bear to death, they'd be a lot more worried.

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While true, the human equivalent (maybe something like is visibly red with apparent rage and breathing heavily) still would not induce anything close to the levels of panic in a human. So what I said still stands. They're in a setting where no reasonable human would expect even someone who looks furious to start actually attacking them in the middle of a race, and thus probably would not be panic running to get away from the furious person.

 

[Melmar]

While true, the human equivalent (maybe something like is visibly red with apparent rage and breathing heavily) still would not induce anything close to the levels of panic in a human. So what I said still stands. They're in a setting where no reasonable human would expect even someone who looks furious to start actually attacking them in the middle of a race, and thus probably would not be panic running to get away from the furious person.

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Horses are big and panicky. Comes from being prey animals whose main defense is running away. Something looks off to a horse, they bolt.

 

[Maiden_Soliloquy]

Horses are big and panicky. Comes from being prey animals whose main defense is running away. Something looks off to a horse, they bolt.

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Horses are afraid of anything moving and anything not moving.

 

[eager slacker]

Horses also tend to crap themselves in preparation to bolt and/or fight.

 

[Impstar]

Horses are big and panicky. Comes from being prey animals whose main defense is running away. Something looks off to a horse, they bolt.

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Why, yes. Uma are, however, not actually horses.

Which loops around to my original post where I'm interested in the psychology of umas who appear to be mostly human but have a few quirks in this story that also marks them as somewhat unusual in other ways. I'm not saying oh this is a plot hole, uma should not be acting this way. This is me finding interest in analyzing the differences in psychology between humans and uma, when uma are closer in appearance and attitude to humans than horses (but still share some horse traits).

 

[Zweibach]

The story has been pretty explicit with umas acting a fair bit like horses. Like keeping them separate as kids until they've grown out of the worst of it.

 

[WrandmWaffles]

Of course not every uma is like this. In fact it seems like most uma aren't THAT scared of her. She's never scared her aquaintances at Tracen like this, and while we don't exactly get to see into every uma she's racing's mind, most of them are probably a lot steadier as well. But that it has happened at all, multiple times at that, shows there's definitely something going on.

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Notice that the umas that get scared witless are ones that do not know Shirogane personally, sometimes with her just showing up in their blindspot unannounced.

Horses are big and panicky.

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Horses are afraid of anything moving and anything not moving.

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This is me finding interest in analyzing the differences in psychology between humans and uma, when uma are closer in appearance and attitude to humans than horses (but still share some horse traits).

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With the whole conceit being that umas are human incarnations or horses, it would make sense that they are generally more skittish that normal humans. It's why I included young umas being in their segregated classes where they went through some desensitization training. Though as they are also human-like, they are not quite as skittish as actual horses.

An uma with an unnerving air around her is enough to drive uma into a blind panic (nice metal sounds optional). Going back to the analogy with how Shiro is like a human who does not blink, I would rate her as mildly unsettling but hardly panic inducing, from a human perspective.

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Combine the two above points, and consider a situation where you are being chased like so:

View: https://youtu.be/Fnh_5Z5FKLA?si=Oeq5nGjUjGkS4p34

While a human who doesn't blink is mildly unsettling, if they are running at you like this without visible exertion, it becomes a lot more concerning. And with umas being more skittish than humans, it freaks them out a lot more.

For those that know Shirogane personally, and are thus desensitized to her, it is not as terrifying, but Seiun Sky really doesn't like it either, she just knows Shirogane isn't going to actually hurt her.

 

[Artful Lounger]

If they think Shirogane is scary already they're going to freak when they get the full Tanya smile

 

[zebrin]

So... apparently Shirogane is quite the silver collector. And probably will continue to collect silvers until she finally manages to break that block holding her back...
She loses because she doesn't truly want to win.
She never tries, like actually gives her all to win. To her, winning is a nice thing, but it's not... you know, the only thing. She can get a great prize from the second place just fine after all...
She has no urgency. And as such, she holds back, simply because it will let her run the next race all the faster.

Which really really puts into perspective what a true demon of the race course she really is, when she is still maintaining a podium placement when she isn't really motivated.

I kinda wonder what will actually motivate her.

Also? Steady Distance? You are not ready... Shirogane is gonna frenzy nuke you to Oblivion.

 

[Maiden_Soliloquy]

Kinda wish Shirogane just doesn't change and just stays as an Uma that races mainly for the money. I don't think it'd be great for the story and/or readers but I've had the thought for a while.

 

[Jomasten]

Kinda wish Shirogane just doesn't change and just stays as an Uma that races mainly for the money. I don't think it'd be great for the story and/or readers but I've had the thought for a while.

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Tha might get boring very fast unless this fic is slice of life.

There needs to be some kind of progression for Shiro or else she's kinda bland without any actual motivation other than money.

 

[Maiden_Soliloquy]

Tha might get boring very fast unless this fic is slice of life.

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Indeed, that's why I said it probably wouldn't be good for the story.

 

[ndh]

Shirogane Suzuki at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, pulling in a sub 1 hour umathon.

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Unfortunately, she suffered a knee injury and couldn't compete in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics umathon to close out the games. Which may have been a good thing, as she likely would have killed a crazed preacher who tussled with the lead uma in the race.
Edit: For reference, the men's marathon ends the Summer Olympics games, but given what a Marathon is based on, the Greeks most likely would have sent an Uma for the first runner and a man for the second runner. As for the preacher, that isn't even the most dangerous stunt he's pulled, as at the 2003 British Grand Prix he went onto the track during the race.

 

[fuddler]

Tha might get boring very fast unless this fic is slice of life.

There needs to be some kind of progression for Shiro or else she's kinda bland without any actual motivation other than money.

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Isn't money a pretty decent motivation for her to keep improving? She only wants it to help her parents, and she needs to place high to earn the big bucks, so she'll work hard to keep winning.

If she stopped caring about money and started racing for fun or to be the best, she'd just be generic Uma no.200, there'd be nothing unique about her.

 

[Impstar]

So... apparently Shirogane is quite the silver collector. And probably will continue to collect silvers until she finally manages to break that block holding her back...
She loses because she doesn't truly want to win.
She never tries, like actually gives her all to win. To her, winning is a nice thing, but it's not... you know, the only thing. She can get a great prize from the second place just fine after all...
She has no urgency. And as such, she holds back, simply because it will let her run the next race all the faster.

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She does try. She puts almost 100% into every race (especially when she gets her G1 racing outfit on); she doesn't need to hold back to avoid injury like, say, IRL Haru Urara, she is literally built different than most racing uma. But she won't ever put more than 100% into a race because she just doesn't care enough.

But saying she loses because she doesn't truly want to win I feel is underselling her. Like she only halfasses racing. She does not halfass racing. She tries. She tries hard, she pushes herself to her physical limit. But she doesn't push herself past that point like the most successful uma do.

 

[Kazumaa23]

I'm struck by the thought that there must be a not insignificant amount of human fathers who outlive their umamusume wives and daughters. Seems like a sad inevitability, after all the life expectancy in Japan is quite high isn't it? And you can never know what events might transpire on the racecourse.

Honestly, sounds like the background story of an older trainer in charge of a younger umamusume, like Nishino Flower or Rice Shower. Bereaved old man who's got a wealth of knowledge on the care of umamusume as well as a lifetime spent with a wife who was a retired racer, becomes the trainer of a young uma full of potential. You can practically imagine all the plot points already, bitter and tired but slowly warming up to his trainee, getting eager to support her dreams of running, the triumphant first win, the devastating first injury, the establishment of a rivalry with a fellow uma who unfortunately becomes the target of the old man's withering glares, all the good stuff.

Ooh, imagine a scene where he gives his trainee a part of his daughter's racing outfit? Something like letting the memory of her go to rest on the racecourse, where it belongs.

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If anything is the opposite, Oguri mom was single and I think that was a thing for other Umas.

 

[Impstar]

If anything is the opposite, Oguri mom was single and I think that was a thing for other Umas.

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I don't think, like, 3 data points (because other than Oguri I can think of only two other uma with a single mom, and even then with two of them they're not explicitly a single mom, the dad is just never really talked about) is really indicative of anything. Heck, counterpoint, for Mayano, El Condo Pasa, and Kitasan we only ever hear about their fathers.

 

[bucketbot129]

Heck, counterpoint, for Mayano, El Condo Pasa, and Kitasan we only ever hear about their fathers.

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You forgot about Teio…

 

[Artful Lounger]

The story has been pretty explicit with umas acting a fair bit like horses. Like keeping them separate as kids until they've grown out of the worst of it.

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The image of a bunch of baby Uma getting thwopped with a pool noodle as the teacher takes roll call is a funny one

 

[Winged One]

The image of a bunch of baby Uma getting thwopped with a pool noodle as the teacher takes roll call is a funny one

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It will be hilarious when people find out that her school used to put Shirogane's more skittish classmates next to her. Because people who were there know it was becasue she was incredibly fucking chill at that age and was setting a good example, but people who weren't there will be imagining some kind of horrible exposure therapy.

 

[Artful Lounger]

It will be hilarious when people find out that her school used to put Shirogane's more skittish classmates next to her. Because people who were there know it was becasue she was incredibly fucking chill at that age and was setting a good example, but people who weren't there will be imagining some kind of horrible exposure therapy.

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Bonus points if one of her old classmates was Gold Ship

 

[TheSmallSauce]

Wonder if Steady Distance is at all influenced by an actual racehorse? Also should probably just re-read the earlier chapters again, but is her racing strategy ever mentioned?

"If you keep growing like this, Azuki-chan, you'll be too big for me to carry soon."

"Aw…then how about Azuki-chan carry you?"

"If that will help you with your training, I suppose I could submit myself to that."

"Yay! Shirogane-chan is the best!"

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Ended up re-reading some of the earlier chapters.

This is really cute. She has a soft spot for the little sister, who's probably around two meters tall fully grown.

Also Steady beats Shiro after the piggyback race with the ice cream sisters, on account of being more physically mature and experienced, but it wasn't mentioned how she was running, besides that's probably hard to tell in a two-horse race anyway. Not much in the way of strategy and positioning to be had there, though even back then Shiro was already taking advantage of her small stature to do her slipstream trick.

 

[Impstar]

Isn't money a pretty decent motivation for her to keep improving? She only wants it to help her parents, and she needs to place high to earn the big bucks, so she'll work hard to keep winning.

If she stopped caring about money and started racing for fun or to be the best, she'd just be generic Uma no.200, there'd be nothing unique about her.

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I agree that her being driven by money is an interesting counterpoint to most uma. However eventually she's going to make enough money to fund her parents' retirement and hire other people to take over the restaurant. Then what? What's going to motivate her? More money? Shiro isn't the type of girl to aim for money for money's sake. She wants the money for a reason and once that reason is met... why keep racing? And this isn't even necessarily a goal that will be fulfilled many years in the future. G1 wins give a high payout, and while she probably won't get many of them I imagine she will get a few, especially in the long races.

So I think that there does need to be something else, if her career is going to be actually long and not cut short from lack of motivation.

 

[Aigloss]

I agree that her being driven by money is an interesting counterpoint to most uma. However eventually she's going to make enough money to fund her parents' retirement and hire other people to take over the restaurant. Then what? What's going to motivate her? More money? Shiro isn't the type of girl to aim for money for money's sake. She wants the money for a reason and once that reason is met... why keep racing? And this isn't even necessarily a goal that will be fulfilled many years in the future. G1 wins give a high payout, and while she probably won't get many of them I imagine she will get a few, especially in the long races.

So I think that there does need to be something else, if her career is going to be actually long and not cut short from lack of motivation.

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Would it be wrong for her to retire once she got "enough" money? Its already slice of life fic and for all that i enjoy all the memes about Shiro racing for decades, her retiring relatively early sounds fine.

Her school friends finally getting "i was in it for the money" explanation and trying to wrap their head around that would be fun scene in its own

 

[Impstar]

Would it be wrong for her to retire once she got "enough" money? Its already slice of life fic and for all that i enjoy all the memes about Shiro racing for decades, her retiring relatively early sounds fine.

Her school friends finally getting "i was in it for the money" explanation and trying to wrap their head around that would be fun scene in its own

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I don't think it would be 'wrong' per say. I think that her career will land on the long side because of the conversations thrown around the thread, including some comments by the OP.

That said they weren't explicit statements on the future of the story. If I'm right and her career will be long then there needs to be something more than funding her parent's retirement driving her. But I don't think it'd make the story worse if her career wasn't long either.