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A guide to the Arthayasa Stables and Country Club in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Arth
ayas
aJAKARTA’S FINEST EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION
Chagrin made me grit my teeth as the horse’s groom neatly fixed my failed a5empt at slipping the bridle onto the horse’s head. The groom, named Slamet, smoothly a5ached the rest of the various pieces of horse-‐a@re onto the horse named Justright. PaCently smiling at me, he gave me the reins and let me lead Justright out to the main training arena at the Arthayasa Stables. Sighing at my lack of capacity to remember how to prepare Justright’s bridle aGer three days of pracCcing, I complied and led the dark chocolate-‐colored horse out to the arena. The Arthayasa Stables and Country Club is located in Cinere, a suburb in the southern part of Jakarta. Launched as a private horse-‐riding club by Mr. Rafiq Hakim Radinal in 1992, it has since developed into one of the most well-‐known and respected
equestrian organizaCons in South East Asia. It is home to over 10 beginner Riding School horses alone, with four instructors to assist clients who wish to pursue both horseback-‐riding and dressage. Other faciliCes are also available at Arthayasa, including a pool, a café, a restaurant, and a playground. The stables also provide an opportunity for owners to board their horses at Arthayasa, where they are well cared for, though it is the owner’s responsibility to exercise their horses. Of various colors, shapes and sizes, the populaCon of horses in Arthayasa varies from mini-‐unicorn-‐like ponies to truly enormous, majesCc stallions and mares. While horses seem to be the main animal present throughout the 14
acres of Arthayasa land, the pet dogs of visitors and instructors freely wander around the premises, making it a point to be welcoming hosts to any guests. Thousands upon thousands of brilliantly colored flowers, plants and leaves cover the enCre Arthayasa area, drawing in anyone who appreciates the outdoors. This
The front of the Arthayasa Stables and Country Club Head Office.
One of the instructor’s dogs, Flexa, fetches a stick
that I threw into the pool.
Photos and Text
by Sanjana
Canumalla
greenery also draws in a few cri5ers that not all enjoy looking at, including beetles, spiders, flies and various other crawlers.
The stables themselves, surrounded by corrals with striking horses galloping freely in them, appear to be some of the most peaceful locaCons in the enCre span of Arthayasa. Surrounded by the natural greenery of Indonesia, the stables provide a very calming atmosphere, the only sounds heard being the occasional snorts of horses or
clip-‐clopping of hooves against concrete. The stories behind some of the owners of these hooves are someCmes unfortunate, and remind us that life outside the premises of an animal-‐lover’s territory is very different and more frightening than that inside. Most of the local Indonesian horses were oGen abused as foals and young horses before they were rescued and brought to Arthayasa. This resulted in a wavering trust of humans, and these horses oGen become agitated and unnerved by the presence of too many of us. While some of them have taken to the gentler touch of humans at Arthayasa, some sCll do not trust us, and someCmes a5empt to bite when they are approached head on or are surprised. Usually they all soGen up for a few carrots, though. The instructors at Arthayasa include Anto Budiarto and Adhita Indra, the senior instructors, and Denish ChrisCan and Amril Anas (Ham), two assistant instructors. All are highly qualified riders, and have been riding horses for the past 10-‐25 years. Slamet, a groom for the horse I
A couple of beetles explore a stunning red flower near the pool and trampoline.
Top 10 Things to do
at Arthayasa
a guide to activities at the club
1. Play with the instructors’ dogsThe three or four friendly, four-legged companions of the instructors at Arthayasa provide visitors with fun and tireless playmates. Flexa, Dora, Ucil and her puppies might even be some of Jakarta’s most adorable dogs.
2. Enjoy a swim in the club’s poolsWith a baby pool and a large, full-size pool, the Arthayasa pool area is an easy way to wind down after a long day of riding.
3. Go for a long walk from the beginning to the end of Arthayasa landWith around 14 acres of land total, Arthayasa grounds provide guests with a good 1-2 hour walk through stables, corrals, and gardens.
4. Visit the ‘Kampoeng 99 Pohonan” This local, environmentally-friendly village is a great place to explore life outside the city and trees and plants untainted by pollution.
5. Try some different dishes cooked by the cafe’s chefFrom Indonesian to Western, the head chef at the Arthayasa cafe always whips up a delicious meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Pak Sur starts to groom his horse named Srikandi.
The baby pool at Arthayasa proves to be a beautiful but fun spot to hang out.
6. Jump until you get dizzy on the trampolineArthayasa owns a trampoline, which can be used by the usual hyper child, or even an adult (when no one’s watching...).
7. Spend the night in one of the cabinsYou can stay the night (or more) in one or both of the cabins available for staying in at Arthayasa. Located close to the head office, these cabins are safe, fun and useful.
8. Visit the two little poniesThe two large dog-sized ponies that live in Arthayasa are just real life versions of the ponies in ‘My Little Pony’ ads!
9. Ask if you can paint a spare horseshoeWith lots of spare horseshoes lying around at Arthayasa, there should be no great difficulty in asking if you can paint one of them and either take it home or leave it there. If they say no, just take a piece of paper and paint one of the several sights to see at the Stables.
10. RideJust ask if you can have a lesson with one of the instructors, or, if you’re already an accomplished enough rider, ask if you can borrow a horse and ride it! Most of the horses at Arthayasa, if not all, are like oversized puppies when it comes to the way they think!
To Contact Arthayasa:
Name: Arthayasa Stables and Country
Club
Phone Number: +62 21 754 7024/5
Fax: +62 21 754 7026
Email: [email protected]
Address: Blok Tengki, Desa Grogol
Kecamatan Limo-Cinere
Depok 16512, Indonesia
was riding that week, was only one of the many, many, grooms who care for and exercise the stables’ horses. My group and I were lucky enough to be acquainted with six of those grooms and horses, including Pak Slamet with Justright. A first-‐Cme trip to Arthayasa definitely warrants a visit to the Kampoeng 99 Pohonan (99 Trees Village), a small, environmentally friendly village-‐organizaCon in Cinere that grows its own food, teaches in its own school and is dedicated to replenishing the trees in that area. Over 2,000 goats, cows and ca5le, and innumerable self-‐planted trees reside in the Village, along with several human inhabitants, who have built their houses by themselves out of wood that they have grown. Though the pungent odor of goat and cow feces occasionally threatens to kill your sense of smell, and the ear-‐spli@ng hooCng of a spider monkey makes you want to clap your hands over your ears, the dense jade leaves that give the air a stunning golden-‐green appearance compensate for it all. Gorgeous vegetaCon,
impressive faciliCes and ease of access make a trip to the Arthayasa Stables and Country Club in Jakarta a thrilling experience. Filled with moments of excitement, fear, elaCon and pride, horseback riding is a harder-‐than-‐it-‐looks skill that requires pracCce and training, and is a total blast, like any other Olympic sport.
Justright displays his impatience at being cooped up in the stables all day!
A resident horse looks for more carrots.