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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: info@arthayasa.com

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.