•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

Haji is an ‘ojek kuda,’ one of more than a dozen kids who work in the parking lot of the Pulomas racetrack in East Jakarta renting horses to customers interested in an afternoon pony ride. A student in the morning, Haji talks about his love for horses, the stiff competition among his friends and the kind of food he would never want to see on his plate.

Who comes out here?

Kids, adults, families, everyone. It’s meant as a recreational place for parents and their kids. People come out here to ride horses or they just accompany their children who want the experience of riding a horse. Parents can take pictures of their children while they ride a horse, or they can just stay in the car where they can watch their kids have fun.

How much does it cost to ride a horse?

It’s Rp 10,000 ($1) halfway around the lot, while a ride around the whole lot costs Rp 20,000.

So what’s a typical day like for you?

There are 15 horses that can take customers in our particular area. Whenever people arrive, I have to run up to them because I don’t want the other “ojek kuda” to get to ahead of me. But at the end of the day, my friends and I split whatever money we earn. Sometimes we make as much as Rp 20,000. On other days, we earn nothing.

Doesn’t it get crazy when you guys see a car pull up?

Like I said, every time somebody comes in, I have to rush up to them because I want the customers to pick my horse first. However, we have different kinds of horses, like the Bonsai, dwarf horses and racehorses, apart of course from the regular breeds. With so many different breeds here, customers have a lot of different choices.

How old are you?

I’m 15 years old.

How did you get this job?

From one of our neighbors. My brother and I work here. After our mom died, we started living with our dad. We work here because we want to make a living.

Do you go to school?

Yes, but only until noon. Then I come here and work from 2 p.m. until sundown.

What do you do when you’re not working or in school?

I play football with the other kids here in the parking lot.

Do you have a name for your horse?

Afrika. She’s 3 years old. I consider her my friend. In fact, I think she’s my soulmate [laughs].

You do business here in the parking lot of the Pulomas racetrack. Has Afrika ever raced?

No, Afrika is not a racehorse. She’s a Bonsai, a breed of small horses from Padang that is normally used for transporting people. There used to be a race held at the track every month, but that was a long time ago. Right now, no one comes to the track anymore.

Where does Afrika sleep?

There are stables behind the racetrack. We take the horses there every night, so we can brush, wash and feed them. It costs a lot to feed the horses, but we make sure to buy them food regularly.

There are restaurants here in Jakarta that sell horse sate and horse soup. Have you ever eaten horse meat?

No, I haven’t. I couldn’t bear the thought of eating Afrika’s meat or that of any horse.

Do you know how to change horseshoes?

No, I don’t. The guy who owns the horse is responsible for that.

Has anyone ever rented your horse and taken her outside the parking lot? Has anyone ever taken Afrika for a spin around the city?

Somebody rented a horse once and rode it to Monas. On some occasions, people rent a horse for circumcision ceremonies and birthday parties.

Do you think you would get in trouble if you rode the horse down Jalan Sudirman?

No, I don’t think so. The cops would never catch you [laughs]. They’d be too scared.



Haji was talking to Gizzelle Shore.