It's nice to be back.
Finally fulfilling my promise I made five years ago to come back to this paradise. Had dreamed of riding a horse someday when I am over 20 years old since I was still a teenager (I dreamed of white horse actually). Still don't know yet if I want to be an equestrian right now. Just fulfilling my calling these days to see these beautiful creatures. So, I went to Bogor yesterday accompanied by my friend Tira.
It takes ≤ 3 hours for us going there from Jakarta by commuter line and 2 angkot (public transportation). We used to know the route cos the place was not foreign to us, yet we forget, so I asked my friend from Bogor. The stable was in Kinasih Outbound & Conference. If you want to come you can go by angkot 02 from Bogor station to Sukasari and continued with angkot Cicurug-Bogor from Sukasari to Kinasih, Caringin. Just reverse them for going home. Each angkot costs IDR 4k and 5k only.
I had made an appointment with the stable manager to have class with coach Ricky Manarisip at 11 am. You needed to contact the manager before and he will see if the coaches are available. There are five coaches for the riding school and you may choose with whom you want to learn. If you want to just enjoy riding a horse and strolling around the garden in Kinasih, they also provide horse riding for visitors. It costs IDR 20k for short route and 50k for the whole area.
I want to be able to ride a horse, but my main goal is to have chemistry with it. I think this is the first time I learn sport that engage with living thing and that's what I love from this sport. I think the coach can see my desire, so after class he allow me and Tira to visit the stable and feed the horses. There are about 38 horses! Entering the stable somehow makes me feel like in Barbie and The Three Musketeers movie. LOL
They all are so beautiful. Some are calm too. Some are so tall and handsome. They all have cool names like Salvador, Princess Ross, Princess Camellia and Twin Light.
They eat grasses and wheat snack. The snack that I can eat too. LOL. So, it was very nice bonding session because we can eat together. I enjoy feeding them, though they lick my hand when they take the snack.
My first class was started with me strolling around with the horse to let us know each other. The first time being on top of the horse was felt unbalance because my back was stiff, but soon I can relax my back and feel comfort. "Being on top of the horse we must make it feels like on a swing," said the coach. While riding we may not bend our posture. The shoulders should be straight, but relaxed. Then, the rest of the class was focusing on trot exercise. It was sooooo not easy and sooooo tiring, but I like it! All you have to do is just focus on up-down-up-down rhythm. However, it doesn't as easy as it sounds. I got difficulty fasten my tempo when the horse start to trot. Sometimes I got bounced because I miss the tempo. So, that was my assignment. However, the coach said that I had big desire and I am brave already to stand high on top of the horse and I can relax my body following the horse. Yippie!
Well, the point is you have to put your strength on your feet when riding horse. Now while writing this blog I got my leg achy which is thing that already reminded by the coach yesterday that I'll got my body achy the next day after exercise. It is normal because the first time I learned Tae Kwon Do I got my body achy too.
Actually for riding horse we need certain attributes, mainly riding boots and helmet, but yesterday I wear sport shoes that I have and they lend me the helmet. At the end the coach lend me his riding boots too. We also need gloves. Can be gloves that not too thick. Yesterday I got my finger red because I hold on the saddle.
To wrap, I am so happy that yesterday I got lil achievements. I can relax my body and get balance while riding the horse. I can get on top and get off the horse smoothly because at the first time I did it hesitantly and almost got my thigh cramped. I could stand up and sit down on top of the horse confidently.
So, I needed to try again more for getting the tempo. And I need to do exercise to strengthen my body!
