Gayo Land is the home of horse lovers. Land that not only save the beauty, but also bequeath courage past the boy Takengon. Being a familiar sight watching Gayo's young men darting on horseback. Drove lightheartedly, for all they knew was a whiny cowboy who had the guts of a nail.
Until now horses for children Gayo is a friend of the game. A friend who becomes a daily ride. like a bicycle or motorbike for the big city kids.
Gayo land entered in the region of Central Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, with the district capital named Takengon. Here the horse is so precious and loved.
Living in the hilly area, Gayo community since the first dissolves in the culture of raising horses. This habit ultimately also places the horse into a symbol of dignity and prestige, and a mirror of male virility.
To channel hobbies, people in this region also held a race race year after year. This is a means of release, because taking care of horses is no longer just a hobby. And, the fight became a venue for proof horses.
Like that day. Two more days the race will be held. The field is crowded with horse owners who come from various parts of Central Aceh.
There is a simple purpose behind this. This is a gathering place for fellow lovers of horses. Containers of great moments of friendship between humans and animals.
The Gayo Horse race is a great family parade. Because not only the owner, this fighting event often involves the people closest to the owner of the horse.
Abdul Rahman, for example. Farmers and coffee businessmen who consider horses to be a part of life. Since she was young, she has never been absent even at the racetrack.
For Rahman, living without a horse is something odd. After the family, the horse was never separated completely from daily life.
In fact, when the race was held, he brought families including children and grandchildren, as well as neighbors to come to the location. Not just coming, Rahman felt the need to build a tent around the arena. Rather, Rahman will stay for a race that usually takes a week.
Rahman is just one of the lover of horses who move the family from home to the race. People like Rahman assume, every moment of the race arrives, the family becomes the most important part to watch the horse champion fight. Not solely as a supporter, but also enjoy the festive entertainment once a year.
When another day of the race will be held, every horse owner with their jockey keep practicing all day.
The Gayo horse jockeys are mostly teenagers under the age of eighteen. They were children who grew up and grew up with the sound of hoofs. With no saddles and shoes, they were able to drive the horse at maximum speed.
The cape is a tough jockey. This boy is fearless and skilled at steering the horse to the finish line as the winner. Tanjung's cleverness is able to control the horse run with great speed.
Tanjung became one among dozens of young jockeys. There are many reliable jockeys in Gayo Land. They are paid about two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand rupiah once a fight.
Not surprisingly, when the fight in the class of children and adolescents always siphon great attention. The size of the jockey body is a small and big risk, of course, invites its own charm. People thirst for the sensation of the guts of a boy who are darting like lightning.
And it takes careful preparation to become champion. Horses should be carefully cared for. The poultice in the leg should be examined strictly.
The time came. In a moment Tanjung will compete. His opponent this time is not a light opponent. But, Tanjung does not know the word dither. His determination was only one: to go home victoriously.
The difficulty of riding a horse without a saddle is to place a stable sitting position to balance. That is why they are the magical boys, who may be, were born and raised to be a fighter. And that day, Tanjung again became a champion.