Asian Games Nostalgia in Tapos

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Students practice riding at SMA senior high school Adria Pratama Mulya in Tapos village, Tigaraksa district, Tangerang regency, Banten, Tuesday (18/9/2018). The school’s curriculum includes horse-riding classes.

The joyful spirit of the 2018 Asian Games still fills the air. Those wishing to relive the Games can visit some of the sports venues that are open to the public. Among them is the pentathlon venue in Tapos village, Tigaraksa, Tangerang regency.

Carli gallantly walked out of his stable and toward the Nastello Indoor Arena, an equestrian arena at the Adria Pratama Mulya Boarding School and Equestrian Centre, on Tuesday (19/8/2018). His mane was neatly combed and his body was clean after Chedi Cordelya Wiano, 17, currycombed him. Carli looked dashing with Chedi, his owner, riding on his back.

Chedi, or Caca as she is often called, first asked Carli to walk casually. Afterwards, Carli was trotting, cantering and show-jumping.

Her friend Charlotte Fatima Haque Ramadhan, 15, rode a horse named APM Ebony that belongs to the Adria Pratama Mulya (APM) Foundation. Charlotte and Caca then rode their horses around the enclosed arena.

Showcasing their skills and expertise, the two APM high school students rode the horses in such a way that it felt as if you were watching a western film.

Charlotte, the second child of celebrities Shahnaz Haque and Gilang Ramadhan, is a 10^th grade student. She began riding horses at 13 without owning one. Caca, meanwhile, has been riding since middle school. She has her own horse, which she brings to the school.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

A horse is being trained at SMA senior high school Adria Pratama Mulya in Tapos village, Tigaraksa district, Tangerang regency, Banten, Tuesday (18/9/2018). The school’s curriculum includes horse-riding classes.

“All students here are required to take care of their horses. Every time they want to ride their horses, they have to prepare everything on their own, including preparing the horseback riding equipment, cleaning their horses and riding them,” APM Foundation public relations and marketing officer Ahmad Munawar said in Tapos village, Tigaraksa, on Tuesday (18/9/2018).

Ahmad said that the school was the first and, thus far, only equestrian boarding school in Indonesia. “This is the first and only school in Indonesia that combines the national curriculum and an equestrian curriculum,” he said.

Ahmad said the school’s horseback riding activities were not exclusively for its students. People can visit the school and enjoy equestrian activities.

Overview

The center was first established as a ranch in 2008. The equestrian school followed in 2013 under the management of the APM Foundation.

The 90,000-square-meter school and equestrian center is owned by Indonesian equestrian athlete Nadia Marciano, who has been horseback riding since she was six. It has international-standard equestrian facilities, a lunging arena, a paddock, an equestrian clinic, a club house, the Matt and Jenna Café, a basketball arena and a swimming pool that was constructed for Asian Games pentathlon events.

“Here, we also provide swimming and taekwondo lessons. Taekwondo is open to the public, while swimming at the international-standard pool is reserved for members and students,” Ahmad said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Students prepare horses for training at SMA senior high school Adria Pratama Mulya in Tapos village, Tigaraksa district, Tangerang regency, Banten, Tuesday (18/9/2018). The school’s curriculum includes horse-riding classes.

A number of cottages are available for rent for visitors wishing to stay the night during their travels or for those who want to watch sports competitions.

In terms of equestrian activities, the center provides pony ride lessons, lunging lessons, group riding sessions and its Autism Feeding Program. Horseback riding lessons are open from Tuesday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m; as well as on weekends from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The center also has a horse breeding facility supported by expert veterinarians. “We provide the best quality stallions,” Ahmad said.

Most of the horses in the stable are sport horses for riding. They are sourced from Bandung, Sumba, Java, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

“Horseback riding is more about chemistry. Horses can feel our emotions when we ride them,” Caca said while currycombing her horse.

Apart from the equestrian facilities, the center also has the canine-shaped Dog Hotel, where owners can place their dogs for periods of time.

Another interesting facility is the pony stable. In it, you will find the stocky French pony Dave. Its color is dominantly black, especially on its legs and upper neck. Children love to see and ride the pony. The center’s management often holds painting activities for children.

KOMPAS/PINGKAN ELITA DUNDU

Golfers play it out on the golf course at Tigaraksa Golf Residens in Tapos village, Tigaraksa district, Tangerang regency, Banten, Wednesday (19/9/2018).

Equestrian educational programs at the center range from introductory pony-riding classes for children as young as 2 years old to horseback riding lessons with professional trainers.

One trial riding session for children costs Rp 400,000 (US$26.95). Pony-riding sessions are Rp 200,000 per child for 4 year olds. The Pony Camp is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and rides are Rp 250,000 per child. “If you wish to join a trial class, you can confirm with us beforehand,” Ahmad said.

Golf

Not far from the APM School and on the same road, Jl. Raya Tapos, you can find the Tigaraksa Golf Residence. Established in 1993, the 10-hectare golf course used to be named Takara Golf Course before it changed ownership.

“The golf course is open to the public. Most of our guests are expatriates from Japan and Korea. They reside in the industrial areas in and around Tigaraksa,” Tigaraksa Golf Residence SM Executive Tina Yustiana Duhan said on Wednesday (19/9).

When this Kompas reporter visited the golf course on Wednesday, groups of expatriates were seen playing golf while chatting in Korean and Japanese. Some of them were seen enjoying lunch at a restaurant in the complex, where kimchi and udon are among the most popular items.

The golf course was designed by Hisayuki Watanabe and its contour is challenging enough for senior golfers without making it too difficult for amateur ones.

KOMPAS/PINGKAN ELITA DUNDU

A Korean national warms up to hit a ball at the Tigaraksa Golf Residens golf course in Tapos village, Tigaraksa regency, Banten, on Wednesday (19/9/2018).

The design blends perfectly with the local environment and is free from air pollution. Apart from a driving range, the complex also has a chipping green to develop your skills while waiting for your turn to play.

The complex also has a shop and rental facility that offers various golfing equipment. Despite not having buggy cart services, the golf course offers caddy services to help golfers throughout their game.

Apart from staying at the APM School complex, tourists wishing to play golf at Tigaraksa can also stay at the Amaris Citra Raya Hotel, located 8.1 kilometers from the golf course.

Visitors can enjoy a 50-ball game for Rp 40,000 and a 100-ball game for Rp 80,000. The training and driving range has courses for 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter hits.

It is not difficult to find the APM School and Tigaraksa Golf Residence as they are only 20 kilometers away from the center of Tangerang regency. For those bringing their own cars, take the Jakarta-Merak toll road and exit at the Balaraja Timur tollgate.

Signs with directions to the APM School can be found just outside the tollgate. Please be wary of damages on the road heading toward the two destinations. Once you arrive at the destination, just enjoy breathing in the fresh air. Let’s go!