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Jokowi rivals Prabowo in loving horses
While horses are usually associated with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, whose interest in horse-breeding is widely known, it turns out that recently inaugurated President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo also has a soft spot for horses
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hile horses are usually associated with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, whose interest in horse-breeding is widely known, it turns out that recently inaugurated President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo also has a soft spot for horses.
Sunardi, a 43-year-old horse breeder from Surakarta, Central Java, said that Jokowi frequently used his horses for formal events.
"Since he became the mayor of Solo, Central Java [Surakarta], if there were events, he would use my horses. If not used for carriages, then he [Jokowi] would ride [the horses] himself," Sunardi said on Monday.
Sunardi is one of the two horse owners who will drive the carriage carrying Jokowi's wife and First Lady, Iriana Jokowi, and the wife of Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Mufidah Kalla, during a parade from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace. A second two-horse carriage will be prepared for Jokowi-Kalla.
Sunardi said that although he bred the horses, the carriages were owned by Jokowi.
The four horses are named Solehah, Srikandi, Agustina and Aura. They arrived from Surakarta late Friday by truck and have been held in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, ahead of Jokowi's procession to the State Palace.
"All of them are female because females are more tame and are easier to control than their male counterparts," Sunardi said. "They are also accustomed to the sounds of drums and marching bands [so they're not easily startled]."
He added that he was happy someone from his city had become president. "But I hope he doesn't forget the city of Solo," he added.
