Horse Racing
Hi steemians- For the past few years, in the highlands Gayo has often held horse racing events, both in Central Aceh district, Bener Meriah Regency and Gayo Lues. In Central Aceh it is often carried out in Takengon City which is also adjacent to Lake Laut Tawar. The participants also grew longer and the quality of the race also improved.
In the historical record, horse racing, as the local people call it, starts from Bintang, the easternmost settlement of Lake Laut Tawar. Horse Racing was first held around 1850 with the racetrack crossing through Wekef to Menye approximately 1.5 kilometers, the route was elongated, not rotating as it is today. At that time, the kude runway was held after the rice harvest.
Before the community knows modern transportation facilities, horses have an important role for the Gayo community, especially as a means of transportation of goods and people and land processing activities in the rice fields. But as time goes by, horse racing is also often held through events in this area.
Aceh does have a variety of cultures and customs in the Gayo highlands. Gayo-style horse racing has its own uniqueness, starting from the name of the horse to the rider even more played by small children under the age of 13. Interestingly, this little penny or jockey without wearing a saddle, but only holding a rattan in hand.
The Gayo horse racing tradition in Takengon is also held on big days only. Like commemorating August 17 and commemorating the anniversary of Takengon City. It is said that since the beginning of Dutch colonialism in Gayo, this horse race was a party of the Gayo people, and this horse race also had to enliven the birthday of the Dutch Princess named Princess Wilhelmina at that time.
Now, the horse race was also used as a gathering place for community horse lovers in three City Regencies namely, Aceh Tengah, Bener Meriah and Gayo Lues. Besides this traditional Gayo horse racing has also become a halal tour in Aceh in general. Because Aceh is currently incessantly promoting halal tourism through the culture and customs in Aceh.
