In Pictures

Gallery|Human Rights

In Pictures: Indonesia’s child jockeys

On the island of Sumbawa, children aged five to nine years old race horses – and often have the scars to show for it.

A child jockey is escorted to the gate for the race.
By Syarina Hasibuan
Published On 30 Sep 2014

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On the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, horse racing is a major part of the local culture. But unlike horse racing in many other parts of the world, the jockeys here are children between the ages of five and nine years old.

They are the children of poor families who work as horse caretakers. Being a child jockey often runs in the family, and children frequently learn to ride a horse as soon as they can walk. Falling off horses is common – and many child jockeys have the scars to show for it.

The races are held in three different districts on the island of Sumbawa. Families travel to whichever district the race is held in, putting up tents, sleeping without mattresses, and cooking outdoors. The children do not attend school during this period.

Many people in Sumbawa believe in magic, and that the family’s shaman or a talisman can protect their children. If a child falls in a race, they believe the shaman will heal him. The shaman will give him a massage and pray for him, and then the child will be ready to race again soon. Modern forms of medical assistance are nowhere to be seen at the races, which can be dangerous: A photographer who has been documenting the horse races for four years has recorded two deaths since 2007.

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A child jockey mounts his horse as a caretaker helps to calm down the horse.
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Child jockeys wear minimum protection during the races.
The jockey at the front is not even wearing a helmet.
The twin horse jockeys Shahrul (left) and Shahril (right), with their mother.
Child jockeys play with their toys while waiting for their next race.
Shahrul and his father take their horse to the sea to bathe after the race.
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The camp of a child jockey and his family, who came from out of town for the race.
Child jockeys wait for their next race.
Child jockeys wearing masks to protect their faces from dust, wait at the gate for the horses to be readied.
Many people gamble on the races.
Dona, a seven-year-old jockey, with his horse.
A barefooted child jockey sits on the gate, waiting for his race to start.
A horse caretaker returns to the camp after bathing his horse.
Sona, an eight-year-old, cried after falling from a horse during a race. He got a brief massage, and 15 minutes later was taken back to the gate for the next race.