THE RIDERS OF DESTINY by Romi Perbawa

THE RIDERS OF DESTINY presents the story of the lives of the very young jockeys who racehorses in a sun-drenched corner of Nusa Tenggara Barat. On Sumbawa Island in Indonesia, at the end of the rice-harvesting season, the season of horse racing begins. These races often involve children as young as 5 years old, with the horses running at incredibly high speeds. Shockingly, safety gear—such as harnesses and saddles—is rarely used, despite the risk of injury. The local government considers the races an important part of island culture. Here, horseback racing is a tradition that is passed on from generation to generation. Horses, after all, form an important part of island life and are crucial for transport. Almost all families in the area have their own horse and youngsters learn to ride at a very young age. So, this too is part of normal life on Sumbawa Island—young children performing dangerous sports for gambling money and local entertainment. About Romi Perbawa: Romi Perbawa was born in Kutoarjo, Central Java, on November 10, 1971. He began his acquaintance with photography in 2006. His work has appeared in many international publications in France, Australia, Belgium, Poland, etc. He recently was invited to screen this body of work at Visa pour l'Image 2015 in Perpignan and Photoquai 2015 in Paris. Hardcover 20.5 x 29 cm (Portrait) 148 pages English 2 kg 2015 Afterhours Books ISBN 9786027128484