Riding High
Dilla Djalil-daniel shares her passion for equestrianism and photography. Anastasia Wibowo writes
Arr iving in Anantya Riding Club in Bogor, Dilla Djalil-da niel is all smiles and ready for her photo session with Indonesia
Tatler. After putting on her riding gear, the cheerful lady quickly heads to the stables to greet her horse, Alvaro juang. The 22-year- old Alvaro, who was a national athlete and won severa l medals during his golden days, is now retired. She previously had a mare named Margo and a gelding named count serwis. both are deceased.
Dilla is an animal lover and is the youngest of three sisters—she grew up with dogs in her house. During our talk, she affectionately calls her 5-year-old female golden retriever, which she takes with her to Anantya: “Bella, come here!” Dilla waves her hands. In her childhood, her father, who is also an animal lover, often took Dilla to watch horse racing.
Her love of horses dates back since a young age, but she actively started riding in 1999— and hasn’t quit ever since. She regularly rides twice a week, enjoying it as both a leisure and a sport activity. Asked about her preference, she is fine with riding either male or female horses. “Some people say that female horses are moodier, but it’s different in my experience. Both are fine,” she tells us. Her tip for beginners? Don’t be afraid.
Aside from her horse-riding hobby, Dilla is also a photographer. Last year, she released a black-and-white photo book entitled A Trunk and Other Tails, which tells the story of relationships and bonds between suffering animals and their caretakers. The series of photographs featured a number of animals such as orangutans in Kalimantan and elephants in Thailand. Aside from Jakarta, in the past Dilla also held exhibitions in China and Finland.
Next month, Dilla, along with three other female photographers, COMO Foundation and Leica Singapore, is going to hold an exhibition in Singapore. A loyal Leica Camera user, Dilla was also appointed as ambassador for the brand from 2016 to 2017.