Larasati Gading’s secret to a winning game.
Larasati Gading, Indonesia’s top dressage rider had a sweep of gold medals at the Sea Games 2015 held in Singapore last month. Both her team and herself won the titles for the Dressage Individual and Team competitions. How does one win in this competition we asked Larasati — what is the secret? “You make sure that your partner is always healthy and happy”, she said with her very pretty smile.
Riding is a sport where the relationship between the rider and the horse is the most important factor. As Larasati puts it, it is not a sport where you can keep the sports gears and equipments aside. The horses are partners for the riders and there has to be good understanding between the partners. In dressage, which is like gymnastics, the harmony between the rider and the horses sets the wining game. This requires mental and physical training with the horses along with communication and nurturing.
“This where I am quite happy that Mano is available so close. He is very much in the know how, so he helps and supports in ensuring the horses are kept healthy”.
Larasati has known Mano, CEO for Mano Equestrian Pte Ltd, since 2006. She has always found him a good advisor who, with his in-depth knowledge is able to provide clients value beyond the products. Mano has often given his best advises on the feed and supplements such as electrolytes. She specifically mentioned the HYGAIN feed that Mano introduced to her.
Feeding of her horses is the most important aspect of caretaking. The digestive system is the most sensitive part of horse and therefore freshness and quality is very important to avoid health problems such as indigestion. Larasati finds HYGAIN, an Australian product that Mano Equestrian carries, a high quality product that is suitable for tropical climate.
Taking care of the horses is daily business for Larasati. She checks if her horses are sound and healthy before, during and after the events. Her passion for her horses is displayed in the way she shares her experience and concern for their well-being. Having born and brought up in German, Larasati has been working with horses since she was a child. She learnt horse riding, along with musical instrument, dancing and fencing, as part of her personal development. After a brief pause, she picked up horse riding again in Indonesia at the age of 27. She is now an International Equestrian Federation [FEI] certified coach and a competition judge. She also provides stabling and farrier services in Bandung, Indonesia.
The Mano Equestrian team is happy to serve Larasati and her winning team. We wish her more gold medals in the days to come.
