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Kabalyudung Riders, Baguio City (2024)

05/05/2022

Horseback riding for a cause!! Check out the Kabadjo Handlers Association (operating in Camp John Hay) renting out their horses to raise funds for the Happy Hollow National High School 🤍 See the original post for more details

01/12/2021

November was a quiet month for us. With Baguio being open to tourists once more, it looks like the pony boys finally have a chance to recover from the period of financial difficulty brought on by the pandemic. As a small year-ender Kabalyudung Riders Sol and Bon took to the streets at night and did their own version of the event, where participants are encouraged to walk, run, or bike to local art landmarks. While it was a fun ride, it was also a ride that forced us to reflect on where the pony boy industry of Baguio has gone in the past decade. The ride had to be done at night because these murals are located in high-traffic areas that would be unsafe for the horses during the day. The rapid urbanisation of Baguio City has all but pushed its iconic pony boys and horses to the edges. Access to trails and green spaces has been severely restricted, and the pony boys left with no choice but to ply their trade along busy roads. During festivals like the Panagbenga, the Pony Boys’ Day celebration has been pushed to the end of the line up of events as if they were a mere afterthought, cutting them off from showcasing their culture and skills to a wider audience. Seeing this pattern unfold over the past years has convinced us that in order for the horses of Baguio to thrive, the culture of the pony boys must also thrive and continue onwards. Right now, the best way to offer support to the industry is by renting a horse and riding. But aside from that, it is also important to listen to the stories of these incredibly hardworking people and their equine companions, and to give them space and time to practice their own unique art beyond the hour or two that a customer might spend in the saddle.

01/11/2021

Surprise surprise!!! Our 2nd place costume by Yasha and Ezrah Ananayo with Sky made it to today’s front page of the Manila Standard 🎃✨🐎🔥 thank you to Dave Leprozo for making this possible ✨ BY THE WAY if you’re in Baguio do drop by Kabadjo Handlers Association at Camp John Hay and say hello to Sky and Phantom at their day jobs! Support these amazing horses and their handlers by experiencing the joy of riding first hand ✨🐎🧡

30/10/2021

And we have winners!!! 🎃🎃🎃 Horses and riders from the Kabadjo Horse Handlers Association swooped in with their entries mere hours before our final deadline. And my what a show they’ve put on for us! Congratulations to the artists, horses, riders/models, and to the owners of Phantom and Sky for such an incredible set of costumes 🎃✨🐎❤️ And of course a great big thank you to our wonderful judges for making this event possible ✨ We hope to see more like this the next time Halloween rolls around! 🎃🎃🎃 Ride on!

1st place: Mel Damian & Phantom “Even Death will have to feed his horse ☠️

2nd place: Yasha Mae Ananayo & Sky “Calavera”

3rd place: John Michael & Sky “White death”

26/10/2021

4/4 “The clip clop of hooves, the taho and corn, and yes, even the strong scent of horse p**p, that was all like home.
Wright Park has always been a big part of my life.
Even before I was born, my parents would bring my siblings to ride whether it was for work trips or vacation. As I joined the bunch, little girl me was introduced to the wonderful world of horses too. We were always that big family who all rode together. Sometimes our cousins even joined in. From being made angkas by my mama and our faithful pony boys to finally learning on my own, what was a tourist attraction to others was the beginning of it all for me.

I was that chatty little girl who was always requesting if they could just walk by her side or watch from a distance because she was always so eager to ride by herself. When they finally decided to teach me more, there was no other way to it than ba****ck the first time around. From then on they’d put me on just about any pony and we’d ride off to secret spots where we didn’t have to worry about cars or other people. Any time we were up in Baguio, a ride was always a must. Or well, rides for me. Mama would just leave me there the whole day entrusting me to the pony boys. They are family and I am lucky to be one they fondly refer to as ading.

I now have my own horse who I ride English with. I have met and learned so much from amazing people and their steeds but my heart will always go back to the mountains where I learned from the best, their tales, and their secrets. It was them who first taught me that your horse is not just your mount but your partner too. You must love and respect them. If you fall, just dust it off and get back on again. And always clean up after yourself. My manongs and uncles are those who shaped me from the ground up and acted as my stepping stone to a wonderful and much wider community. I had no phone and so I wish I had more documentation but all the magic and memories will always be clear as day in my mind.” ~Sinta Baraquel

Thank you everyone for sticking with us and getting to know our judges ✨Stay tuned as we get closer to our party! 🥰🎃✨🐎❤️

25/10/2021

3/4 “I’m lucky to be one of those crazy horse girls that actually had access to horses. EVERYDAY. My punishment for misbehaving was being grounded from riding. Wright Park was my second home. I would spend hours there and not all of them riding. I would bathe the horses, feed them, and if my riding money was all spent I’d even volunteer to guide tourists just for a free ride. When I was older I got Al Zafir, my own horse, and kept him in Wright Park. But it was always more than just riding and the horses.

I like to say I was partly raised by Wright Park pony boys. As a child, I would be left with them for hours on end while the adults in my life attended meetings. I would be fed by the mothers and wives of the pony boys. In high school, I would be sent home if the uncles suspected I was skipping class. They were part of countless milestones in my life including voters registration. They were always looking out for me even beyond the borders of the park.

I may not go as often as I want to anymore but when I do, it always feels like coming home.” ~Feliz Perez

We’re almost there! 🎃 as we get closer to our party, we’d like to get you a glimpse of our judges for the costume contest; who they are, how they came to love horses, and where that connection and passion has led them. Stay tuned as we continue to share the stories of these amazing horsewomen 🥰🎃✨🐎❤️

24/10/2021

2/4 “For as long as I can remember, I grew up riding in Wright Park. Every summer vacation, my parents would leave my sister and I in the care of the pony boys and we would just ride all day, all over Baguio. They taught us how to handle horses and how to ride. They showed us all the best places to eat and all the secret mountaintops with the best views. My favorite memories growing up were, after a full day of riding, the sun would be setting and covering Wright Park in its glorious light, and we’d be at cowboy haven, just telling stories and drinking (for the record, I just drank coke or milk 😛). They fueled my passion for horses, and eventually my path to becoming a veterinarian. Because of all my experiences at Wright Park, I decided I wanted to become a vet, with the intention of eventually being able to give back to them and their horses just as they had always been there for me and made up for most of my happy childhood memories. The pony boys are more than just pony boys for me. They’re family.” ~Sam Mendoza

Just a few more days! 🎃 as we get closer to our party, we’d like to get you a glimpse of our judges for the costume contest; who they are, how they came to love horses, and where that connection and passion has led them. Stay tuned as we continue to share the stories of these amazing horsewomen 🥰🎃✨🐎❤️

23/10/2021

1/4 “My love for horses began in Baguio. With Chain, to be precise, and the pony boys & friends who made Wright Park so special. I can still hear the Selecta ice cream tune and the clapping of horse hooves on pavement clearly in my head. They’re my favorite sounds in the world.

My love for horses brought me to different parts of the globe. I competed in show jumping and dressage, and got lucky enough to ride some fancy horses too. But all I really wanted was a Baguio pony in my garden to call mine! And that’s still my dream, which I hope to fulfill with my Taal rescues. They’re tiny and wild and full of personality. Just like the ponies (and people) I grew up with!” ~Kai Yulo ✨🐎💚🌲

We have just about a week left until Halloween! 🎃 as we get closer to our party, we’d like to get you a glimpse of our judges for the costume contest; who they are, how they came to love horses, and where that connection and passion has led them. Stay tuned as we continue to share the stories of these amazing horsewomen 🥰🎃✨🐎❤️

21/10/2021

Introducing our four judges for our costume competition! 🎃 Each of them have had their lives influenced by the pony boys of Baguio and their horses, from childhood and beyond 🐎 Stay tuned as Kai Yulo, Sam Mendoza, Sinta Baraquel, and Feliz Perez share their stories of growing up as friends and loyal customers of the pony boys and where that connection has led them ✨🐎💚 We’re looking forward to the end of the month guys!

18/10/2021

Busbusi, or busibusi, may just be a common roadside w**d to most, but some claim it has medicinal properties ✨ For us horse owners, we know it as a precious source of forage that our horses love 🌱 It is just one of the many plants found in a regular haul of sakati 💚🌱🐎✨

16/10/2021

Some scenes from today’s Sakati Library 🥰✨📚 🐎📖

15/10/2021

Hey everyone! Starting today (Oct. 15) we’d like to invite all horse owners living within Baguio City and La Trinidad to take part in our Virtual Halloween Costume Contest 🎃🐎✨ Whether dyed, sewn, glued, recycled, we’d like to see some horses dressed to party! Basic mechanics are simple; submit your entries by uploading a photo of your horse in his/her costume to either Instagram or Facebook and tag us .riders ( Riders on FB) ✨ Then tell us the title of your favorite song in the caption, and include the hashtag 🐎 🎃 ✨ We’re also raffling off some goodies for all participants in the costume contest, so be sure to swipe or scroll through the other photos in this post for detailed mechanics and prizes! 🎉 We’re looking forward to seeing some fancy ponies over the next few days! 🎃✨

08/10/2021

Today was a quiet but pleasant day with our Sakati Library 🌱📚 we started off with one last Covid Derby team debriefing and get-together, and ended with some story-telling for a little girl who needed a bit of courage to ride with her brothers 🥰 Michael Foreman’s All The King’s Horses, about a fierce warrior princess who wrestles men to win hundreds of steeds, seemed to do the trick 📚✨🐎⛰

07/10/2021

Team Halo-halo is currently grappling for the lead in the Mixed Effort category 🚴‍♂️✨⛰ Gotta give it to these amazing bikers from Baguio for keeping at it in the Covid Derby! They’ve been biking tirelessly from morning and even into the night 😱 Keep on pedalling Team Halo-halo, you guys are awesome! ✨🚵‍♂️⚡️🚴‍♂️⛰

05/10/2021

Day 5 dispatch is finally here! We took our time waking up this morning and making sure all our horses are well-fed and getting their hard-earned rest. We finished the 1000 kilometres in one big team ride and played in the rain to celebrate. It was a great day for fun riding and celebrating a clean finish with zero injuries to both horses and riders ✨🐎 Once again we’d like to thank our sponsors from the bottom of our hooves and hearts for making sure each horse was shod and conditioned before the start of this race. We are absolutely blown away by these tough Philippine Native horses and what they do for us! Thank you everyone and we hope to see you during our next Sakati Library ✨⛰🐎 Ride on!

05/10/2021

Day 4 race report is here! ✨🐎 we were slowed down a lot by Rain and Alo both losing a shoe and needing replacements. Lucky for us, resident farrier Manong Jimmy was ready with his tools and grinder, and Ryker and Binata stepped in while our main mounts were getting their new kicks. Manong Norman and the boys stepped in to keep up the pace while Bon and Sticker rode on their own and clocked a decent amount of kilometres, complete with fan commentary from 🤘🏽🐎 we plan on finishing the race today (Day 5) so stay on the road with us! ✨🐎🤘🏽 Woo!

03/10/2021

Day 3 dispatch is more than a little late but here it is! On this day of the race our team split up and practically left Baguio altogether 😂 it was a great day for simply having fun while going to the outskirts of the city for relatively new scenery ⛰ and we still got to rack up some decent mileage! Today our team gained 204.75 km and rode a collective 36.67 hours ✨🐎 and with all our kilometres officially logged, we have pulled into the lead! 🐎✨⛰🤘🏽

02/10/2021

Shout out to the team we first joined the Covid Derby with 🥇Last year team Halo-halo won 1st place in the Mixed Effort Team category 🥇 this year some of Baguio’s best bikers are putting in kilometres to defend the title! We are so proud to share the streets of our hometown with them as we ride towards 1000 kilometres! Onwards! ✨🚴‍♀️🚵‍♂️🚴‍♂️

02/10/2021

Our Day 2 dispatch is a little late but here it is! We started the day by joining Bon and Marvin as they rode to pay their electric bills at BENECO ⚡️⚡️ and then we had a bit of uncooperative weather but that didn’t stop the lads from having fun in the fog and rain! Cheers to these guys for riding on ☔️ Today our team did a total of 163.6 kilometres and a collective 34.77 hours ⚡️🐎✨☔️

01/10/2021

Dispatches from our first day of the Covid Derby! Our team managed to put in 222.74 kilometres and collectively we’ve ridden a total of 39.74 hours ✨🐎 We’re looking forward to the next 777 kilometres! Check our daily stories for updates that we manage to sneak in while riding ✨🐎✨🐎

28/09/2021

The Covid Derby is a 1000 km virtual endurance race running from Oct 1-31. In 2020, our homegrown team consisting of local bikers, joggers, and horse riders won 1st place in the Mixed Effort category ✨ This year we’ve put together a purely equestrian team of pony boys and horsewomen, and with the help of generous sponsors, we’ve managed to get the entire team of 15 horses shod and put on a conditioning and feeding regimen appropriate to the work they will be putting in for the team 🐎 This year, the is also raising funds for and we felt that it would only be appropriate for our entire team to be mounted on Philippine Native Horses, who, by virtue of our colonial history, share some ancestry and similar trials and tribulations with the American Mustang. ⛰

Once again, from the bottom of our hooves and hearts 💕, we would like to thank all our sponsors who made the completion of this team possible! Ride on! ✨🐎💚🌱⛰

27/09/2021

Hats off to Bon for always bringing home a book from the Sakati Library! 📚✨ Bon spent a few years working as a groom at a breeding stable in Kuwait. The knowledge and experience he gained has been invaluable to the horses that come into his care, and he chooses the books he borrows with the intent to always improve and learn more. So far his favorite topics to borrow from have been studies on horse body language and communication. We always look forward to riding with him and listening to the stories he shares during our library days ✨🐎💚🌱📚
Juanito Binayan Lim

25/09/2021

Small category race, Pony Boy’s Day 2009 🐎✨We’re dreaming of the day that we can bring back these legendary gymkhanas. ⛰🐎 Photo by Feliz Perez

23/09/2021

2010 🌱📚 11 years ago, the very first seed of what would eventually become the Sakati Library was planted 🌱 gathered all the horse related books in her possession (the habit of collecting books runs in their family; that was another seed that eventually became bookshop) and dropped them off in Wright Park. Pony boys of all ages borrowed books for free, compared notes and horse care practices, took a look at foreign breeds, and traded their own stories about their lives. Some borrowed novels in search of entertainment, others took home academic books on the finer points of horse communication ✨🐎 Our Sakati Library aims to grow from this memory, and continue to be a space where pony boys can read, learn, be entertained, tell their stories, unwind, and pass the time for free 🌱💚 A number of the books in our current collection were there on that very first day, and it was a joy to find that even after more than a decade, some of the titles were remembered and revisited ✨🌱📚🐎 We’re looking forward to our next library day at Wright Park 📚

22/09/2021

This friendship is built on more than 20 years of reckless glee. This photo says everything about how we work ✨ Lots of scheming and screaming, cackling and cursing, and preferably with a horse involved in the mix 🐎 that’s us.

Photo by , 2012

19/09/2021

🌱📚We are so grateful to everyone who made Day 1 of our Sakati Library a success! From friends and family who’ve lent their books to the collection, to Vivita Philippines - Vivistop Baguio for providing us with a space to prepare materials, to Colorworld for printing out our signs, and of course to the pony boys who filled the day with stories, nostalgia, laughter, and camaraderie. We’re looking forward to our next Sakati! 🌱🐎✨⛰