During his morning walk, rescued ex-carriage horse Britt and Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) co-founder Karin Franken share a close interaction. Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Across Indonesia and beyond, carriage horses endure harsh conditions due to tourism demand—neglect, malnutrition, inadequate living environments, and gruelling overwork are often the norm for these animals. But one dedicated team in West Java, Indonesia, are working tirelessly to improve the lives of Jakarta city’s ex-carriage horses.
Photojournalist Resha Juhari visited Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) in the Indonesian city of Bogor to document their efforts to help these horses and other animals. Founded in 2008 by Karin Franken, Femke den Haas, and Natalie Stewart, JAAN is a grassroots non-profit working to improve the welfare of animals throughout Indonesia.
Photographer: Resha Juhari
Jakarta's Carriage Horses
Jakarta’s horse-drawn carriages, or “delmans,” operate from morning until evening and sometimes into the night, providing rides to local and international tourists looking to visit the city’s National Monument. The cost for one ride is around 50,000 IDR ($4.2 CAD).
Horses stand attached to ornate delmans (carriages) parked on a city street and await customers. The horses work from morning to evening and sometimes into the night, taking passengers for carriage rides in the city’s National Monument area. Monas (Jakarta National Monument), West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
A delman (carriage) horse inside a stable stands tied at the mouth and is powerless to resist while a worker shaves the horse’s hair outside the frame. Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) reports that there are at least 26 carriage horse stables in the city, each housing 10 to 15 working horses. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
A horse walks behind their guardian, who leads them past crudely constructed horse stalls and carriages at a community stable. Garbage litters the ground outside the horses’ stalls. JAAN reports that there are at least 26 carriage horse stables in the city, each housing 10 to 15 working horses. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
A horse stands in a trash-filled yard next to a row of small, crudely constructed wooden stalls at a stable that houses working horses. Plastic covers the stalls, and some contain dirt and debris. The Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) reports that there are at least 26 carriage horse stables in the city, each housing 10 to 15 working horses. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024. Resha Juhari / We Animals
Resha Juhari / We Animals
A working horse at a community stable gazes into the camera from inside a small wooden tie stall. Plastic and sacks surround them inside their stall. Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) reports that there are at least 26 carriage horse stables in the city, each housing 10 to 15 working horses. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Often found tethered under bridges or in cramped spaces without proper grazing or opportunity to rest, these horses are worked to exhaustion by handlers unfamiliar with proper care. Workers reportedly violate rules such as not providing horses with at least one day off per week.
Sources suggest that some handlers also use unorthodox methods to treat medical conditions, such as applying mercury from batteries to wounds, feeding pepper-water to cure colds, or puncturing their horse’s muscles with bamboo sticks to pass a rope through and “clean” the animal’s blood.
To address these ongoing animal welfare issues and concerns of mistreatment, JAAN provides free veterinary services and educates handlers on essential care practices.
Rescue and Rehabilitation at JAAN
For ten former carriage horses, JAAN provides a permanent sanctuary. These animals receive daily care and the opportunity to live out their lives free from labour. Annually, the sanctuary treats around 400 working horses, offering medical treatment, food, and rehabilitation.
One horse in particular caught my attention. Vincent is a former carriage horse; his whole life was work. He was abandoned after becoming sick and developing a tumour, and was on the brink of being slaughtered. But with the care and compassion of JAAN, Vincent was rescued and his condition improved. Sadly, I was shocked to hear Vincent passed away after intensive care. He died at the shelter peacefully, not at the slaughterhouse. — Resha Juhari, Animal Photojournalist
Vincent, an emaciated former delman (carriage) horse rescued by the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), lies in his stall at the JAAN shelter and receives attention from JAAN co-founder Karin Franken. He is recuperating from surgery to remove a tumour from his hip and, though still weak, is recovering. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
JAAN veterinarian Mutia performs a routine check-up and care for James, a rescued former carriage horse. Though healthier than during his life as a carriage horse and having lived at the shelter for some time, James is still recovering and has still-healing scars. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
A large wound between the ears of Chester, a former delman (carriage) horse rescued by the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), is tended to by JAAN veterinarian Merry. The ex-carriage horses at JAAN’s shelter are groomed and health-checked every morning. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Howie, a delman (carriage) horse, stands while a Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) team checks his condition at a community stable. Though Howie still lives at a stable owned by a delman worker, JAAN will soon move him to their shelter. From left to right are JAAN co-founder Karin Franken, JAAN team members veterinarian Merry, field coordinator Nanang, and veterinarian Mutia. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) co-founder Karin Franken and dogs at the JAAN shelter greet and enjoy time together. Karin regularly makes time to interact with the animals at the shelter. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
One of JAAN’s central missions is rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abandoned, neglected, and abused animals. Their shelter currently houses 125 dogs, 35 cats and 10 horses, offering these individuals a second chance at life. The NGO also does street sterilization, wildlife protection, government lobbying, and raising awareness through presentations in schools and community outreach.
Not all horses can be rescued, however. Issues such as socio-economic and socio-cultural backgrounds remain big challenges in JAAN’s work.
Challenges and Progress
Vincent, an emaciated former delman (carriage) horse rescued by the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), lies in his stall at the JAAN shelter as JAAN co-founder Karin Franken strokes his head. He is recuperating from surgery to remove a tumour from his hip and, though still weak, is recovering. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Horses stand attached to ornate delmans (carriages) parked on a city street and await customers. The horses work from morning to evening and sometimes into the night, taking passengers for carriage rides in the city’s National Monument area. Traffic speeds past the horses on the busy street. Monas (Jakarta National Monument), West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Howie, a delman (carriage) horse, stands while the JAAN team checks his condition at a community stable. Though Howie still lives at a stable owned by a delman worker, JAAN will soon move him to their shelter. From left to right are JAAN team members veterinarian Merry, co-founder Karin Franken, veterinarian Mutia and field coordinator Nanang. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) co-founder Karin Franken observes Howie, a delman (carriage) horse who JAAN is rescuing. Howie eats inside a special stall at a stable that houses working horses. Though Howie still lives at the stable, JAAN will soon move him to their shelter. Before receiving care from JAAN, Howie was in poor condition and at risk of slaughter. Undisclosed location, West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Chester, a former delman (carriage) horse rescued by the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), is cared for by JAAN veterinarian Merry. The ex-carriage horses at JAAN’s shelter are groomed and health-checked every morning. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
Rescuing animals and improving their welfare is a lot of work, and there’s still so much work to do, but we’re highly motivated to keep fighting. No action is small, all our actions have a big and real impact; and there is real progress for better animal welfare. — Karin Franken, JAAN Co-founder
JAAN welcomes your support. Learn more about how you can help with their important work on behalf of animals.
During his morning walk, rescued ex-carriage horse Britt and Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) co-founder Karin Franken share a close interaction. Karin has been active in animal welfare since 1995, moving to Indonesia from the Netherlands, eventually becoming an Indonesian citizen and co-founding JAAN in 2008. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 2024.
Resha Juhari / We Animals
We’re attracted to horse-drawn carriages for the horses, creatures we admire and revere. Yet, would we still pay for a ride if we truly understood what it cost them—a life of exploitation and pain for an animal that, by their very nature, longs not to pull but to flee?
Explore and download more visuals from Resha Juhari’s documentation of JAAN’s efforts to help ex-carriage horses and other animals.
Data sources: Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN)
Photographer: Resha Juhari
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