Things have become quite chaotic among the horse riding service providers at Ramthangka, the base of Taktshang in Paro.
After the Horse Riding Association dissolved, horse owners are now seen rushing for guests much to the annoyance of the visitors. Horse owners picking up petty quarrels for their rider guests have become a common sight at the Taktshang base. One may consider it as a concept of survival of the fittest but often times things get out of hand.
“A few were taken to prison as well for such a behavior while some got their foot run over by vehicles. But that’s how it works. If we don’t rush, we don’t get guests,” said one of the horse owners, Sonam Dorji.
Another horse owner, Chencho Gyeltshen said, “We are almost like the taxi drivers at Lungtenzampa rushing for passengers. A person who is talkative and smart takes the guest. This actually leads to a quarrel.”
Following the Dzongkhag Tshogdu’s resolution, the Horse Riding Association was formed in 2015. However, it failed after 6 months of operation as two horse owners providing the horse riding service at Ramthangka refused to join the group.
“We didn’t get guests every day. We often returned home without any business. On the other hand, the two owners, who did not register with the Association, got plenty of guests. They even brought horses from other places,” said Gyem. “Since the dzongkhag administration did not support us, we approached relevant ministries and ministers as well, but to no avail. So, without much income, we decided to work on our own.”
A horse owner named Kipchu said, “It would be better if everybody joins the group but I know that’s not going to happen because when we work in a group, it affects our income. And when people don’t join, problems arise.”
However, Livestock officials said the two horse owners got trade licenses to operate the horse riding business.
“We even received notice from the economic affairs ministry to allow them to work separately. However, when it comes to Taktsang, many visitors, including tourists and senior officials come here. So it would be best if all the horse owners have the same rules to follow,” said Chenga Tshering, the Dzongkhag Livestock Officer.
He further said improving the horse business arrangement at Ramthangka calls for a joint effort of the dzongkhag administration, Tourism Council of Bhutan, Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators, Home and Economic Affairs ministries.
Meanwhile, the local leaders of Paro have formed a working committee to revive the Horse Riding Association.
Tshering Dorji, Chairperson, Dzongkhag Tshogdu, Paro (DZO)
“If we don’t form a committee and make strong guidelines, it doesn’t look good in front of the tourists. Moreover, there is no harmony among the horse owners. They fight and quarrel to get guests first and make more money,” Tshering Dorji, the Chairperson of Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
For now, as much as the forming of a Horse Riding Association is urgent, so is the need for other temporary but immediate measures to manage the business at Ramthangkha. After all, with the onset of tourist arrival season, hundreds more visitors will hike to Taktshang every day, and Bhutan has so much at stake at its foothill.
