Hammam Arsya Kanaya, an architecture student at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, developed a passion for horseback riding during his junior high years at Pondok Pesantren Salman Al-Farisi in Central Java. His training involved extensive care for horses, including grooming and stable maintenance, fostering a strong bond with the animals despite occasional injuries from kicks and bites. His parents supported his interest, often taking him to racetracks to practice riding.

In addition to horseback riding, Hammam learned archery separately before discovering horseback archery—a sport combining both skills—in 2020. Inspired by watching a competition in Sukoharjo and motivated by the sport’s religious significance as sunnah, he pursued horseback archery with enthusiasm, supported by his family and guided by his coach at Ayub Camp in Klaten.