Preserving the soul of Sumba through the protection of its Sandalwood horses and heritage.
On the island of Sumba, the Sandalwood horse is far more than livestock — it is woven into marriage traditions, funeral rites, and the annual Pasola festival. Yet this living heritage faces challenges from financial hardship, limited veterinary access, malnutrition, and fading traditional horsemanship, putting horses and other animals at risk.
The Sumba Horse Project exists to change that. Working alongside local vets, we provide anti-parasite treatment, wound and dental care, emergency aid, and nutritional support, while our charity also helps other animals across Sumba. Every treatment and rescue is paired with education, working alongside traditional healers to bring modern veterinary care together with generations of Sumbanese knowledge.
11 RESCUED HORSES | 30 HORSES TREATED PER CYCLE | $100K CLINIC GOAL | 3–4 MONTHS BETWEEN TREATMENT CYCLES EXPANDING TO MORE VILLAGES | SURRA TREATMENT RESEARCH
Overview
The Sandalwood horse, an ancient breed in Sumba, originated from Mongolian Chinese horses, named after the precious wood they once collected, and has adapted to one of Indonesia’s most demanding environments. Long dry seasons leave water and grass scarce, causing undernourishment and dehydration, while rains bring flooding, impassable roads, and the spread of parasites and disease. Valued as a working horse, a traditional bridewealth (belis) horse, and a competitor in local horse racing, the Sandalwood horse remains woven into Sumba’s cultural and ceremonial life.
Across Sumba, we care for Sandalwood horses and other animals with anti-parasite treatment, wound, hoof and dental care, emergency veterinary assistance, and nutritional support. Alongside direct medical care, we work with local communities to strengthen animal welfare through practical education, bringing modern veterinary knowledge together with Sumba’s cultural values and traditional horsemanship. Together, we help owners prevent disease, improve nutrition, and provide better daily care. Our goal is to ensure the island’s animals live healthier, happier lives while preserving Sumba’s unique customs and heritage.
At the heart of our work are Dr. Osta and the NIHI Stable Team, all born and raised in rural Sumba. Dr. Osta grew up learning traditional animal care from his family and village elders before earning his veterinary degree in Kupang and returning home to serve his community.
Together with the experienced horsemen and caregivers of the NIHI Stable Team, and supported by senior veterinarian Dr. Nanta, they bring modern veterinary science together with generations of local knowledge. Together, they care for animals, share knowledge with communities, and help keep Sumba’s equestrian traditions alive.
Every contribution helps protect Sumba’s animals, support local communities, and preserve the island’s unique equestrian heritage.
- Participate in an Equine Activity at NIHI — NIHI donates $5- $10 from every horse activity booked to support the Sumba Horse Project.
- Sponsor a Village — $600 provides one village with a year of basic veterinary care, parasite prevention, and animal welfare education.
- Sponsor a Veterinary Student — $3,000 per year funds veterinary education in Kupang, helping train the next generation of Sumbanese veterinarians.
- Sponsor a Rescue Pony — $1,800 per year covers full care and rehabilitation at the NIHI Rescue Stable.
- Sponsor the Future Clinic — Help build Sumba’s dedicated veterinary clinic. Every donation brings us closer to our $100,000 goal.
- Sponsor a Malnutrition Recovery Plan — $18 provides a 25 kg bag of feed and rice bran, enough to nourish one pony for approximately 1–1.5 months, depending on its condition.
- Sponsor Emergency Care — Around $750 covers a typical five-day emergency treatment, including sedation, wound repair, pain relief, antibiotics, and veterinary care.
- Sponsor a Check-Up on the Sumba Plains and remote villages — $250 funds a full day of fieldwork to locate, examine, treat free-roaming and village working horses, buffalo and other animals.
ACTUAL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN YOU
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Together, we can improve the lives of Sumba’s animals while safeguarding the traditions and communities that have cared for them for generations.
– Sumba Horse Project –
Nihigram
Mornings at Nio Beach Club, where the first dip of the day comes with sweeping views of Nihiwatu Beach.
With the sound of the waves, the warmth of the Sumba sunshine and the beach just footsteps away, there’s no better place to begin your day at NIHI Sumba.
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#nihigram by @fpvdylan
Raw, wild and beautifully untouched. Sunrise at NIHI Sumba, where local fishermen head out to sea as the first light of day breaks over the coastline.
As the sun sets, horses make their way along the beach, ridden by Sumbanese horsemen dressed in traditional ikat, a beautiful reflection of the island’s rich cultural heritage.
These are the scenes that make Sumba so extraordinary, where centuries of tradition remain part of everyday life and the connection between the people, their horses and the land runs deep. 🤍
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
Wake up to uninterrupted oceanfront views at Marangga Villa, dive into your private plunge pool and spend sun soaked afternoons with a glass of wine in hand, accompanied by the soothing sound of the ocean.
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#nihigram by @fpvdylan
The beauty of NIHI Sumba is found in moments like these.
The gentle ocean breeze, the sound of waves washing against the shore, and our horses peacefully enjoying their daily swim in the turquoise waters of Nihiwatu Beach.
Enjoy your morning swim at Nio Beach Club, surrounded by untouched nature, where the serenity of the island invites you to slow down and appreciate the magic of simply being here.
Netflix is great, but imagine playing a tennis match at NIHI Sumba.
Horses wandering nearby, the ocean breeze drifting across the court and the sound of waves crashing onto the shore.
Welcome to the Ride & Racquet Club, where even a game of tennis feels extraordinary.
AI could never replace this.
Quite literally one of the most beautiful sights on earth. A herd of horses running free, as nature intended, along the shores of Nihiwatu Beach.
The thunder of hooves against the sand, manes flying in the wind and the sheer beauty of watching them gallop together against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
Some moments are simply too beautiful to recreate. 🤎
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#nihigram by @fpvdylan
Introducing Raja Puncak, NIHI’s spectacular brand new three bedroom villa.
Our newest villa sits at the highest point of the resort, with sweeping views over Nihiwatu Beach and the wild landscapes of Sumba.
An endless infinity pool, private check-in and cocktails at sunset create an extraordinary setting to experience the raw, wild beauty of Sumba from above.
A new icon at NIHI. This is Raja Puncak.
From Nihiwatu Beach, set out on horseback beyond NIHI and into the Sumbanese landscape, riding through palm-shaded jungle, rice fields and local villages.
Along the way, you may find yourself caught in a very Sumbanese kind of traffic jam as a local farmer guides his water buffalo towards the beach.
It is these unscripted encounters that make riding at NIHI Sumba so special, a journey shaped by the landscape, the people and the everyday rhythm of island life.
The magic of Nihiwatu Beach reveals itself slowly, from the soft morning mist to the last light of sunset.
Mist hangs over the coastline, horses move across the sand, and scenes of Sumbanese culture unfold along the shore. As the sun slips lower, turtles make their way towards the ocean and the whole beach seems to slow for a moment.
Wild, beautiful and completely Sumba.
#nihigram @alifeiimagined
NIHI is a place that feels almost like a dream, surrounded by the raw beauty of the island, untouched nature, wild beaches and a culture that remains deeply rooted in tradition.
Days are spent watching horses along the shoreline, taking in dramatic landscapes and looking out across the Indian Ocean from the privacy of your own villa.
The kind of place that belongs on a bucket list. A journey worth travelling across the world for, and a dream you never quite want to wake up from.
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