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
Take your Pilates practice somewhere extraordinary. This May, join Em Krzus of The Pilates Project for four nights of reformer Pilates at NIHI Sumba, with one of the world’s most beautiful views as your backdrop.
Alongside personalised instruction, the retreat includes the experiences that make NIHI so special: swimming with the horses, our signature Spa Safari and time to enjoy the resort at your own pace.
Places are extremely limited. Find out more via the link in our bio or send us a DM.
We’re thrilled to share a first glimpse of Untamed Heartbeat, a four-part documentary series by Tara Shupe, coming soon to our social channels.
Journey into the spirit of Sumba, where deep-rooted traditions, community and the future move together. Here, the past lives on in what is carried forward: in the people, their culture and the future generations.
The series also shines a light on the work of The Sumba Foundation, NIHI’s Sumba Horse Project and English Goes to Kampung, and their contributions to the future of Sumba’s communities.
Together in a similar stride. We will run.
Stay tuned for Part One, coming soon.
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Film by @tarashupe
The magic of NIHI is found in its quiet moments: morning mist lifting over the hills, rays of light filtering through the palm trees, and horses running along the beach. As fishermen head out to sea and local boys ride along the shore, the island’s culture and daily life are all around you.
At NIHI Sumba, the resort is woven into these moments, offering a experience that feels deeply connected to the island. Recognised with Three MICHELIN Keys, the Guide’s highest hotel distinction, NIHI Sumba offers what Michelin describes as an extraordinary stay.
Be among the first to experience a Pilates retreat at NIHI Sumba, with one of the world’s most beautiful views as your backdrop for reformer Pilates.
Led by Em Krzus of The Pilates Project, this intimate four-night retreat pairs personalised instruction with the experiences that make NIHI Sumba so special: swimming with the horses, a signature Spa Safari and time to enjoy the resort at your own pace.
The retreat takes place this May, with places extremely limited. Find out more via the link in our bio or send us a DM.
Celebrate your wedding on the shores of Nihiwatu, with a beautifully set table on the beach, the sun setting and NIHI’s herd of Sumba Sea Horses wandering majestically by.
An extraordinary setting to gather with those you love, raise a glass and celebrate the beginning of your next chapter together.
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#nihigram by @tearosewedding
A land where the spirit of generations lives on, where the connection between people, nature and their ancestors runs deep, and where traditions are not simply remembered, but lived every day.
Children ride their ponies along wild beaches in traditional dress, villages are filled with life, and a deep sense of community is woven into the very soul of the island.
Nestled within this extraordinary landscape is NIHI Sumba, a paradise of beautiful private villas, unforgettable spa experiences and moments of pure tranquillity, surrounded by the raw, untamed beauty of the island. Beyond the resort, village life and centuries-old traditions are never far away, offering a meaningful connection to the people and culture that make Sumba so special.
It is this extraordinary connection between land, people and tradition that makes Sumba a place unlike anywhere else on earth.
And when you finally arrive, it’s even more beautiful than you imagined. 🧡
One of the programmes closest to our hearts is the Sumba Horse Project. 🧡
For more than two years, NIHI has been providing free veterinary care to horses in local villages across Sumba, holding weekly clinics and returning to each village approximately every three months to provide ongoing care and repeat essential treatments.
Facilitated by our dedicated NIHI Stables team alongside our veterinarian, Dr. Octa, these clinics provide essential medical treatment, health checks, deworming and advice on animal welfare. Many local horse owners walk for miles to attend, with care also extending to local dogs.
Horses are deeply woven into Sumba’s culture and heritage, and through this project, we hope to protect these beautiful animals and make a lasting difference to the communities who care for them.
Learn more about the Sumba Horse Project and how you can support this important work through the link in our bio.
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
A wellness experience unlike any other awaits at Nihioka Spa.
Five kilometres from NIHI Sumba, beyond traditional villages and rolling green hills, lies a secluded sanctuary where rice fields meet the Indian Ocean.
Your Half Day Spa Safari begins with breakfast or lunch overlooking the ocean, before retreating to your private open air bale for 2.5 hours of treatments.
Between treatments, discover hidden beaches, unwind beside the freshwater infinity pool, or simply take in the beauty of Nihioka’s untouched coastline.
More than a spa experience, this is an invitation to reconnect with nature, embrace stillness and discover wellness at the edge of wildness.
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#nihigram by @fpvdylan
Mornings at NIHI Sumba can feel almost unreal. Mist rolling over the mountains, horses grazing nearby, and the sound of the ocean crashing in the distance. The kind of moments that make you never want to leave. 🤍
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