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
Get involved
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
Raja Mandaka, the crown jewel of NIHI Sumba.
Perched above the Indian Ocean, with uninterrupted views stretching along the Sumbanese coastline, it feels like a world of its own. Mornings unfold slowly, golden light spills across the horizon, and the sound of the ocean follows you from sunrise to sunset.
Welcome to NIHI Sumba.
There’s nowhere quite like it. Sitting on the Edge of Wildness on the remote island of Sumba, just an hour from Bali, it’s a place where wild beauty, adventure and a little bit of magic come together.
#NIHIGram by @teoguarini @yunfancyf
Merdeka! 🇮🇩
Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan, Indonesia! 🇮🇩
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#nihigram by @childsphotos
Merdeka! 🇮🇩
@nihi bangga menyebut Indonesia sebagai rumah kami. Dari Sumba, kami berdiri bersama untuk merayakan Hari Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia yang ke-81.
Mari kibarkan Sang Merah Putih dengan bangga dan rayakan semangat, kehangatan, serta kebersamaan yang menjadikan Indonesia begitu istimewa. Rakyat Indonesia memiliki hati yang besar dan semangat yang tak tergoyahkan.
Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan, Indonesia! 🇮🇩
Merdeka! @nihi are proud to call Indonesia home. From Sumba, we stand together to celebrate Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day.
Today, we fly the red and white flag high and celebrate the warmth, spirit and togetherness that make this country so extraordinary. The people of Indonesia have huge hearts and an unbreakable spirit.
Happy Independence Day, Indonesia! 🇮🇩
#HariMerdeka #Indonesia #NIHISumba
Some places live up to the dream. NIHI Sumba is the kind of dream you don’t want to wake up from.
Come and see what everyone’s dreaming about.
No trending audio. No soundtrack needed.
Just the rhythm of Sumba. The ocean, the horses, the wind through the palms and the sounds that make this place feel like nowhere else.
After an unforgettable first Healing with Horses retreat on the Edge of Wildness, we’re delighted to announce that Candice Webster will return to NIHI Sumba in 2027.
Our inaugural retreat brought together the extraordinary energy of Sumba, our Sandalwood horses and Candice’s intuitive approach to equine healing for five deeply transformative days of connection, renewal and discovery.
In 2027, we return to the herd for two intimate retreats:
1–6 June 2027
8–13 June 2027
Spaces are limited. Each retreat offers the opportunity to slow down, reconnect and experience the profound relationship between horses, nature and self.
Full details and enquires are available via the retreat page, linked in our bio.
A true @nihi journey that has only just begun.
Cherish is a graduate from the Rote Hospitality Academy. Today, he is proudly part of the team at @nihirote, welcoming guests from around the world and sharing the beauty, culture and stories of the island he calls home.
@rote_hospitality_academy is proud to help create opportunities for Rote’s next generation, providing the skills and pathways to build their futures on the island.
Where culture runs deep and nature remains wild.
From ancient traditions and the enduring bond between the Sumbanese people and their horses, to untouched coastlines, rolling hills and endless horizons, Sumba is a place shaped by both its people and the land they call home.
At NIHI, every journey is a chance to experience the island as it has been for generations: raw, beautiful and deeply connected to its roots.
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#nihigram by @gedewahyuu_
Mornings to dream about.
Wake to the sound of rolling waves, swaying palms, and birdsong as the island slowly comes to life. Here, peace isn’t something you have to search for, it’s all around you. In the quiet, away from the everyday, you’ll find space to reconnect with nature, with the moment, and with yourself.
The simplest mornings often leave the greatest impression.
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