Selection
30+ horses in the string
Sourced from breeders across the island and chosen for temperament first. Grooms know each animal individually, which is how riders get matched properly.
The Herd
Our Horses
Thirty-plus Sandalwood Ponies, each selected individually for temperament, health and the way they carry a rider.
Visit Our Stables
A Heritage Breed, Individually Chosen
Our horses are Sandalwood Ponies — Kuda Sumba — descended from ancient stock brought to the island by Austronesian migrants and shaped by millennia of island breeding.
We source from the best breeders across Sumba and take only animals that show the calm, willing temperament the breed is known for. A beautiful horse that will not settle with a nervous rider is no use to us.
Each one is assessed for temperament, health, conformation and riding ability before it joins the string, and reassessed continuously afterwards.
How We Work
Selection, Welfare and Conservation
The three things that decide which horse you ride and how often it works.
Selection
30+ horses in the string
Sourced from breeders across the island and chosen for temperament first. Grooms know each animal individually, which is how riders get matched properly.
Welfare Protocol
Max 4 days a week
Guaranteed rest days, daily grooming, monthly veterinary checks, nutritionist-designed feed and ample pasture time. The protocol exceeds local industry standard.
Breeding Programme
Genetic diversity
The breed faces real conservation pressure. Our mares and stallions are selected to maintain diversity and breed standard, not just to produce riding horses.
Meeting Your Horse
We encourage every rider to spend time with their horse before mounting — grooming and tacking up rather than simply being handed a set of reins.
It is not ceremony. A horse that has been handled by you for ten minutes rides differently than one you have just met, and a nervous rider settles faster than any instruction achieves.
- Primarily Sandalwood Ponies (Kuda Sumba)
- A few crossbreeds for larger riders
- Maximum four working days per week
- Daily grooming, monthly veterinary checks
- Nutritionist-designed feeding
- Grooming and tacking up before you ride
Why the Breed Suits This Island
Compact but powerful, typically 12 to 13 hands, the Sandalwood has a lineage tracing back to the sandalwood trade that once made these islands among the wealthiest in the archipelago.
What matters practically is the adaptation: tolerant of tropical heat, sure-footed on rock and sand, willing in water, and able to hold condition on sparse grazing. Larger imported breeds manage none of that here without intervention.
That is also why we cannot promise you a specific animal. Rotation and welfare come first — though returning guests often bond with one horse, and we do our best to accommodate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What breeds do you use?
Primarily Sandalwood Ponies, the native Sumbanese breed. We also keep a small number of crossbreeds for larger riders.
How are the horses cared for?
Each horse works a maximum of four days a week and receives daily grooming, monthly veterinary checks, nutritionist-designed feeding and ample pasture time. Our grooms know each horse individually.
Can I meet the horses before riding?
Yes, and we encourage it. You will learn to groom and tack up, which builds the connection before you mount. Guests who want more time with the horses can book the stable experience.
Can I request a specific horse?
We cannot guarantee it — rotation and welfare come first. Returning guests often bond with a particular horse and we do our best to accommodate. First-time visitors are matched on riding ability.
Meet Your Horse
Visit the stables and find the Sandalwood Pony you will be riding.