Help the working and rescue ponies on Gili T

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your continued support. Your generosity has made a real difference and helped lighten the financial burden of our ongoing work.

Here’s a little of what we’ve achieved together over the past few months:

Closing a chapter - Retiring the Last of the Rubbish Ponies

Since the start of organized rubbish collection on Gili Trawangan in 1999, tourism growth has led to around 15–20 tonnes of waste being produced daily.

As the island’s landfill expanded and waste volumes increased, it became clear that continuing to use horses for rubbish collection was no longer ethical or sustainable.

We set a clear goal to replace the remaining four rubbish collection horses with motorized vehicles;

• Mamba and Rainbow have been safely relocated to our Stud Rescue facility, where they’re now enjoying a well-deserved retirement with plenty of paddock space, freedom, and — most importantly — no more heavy, overloaded rubbish carts to pull.
• Agus, the healthy stallion, has found a great new home on the island where we can easily keep an eye on him.
• Chocolate, the older stallion, will retire comfortably with Horses of Gili.

This positive milestone has been a long time in the making, and we’re proud to finally see an end to the use of horses for rubbish collection on the island. It’s a significant step forward for animal welfare on the island, and we look forward to continuing to improve conditions for all working animals in our community.

Farrier Support Project

We remain committed to supporting local farriers by providing essential equipment, resources, and training opportunities wherever possible. One of our key collaborators, Ruki, has been actively working with horses in South Lombok and is now based on Gili Air.

We’re hopeful that with continued encouragement and support, Ruki will be able to extend his skills and care to the horses across the surrounding islands. His presence and expertise are invaluable in helping to improve the welfare and working conditions of local ponies, and we look forward to building on this positive relationship.

International vets arriving

We’re continuing our collaboration with students from the local university, and international vets, with training programmes scheduled for May and June 2025.By working closely with the local Koperasi for horse cart transport, we aim to keep improving the health, welfare, and working conditions of the ponies on the island. It’s a valuable partnership we’re proud to maintain and grow.

Seven has settled in well

Seven has settled in beautifully, and we’re completely smitten with her. She’s found her place in the herd and it’s been such a joy getting to know her personality and unique little quirks.

Life at Stud carries on with our usual daily routines, endless cleaning, and always looking for new ways to keep our retired ponies happy, enriched, and entertained.

How You Can Make a Difference

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve achieved so much — but we still have challenges ahead. By donating today, you’ll help us:

• Keep our horses healthy and happy with essential pellet feed.
• Continue vital training programs and clinics to improve animal welfare in our community.
• Maintain and enhance our sanctuary, giving every horse a safe, peaceful home.

Every donation, no matter the size, truly makes a difference.

Help us secure a brighter, kinder future for these beautiful animals. Donate now and be part of something truly special.

We truly couldn’t do this without you — thank you for being part of this journey with us!

With sincere apprecaition

Sarah and the Stud Rescue Team