Gili Island Equine Program 2023 Report
Below is the report from our partner group, the Gili Island Equine Program, in Indonesia. Their report covers the entirety of 2023:
We started the year fully motivated to make dramatic improvements to the education and knowledge of the farrier education funded by AAA on Gili Trawangan.
After several issues in placing the initial horse shoe order, they finally arrived on the island (one week after the first visit from the International farriers and vets). We did not allow this to stop us, and we set about moving forward with the first training clinic. Kyal Grant and Dr Jen Lugton from Australia volunteered a week of their time to kick off the training. After making all of the necessary arrangements and receiving permission from all the necessary parties, on the first day of the clinic, we were turned away by Janur Indah (the local Koporasi for horse carts on the island).
We moved the first training clinic to Stud Horse Riding and Rescue, where after 6 days, 12 locals were trained in giving basic farrier care (trimming hooves correctly). By the end of this week, several of those who had attended the clinics were gifted knives and rasps, while another attendee was given a full set of equipment to be able to provide farrier care on a regular basis. They were able to trim hooves with a level of competency above and beyond anything currently available on the island.
During this clinic we were able to gather information from the locals in terms of how we could navigate the island politics and provide the education and supplies required to make a difference. We were aware that in order to better facilitate a positive relationship moving forward, we were going to need to exercise some patience, and wait for the local Koporasi to be ready to work together with us.
During Dr Charlies visit in June 2023, his primary focus was to improve relations with Janur Indah. He invited the vet students from the University of Undikma Matram to once again provide a clinic for the local working ponies. This not only helped to provide direct care to the working ponies on the island, but also gave the students the opportunity to provide hands on care under the supervision of their Professors and International Vets.
These smaller clinics served to help gain the trust of the Koporasi, and improve relationships to provide the stepping stones to giving us access to provide more education and greater self-sustainable care.
In November, Chris Beggs returned to Gili Trawangan in order to provide more farrier training to the dedicated team at Stud Horse Riding and Rescue. They trained tirelessly for 6 days in better trimming techniques and applying shoes. Following this training, Dr Charlie returned to the island working with the team from the University of Undikma to provide a mini clinic for the working ponies.
It was during this clinic that we were able to sit with the head of the Koperasi and discuss how we could work together, and how best to move forward to be able to provide greater care for the working horses on the island, as well as better education.
They have made it clear that it is their wish to improve their knowledge and be more independent. They have shown great willing in wanting to learn farrier skills as well as basic first aid and other husbandry skills.
We have had to play the long game, but finally it seems that our patience has paid off. While the project had a slower start than we had hoped, due to the fact that we were met with resistance, we have shown our willingness to help to provide education and tools, which the locals have now accepted on their own terms.
