Tibetan Pony Health Care Initiative

The Tibetan Pony is a breed native to the Mustang Region of the Tibetan plateau for thousands of years and has provided transportation for goods and people. A major breeding ground is found in the Mustang region of northwestern Nepal. The Pony has been isolated due to the difficult terrain of the region. However, now the preservation of this unique pony is currently at high risk due to the construction of a road in 2021 and the influx of other breeds and diseases into this region.

The TIBETAN PONY INITIATIVE is a group of highly qualified veterinarians and animal welfare professionals located in Nepal which provide supplies and information to improve the urgent health care needs of the Tibetan Ponies.

April of 2025 will be the 4th trip to the Mustang region to provide health care services to these wonderful ponies. However, this trip will drain all of the individual funding that was available to initiate this program. We have been unsuccessful in trying to apply for grants with other larger animal care non-profits to sustain the funding for this project. Therefore, we unfortunately are returning to you, the individual, to help. Each trip costs about $5000 in total for the local travel costs and expenses to bring a Nepali equine veterinarian, a Nepali assistant and medicines to the 7 different sites that we have serviced in this remote region.

Help us fund this project so we can continue to work to improve the health of the Tibetan Pony through:

• Evaluation the current status of the Tibetan Pony

• Provision of seminars to the Pony Farmers, including Women and Youth groups on basic equine health care.

• Provision of deworming and vaccinations to the Ponies.

• Development of specific timelines and goals for future trips

Long term goals of the Tibetan Pony Initiative include the following:

1. Partnering Nepalese veterinarians together with veterinarians from North America to develop an equid health care program at the Veterinary College in Nepal with a specific focus on the Tibetan Pony.

2. Encouraging and supporting women to provide care to the Tibetan Ponies in rural communities, which has been found to improve woman’s status in the community and their overall well-being.

3. Provide sustained improvement in the overall care of the Tibetan Pony through the development of a pony trekking business that can provide an income for the farmer who maintains a healthy pony herd.

Help NOW to preserve and provide health care to the Tibetan Pony, and in the future travel to Nepal and meet these wonderful ponies as you explore the unique culture of the Tibetan Plateau on horseback.

This program has been through a long and thorough planning process. You can trust that every donation you give will be used to help preserve and care for the Tibetan Pony.