NIHI SUMBA INTRODUCES THE RIDING & RACQUET CLUB, WHERE SUMBA’S EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE FINDS A NEW EXPRESSION
There are few sights more synonymous with NIHI Sumba than the island’s Sandalwood ponies running along the shoreline, their presence woven into the rhythm, stories, and spirit of the resort since the very beginning. As NIHI Sumba continues to evolve, recently becoming a Certified B Corporation® in recognition of its commitment to responsible hospitality, this enduring connection takes on a new expression through the Riding & Racquet Club, a beachfront sanctuary that celebrates the romance of equestrian tradition, the nostalgia of classic sporting clubs, and the untamed beauty of Sumba.
The Riding & Racquet Club brings together the Sandalwood Stables, an international tennis court, clubhouse lounge and bar, boutique, and the beloved Monday evening Bakar di Kandang Kuda dining experience. More than a destination for riding or sport, it is a place shaped around moments: a morning match overlooking the ocean, afternoons spent watching the horses return home, and evenings gathered beneath thatched ceilings as the island slows into sunset.
Designed through the creative vision of NIHI founders James McBride and Chris Burch together with Creative Director Caroline Usher and UBD Global, the club continues the design philosophy that has made NIHI one of the world’s most distinctive resorts. Every corner feels collected rather than decorated, carrying the character of a private residence shaped through years of journeys, memories, and stories.
Inside, the clubhouse recalls the atmosphere of the world’s great polo lounges while remaining unmistakably Sumbanese. Rugged teak walls, soaring thatched ceilings, a deep forest green bar, and the glow of warm amber lighting create a sense of quiet nostalgia. Vintage polo mallets, antique wooden tennis racquets, equestrian details, Sumbanese artifacts, and hand-carved wooden pieces are layered throughout the interiors, creating spaces that feel lived in, personal, and deeply connected to place.
The terrace opens directly toward the Sandalwood Stables, where NIHI’s horses remain at the heart of the experience. Ancient, spirited, and inseparable from the island’s identity, the Sandalwood ponies represent a living heritage that continues beyond the arena, inviting guests to connect with one of Sumba’s most treasured traditions.
As the sun sets, the club takes on another rhythm. The bar becomes a gathering place for conversation and golden-hour rituals, while Monday evenings welcome guests to Bakar di Kandang Kuda, an open-fire feast beneath the stars where the sounds of the ocean, the warmth of the stables, and the spirit of NIHI come together.
For NIHI, the Riding & Racquet Club reflects a lifelong appreciation for equestrian culture while remaining deeply rooted in the spirit of Sumba.
“This is where polo lounge meets Sumba, the rawness of the Sandalwood ponies, the open fire, the spirit of the island. Polo has always been an important part of my life, and this is the version of it only NIHI could produce,” shares James McBride, CEO & Co-Founder of NIHI Hotels.
With the Riding & Racquet Club, NIHI Sumba continues to evolve through experiences rooted in place and shaped by purpose. More than a destination for riding, sport, or gathering, it reflects the enduring relationship between the island, its people, and the Sandalwood horses that have become synonymous with the NIHI story. It is another chapter written not only for guests, but for Sumba itself.
For inquiries and reservations: [email protected] | +62 811 3821 2910 (Asia Time)
