A Pilot Welfare Assessment of Working Ponies on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Gili Trawangan is one of three small islands comprising the Gili Islands, Indonesia, whose economy relies almost exclusively on tourism. With no motor vehicles on the Islands, working ponies transport locals and the one million tourists visiting annually, as well as all water, food, rubbish, and building supplies. The ponies work in hot, humid conditions, and the limited access to veterinary services and their remote location put animal welfare at risk. The aim of this pilot study was to provide an overview of pony health and welfare, and the related attitudes and knowledge of pony cart drivers on Gili Trawangan. Thirty-eight ponies were examined, and 33 cart drivers were interviewed in May 2017. Our results showed that, while most ponies were in good body condition, almost half were underweight. Most ponies had wounds and hoof lesions, and many were lame with possibly painful gaits. Importantly, many cart drivers stated they would work ponies regardless of injury or illness. This study can inform volunteer efforts that are carried out on the Islands. Further training of local workers is recommended to improve working pony health and welfare. ABSTRACT: Many working equids in developing countries experience poor health and welfare due to environmental and management factors. Collecting baseline data on these populations is essential to inform education projects to improve equid health and welfare. Gili Trawangan is an island in Indonesia that has no motor vehicles and a working pony population of approximately 200. This pilot study sought to determine baseline data on their health, welfare, and husbandry to inform future health and welfare strategies. A cross-sectional study was performed in May 2017 consisting of a pony cart driver questionnaire (n = 33) and a basic pony health examination (n = 38). The body condition scores of ponies were 3/5 (60.5%), 2/5 (31.6%), and 1/5 (7.9%), while 38% and 92% of ponies had lameness and foot pathology, respectively, and 31 ponies (86.1%) had at least one wound. Thirty percent of cart drivers stated they would work their ponies despite evidence of injury or illness. Limited education, poor access to veterinary services, and remoteness pose barriers to improving pony health and welfare. Our results indicate a need for, and can help inform, targeted education programmes to improve the lives of working ponies and protect livelihoods and tourism on Gili Trawangan.