Come ride with us

A group of horse lovers in Johor Baru have set up their own where they can ride at leisure amid lush tranquillity

HORSE riding is often considered the pastime of the elite few.
After all, it is not cheap to own a horse, let alone have a stable for it.

As this is an expensive hobby, the number of horse riding enthusiasts is small.
So small, in fact, that businessmen do not find it worthwhile to set up a horse riding ranch.

Several riders in Johor Baru decided to solve this problem by having their own ranch -- a place where they ride their horses anytime they feel like it in an exclusive and tranquil environment surrounded by forest.

If you like horse riding, or intend to learn about the sport, go to the Horse Valley at Kampung Baru Plentong in Plentong, Johor Baru.

Horse Valley Sdn Bhd manager Alex Chia said the 3.2ha site was equipped with a horse riding track, training enclave, rolling bay, stables, and a pond for leisure boating.

"The owners are horse riding enthusiasts.

"With this ranch, they are able to go riding whenever they are free.

"For the convenience of enthusiasts, we have set up this place for them to learn to ride horses. We have qualified trainers who provide the service.

"Owners can keep their horses at Horse Valley and make use of our facilities whenever they are free," Chia said.

There are two rows of stables which join to form an "L" shape.

One row houses horses belonging to Horse Valley while the other caters to horses belonging to outsiders.

Nazihah Shukri, a 43-year-old Singaporean who lives with her husband in Hong Kong, said she had brought her 8-year-old daughter, Hana Zaafira Slopper, to the ranch to learn horseback riding.

"This is our first visit. We like the environment a lot. We will come here during the school or summer holidays in Hong Kong," she said.

Hana said she had always liked horses and wanted to take up riding as a hobby.

"Finally, I have realised my dream here," she said.

The horses at the ranch are mainly imported from Australia and New Zealand.

Those interested to learn horseback riding can enrol in a course with 10 sessions. Each session lasts about 45 minutes.

The ranch is open from 7am to 10am and from 3pm to 6pm daily. It is closed on Mondays.

Chia said horse riding can help one to lose weight. One rider lost about 10kg of body weight over two years after taking up horse-riding.

"We plan to have a gym and a snooker room soon for the benefit of our customers," he added.

For details, visit Horse Valley Website or Horse Valley Facebook Gallery

source: New Straits Times' Article