BALIK PULAU: Seven excited Year Six pupils from SJK(C) Yeok Hua went on a Chinese New Year adventure filled with laughter, courage and close encounters with horses.
For Teoh Jing Hern, the experience was a mix of nerves and thrill as he recalled his first serious horse ride on Saturday.
Although he had been on a horse once as a child, the Year Six pupil admitted that the memory was faint. This time, however, the experience felt very real.
“I was nervous and excited at the same time.”
As the horse walked around the paddock, Jing Hern said his initial fear gradually turned to joy, even though the afternoon heat added to the challenge.
“It was a good experience, and I really enjoyed it, but it was very hot,” he added with a grin, wiping away sweat after the ride.
For his classmate Nur Qisya Ahmad Razaain, the highlight of the outing went beyond horse riding.
“I have always loved animals. It was great to be at the stables and see so many different animals.”
She especially enjoyed interacting with the pygmy goats and ponies, which she found both friendly and adorable.
“I was very happy because I could get close to them,” she said as her eyes lit up.
Another pupil, Tan Wei Zhe, said the outing held special meaning for him and his six classmates.
“Going out together with my classmates made it very memorable. We are all born in the Year of the Horse, so celebrating the Horse Year like this made it extra special for us,” he said.
Tan added that the experience strengthened their friendship, making the celebration not just about the animals, but also about shared memories with classmates as they prepare to complete their final year in primary school.
Established in 2012, Countryside Stables is run by husband-and-wife Wan Aikhsan Wan Jamil, 65, and Doris Lim, 60.
It is home to more than 30 animals ranging from purebred Arabian horses and Argentine Criollos to ponies from Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, as well as miniature ponies from Australia and donkeys.
Lim said the stable has steadily grown into an educational and recreational space for families and tourists.
“We are open daily, and weekends are especially busy.”
Aside from rides, the stable offers hands-on experiences such as pony rides, feeding sessions and guided tours where visitors learn about different breeds and animal care.
Jing Hern, Nur Qisya, Wei Zhe, and their friends will no doubt look back on their visit to the stables as one of their most treasured Lunar New Year memories.
A trip they will recall long after they outgrow their school uniforms.
