horse ownership in Malaysia

[sugarcubes]

hi, I'm a new member of this forum. I'm a singaporean, not an expat, but I am posting in this forum as I have questions that I think expats may be more knowledgeable in than my own countrymen.

I used to ride horses roughly 10 yrs ago. I took lessons in Sentosa Riding Center & Greendale Riding School (both of which have shut down by now) but due to unforeseen circumstances I was forced to quit.

Well, I miss riding. And I have always wanted to own a horse, not in Singapore (totally out of the question due to cost issues), but in Malaysia (johor bahru). Does anyone have experience in that?

I only have experience in riding, not in horse ownership, so I hope you'll all be patient with me. I'm seriously considering buying a trained, experienced horse. I'm especially concerned about *maintenance*. Is it costly to own a horse in Malaysia? Is it possible to board my horse in a riding school so it gets its daily grooming & exercise? How about veterinary expenses?

At the moment, it is not possible for me to move to Malaysia, so I need a place where it can be taken care of. I can visit about 2x/wk.

I am a healthcare worker. In no way am I rich, but due to my love for horses, I am willing to give up on the little luxuries in order to own one.