NOT even rain and smoke could stop Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad from enjoying a short horseback-riding jaunt, a favourite hobby of his, this morning.

Clad in a red T-shirt, dark pants, knee-high riding boots, helmet and a face mask to protect him from the poor air quality, the 94-year-old saddled up for ride at University Putra Malaysia’s Equine Centre.

According to his official website, Chedet.com, Dr Mahathir spent almost an hour at the centre riding a horse, a hobby he has not been able to enjoy for some time due to his heavy workload.

“It was a drizzling Sunday morning, but that is not stopping Dr Mahathir from riding a horse. A hobby that has not been done for some time due to lack of time,” read the post, which was accompanied by a short video also posted on his social media accounts.

After the ride, Dr Mahathir conveyed his thanks to his equine partner with a sumptuous bowl of carrots.

Last month, Dr Mahathir cycled 11km on a bicycle around Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

He completed the course in 45 minutes.

“This morning we had the chance to bike almost 11km. Thank God, it feels fresh and vibrant,” Dr Mahathir had said on his social media accounts.

The nonagenarian, who is currently deep into his second stint as prime minister, is well-known for his healthy habits that include eating only small meal portions, exercising regularly and working hard to keep the mind active. – September 15, 2019.