WHAT IS THE ATTRACTION OF OWNING A THOROUGHBRED?:

If a thoroughbred were a human being, he'd be the interesting intellect you'd hope to sit next to at a dinner party. Challenging yet inspiring, with a passion for perfection and the courage to break boundaries.

If he were a painting, he'd be the finest of all the oils in the gallery's private collection with the elegance of a Stubbs, the power a Turner and the tranquillity of a Constable.

If a car, he'd be a Porsche. Finely tuned, beautifully engineered, handling even hairpin bends as if gliding on rails.

The allure of owning a thoroughbred is irresistible. And yet the irony is that you never really do - indeed, a thoroughbred owns you. They own your heart, your mind, your soul. And sometimes they own your pocket - but for a particular calibre of person with an instinct for beauty, purity and speed, they are worth it.

They're famous throughout the world, a living metaphor for the very nature of excellence, and yet unless you've had the singular pleasure of riding a thoroughbred, you can have no notion of their true nature.
When a thoroughbred takes a turn of speed, they literally have the wind beneath their feet. When they rest, they are languid angels. When they love, work, win … they do it for you, they make your heart sing and veritably lift you to such heights as match their beauty and your dreams.

When they trust you - well, words cannot capture the power that's yours when they do.

Think Black Beauty.
Red Rum.
Desert Orchid.

My own love affair with the thoroughbred reads as a story. It's the story of my life's journey, and one that a few years ago my husband and I decided to share with others. Which is why we founded 'Off Piste Riding', an adventure horse riding business. Our preference in horses? Thoroughbreds, naturally.

Our aim is to encourage keen and competent riders to experience Exmoor on horseback. A thoroughly exhilarating, even addictive, way to see one of the most beautiful parts of the country. We launched last spring and have been fully booked ever since. Our success, we're told by riders time and time again, is due to our beautiful thoroughbreds, our expansive knowledge of the local terrain and our knack of tapping into a niche market who yearn to experience edgy riding in nature at its most luxurious. These are discerning equestrian lovers who want to experience something distinctly different - which is why it's all the more satisfying that so many take the time to write and tell us of the thrill at finding just what they're looking for.

The attraction of the thoroughbred is best told by them. Please see our horse stories and guest comments.