World-class showjumper Jessica Kürten can sum up her philosophy in a few words. “A horse isn’t just a piece of sports equipment – it’s your partner. You have to look after your horse like you’d look after a friend.”

At the Quintas de Obidos development on Portugal’s Silver Coast, where the 38-year-old Irish Olympian is designing her signature centre, this has translated into providing extra spacious stabling, the latest training, exercise and treatment facilities, indoor and outdoor arenas, computer monitored surfaces, even special apartments for the grooms. It is the equestrian equivalent of the site’s luxury €1.8m villas.