Despite Pattaya's sometimes rough and ready image, there is culture to be had, and upmarket sports as well.

Just inland from the seaside centre of the area, across the other side of Sukhumvit Road and into the foothills, is a unique combination of housing estate and equestrian centre by the name of HORSESHOE POINT.

This international riding school recently hosted Thailand's round of the FEI World Dressage championships and year-round provides the country's premier place for people who love horses and riding.

Thailand is not known for equestrianism – horses are a relatively rare sight in the kingdom partly because of the climate but also partly because they are not native to this part of the world and have in neighbouring countries been introduced by earlier colonial powers.

However, upper-class Thai families, which have travelled or perhaps lived in Europe, do enjoy the entire process of raising, grooming and riding these wonderful animals, and Horseshoe Point is a grand place either for a day trip or as a horseback riding holiday destination. The facility can offer trail riding, a pony club for the little ones, lessons for all ages and abilities (including disabled rides) and even show-jumping on its own indoor course.

The show-jumping arena is flanked not only by seating for spectators but also by a mezzanine gallery that runs right round and leads off to small but well appointed rooms for overnight accommodation – or longer if you choose. But this centre is best suited to a weekend stay as part of a visit to Pattaya, a way of getting away from the hurly-burly of the seaside into something altogether more relaxing and really quite unusual in this kingdom.

Horseshoe Point is not only for horse whisperers, though – come and stay for cricket, rugby and even bowls if you fancy these sports, all of which are relatively rare in Thailand. Check the listings, because there are several internationally organised tournaments during the year that bring visitors for a sociable mix of sporting endeavour and food and drink – the venue has several bars and a restaurant.

Right next door to Horseshoe Point is the Three Kingdoms Theme Park, a fascinating place to visit (it's 12 kilometres from central Pattaya, perhaps too far for a motorcycle taxi but your hotel can lay on a car and driver) which follows a theme from a famous Chinese novel called the Romance of Three Kingdoms. In the park visitors can see three examples of buildings in Chinese style and there are also collections of statues and ancient objects inside the buildings.