A massive life-sized bronze model of a great dane named Boris sits at the entrance of the new O3 Gallery, at the Oxford Castle site. He's so life-like that the urge to give him a pat is overwhelming. Beside him stand Watson the Labrador and Lillie the bulldog - also the creations of Lorne McKean, whose passion for horses and their canine companions is obvious. No one could have produced these and the many other stunning sculptures on display unless they loved and understood these magnificent creatures. The bronze figure of the Duke of Edinburgh on his polo pony Portano standing outside the gallery, which is credited to Lorne too, was commissioned by the Queen as her personal silver wedding gift to her husband.

Artist Neil Cawthorne is equally talented and shares Lorne's gift for capturing the very essence of an animal. His oil Sunday (pictured), which depicts hounds on their day of rest, is superb. Their relaxed poses as they bask in the sun is so evocative of the deep sleep an animal is capable of that any tensions you have have experienced before entering the gallery will abate as you study the carefully applied brushstrokes that breathe life into these sleeping creatures.

Other works by Neil include The Huntsman. Here the huntsman, who is set against a Turneresque sky, is the central figure. He gallops towards the viewer on his dappled grey horse, closely followed by five hounds. His oil painting Friends must indeed have been of just that. The two horses heads in the picture call out to be patted.

The third artist involved in Equestrian Art, which continues at the 03 Gallery until September 3, is Barrie Linklater. He particularly likes working on racing scenes, though he specialises in human and equine portraiture. Barrie is now an established international artist, whose first equestrian commission came from the Duke of Edinburgh. A picture of the Queen's favourite mares and foals was his jubilee gift to her in 1976.

Barrie's works in this exhibition include A Creature Born of Fire and Air, a study in sepia of five horse poses: one jumping, one galloping, one turning, one dancing and one sedately poised ready to move to the centre of the composition. A masterly piece worked in oils.

This exhibition is a must for all those who love horses and dogs.