Horse and carriage drives stables to success (From Malvern Gazette)

Horse and carriage drives stables to success

1:33pm Friday 26th October 2007

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A COUNTRY business's new horse and carriage service is proving so successful that it has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Rundlemead Stables, in Mathon, is one of just three names to make the regional shortlist for the Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business category of the Countryside Alliance's Best Rural Retailer competition.

Owner Caroline Chadney has run her own business from the stables for the last 20 years, offering a range of services from point-to-point meetings to the breaking in and schooling of young horses for professional trainers.

But it is her latest venture, a traditional horse and carriage service for special occasions, that really caught the judges attention.

"I've always done a little bit of everything here, but this year I decided I needed to diversify and bring in more business during the quiet summer period," said Mrs Chadney. "I bought my driving horse Smart six months ago and we've been extremely busy since, helping out at weddings, anniversaries and parties."

If Rundlemead Stables is successful in the regional competition it will go on to the national finals, where the winners will be announced during a House of Lords reception in February.

"It was quite a surprise to find out we'd made the final three, and it seems the horse and carriage has caught the Countryside Alliance's eye," said Mrs Chadney. "I've got to fill in a questionnaire about the stables, and then it will just be a case of crossing my fingers and waiting."

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