AN entrepreneur has used her 50th birthday to launch a horsebox business.

Maisie Watson has set up Equine Roadrunner – which offers self-drive horsebox hire and horse transport – in Moorside, near Consett, County Durham.

The venture was set up on December 11 – Mrs Watson’s 50th birthday.

Her business partner is her husband, Leo, who will be available for emergency calls day and night to deliver the horseboxes across the country, a service Mrs Watson believes will be of particular interest to vets and livery yards that need to transport sick and injured animals quickly.

She said she set up in business after she realised a costeffective alternative was needed, and said: “I recently hired a self-drive horsebox and was amazed how the costs mounted with rental, excess mileage charges, insurance, cleaning, and so on.

“My rates will be an all-in price per 24 hours. The only extra will be the diesel the customer uses. I believe this will be a clear round winner with horse and pony owners.”

Her first vehicle – a RunStar Horse Shuttle – was supplied by Northern Horseboxes, in Darlington.

Mike Crawley, who operates Northern Horseboxes alongside his daughter, Emma, and business partner, Grant Cramond, at the Silverlink Business Park, in Darlington, said: “Maisie has bought our demonstrator model and we are sure her business will flourish.

“We are honoured that she asked for our help and advice in setting everything up and wish her every success.”