TWO friends who have worked with horses all their lives have joined forces to open new livery stables.

Victoria Goodall, 22, and Rhona Smith, 23, have received a grant from the Prince's Trust to help them set up their business at Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, County Durham

Miss Goodall has worked for various racehorse trainers, including Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket, and Miss Smith was head girl for the Olympic medal winning rider Karen Dixon.

The pair, who live at Eggleston, have also been given a grant, as well as a lot of valuable business advice and other support by the Teesdale Enterprise Agency.

They have set up a US-style barn, with 11 large loose boxes, alongside 30 acres of parkland on which all the visiting horses can roam safely.

Miss Goodall said yesterday: "We both love horses and have set up stables that will be really comfortable for them - the equivalent of them staying in a five-star hotel."

As well as looking after horses while their owners are on holiday, they will also take in difficult mounts or those that failed on the racecourse, and school them with the aim of improving the animals.

They have set up a dressage and show jumping arenas, and are busy with plans for a cross-country course.

They are also arranging weekend packages, during which owners can put horses into the stables while they book into a local hotel, then enjoy two days of riding round the Teesdale countryside.