Saintfield: mother and daughter open new equine centre to high demand after £350k bank supported investment
A new horse care facility has launched to high demand outside Saintfield after a £350,000 investment supported by Ulster Bank.
Moorestown Equine Services, owned by mother-daughter duo Gillian and Megan McOuat, is situated on a ten-acre plot at Monlough Road.
It offers DIY, full, and part-time livery services, as well as spacious, well-ventilated stables, year-round turnout, hacking, a secure tack room, excellent amenities, and a sand school.
Megan, who holds an equine management degree with distinction, has been around horses since childhood. Her mother and business partner, Gillian worked in the finance industry for almost 30 years.
As well as the equine centre, the McOuats own Peartree Cottage Cattery, offering holiday boarding for cats, a business which they’ve run from their family home for the past 18 years.
After graduating from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), 26-year-old Megan began working at stud and competition yards. From there, she eventually started her own business specialising in breaking, schooling, and producing young stock.
Gillian said: “Megan was determined to start her own equine business, but finding the right property was a real challenge.
“After a years-long search, we finally found a yard perfect for a business like ours. It was brand new, ready-built, but had never been used. You could say it was meant to be. It stretched our budget, but the potential was undeniable.
"Neill and the team at Ulster Bank recognised this too and really understood our vision for the business. With their help, we sealed the deal and thanks to the support of family and friends we were operational within just one month from handover.”
Commenting on the business partnership, Megan said: “We complement each other brilliantly, me and mum. I oversee yard operations and horse welfare while mum manages the finances.
"We’re leaning into each other’s strengths, and our combined expertise means the business has a promising future.
"We’ve already filled all of our available stables and continue to receive a high volume of enquiries for our services. The demand is there, but more than that it’s reassuring that the community is trusting us with their charges.”
Neill Boyd, the bank’s senior relationship manager, said: “Megan’s passion and strong understanding of this industry combined with Gillian’s expert handle on all things finance makes this a powerful partnership."