Zara Phillips pictured jumping The Rug Man Sponsored fence at the recent Hartpury College CIC *** Event

The Origins of the Rug Man Services Ltd.

We have had horses for years; we currently have four of the little darlings.  For the last four years or so a chap called Brian Payne (the original Rug Man) has been washing our rugs – as you can imagine – lots of them.  Earlier this year we bought a new heavyweight rug for our 17hh German Warmblood (delicate flower that he is, he feels the cold) which had a faulty zip.  The tack shop we bought it from said that they would send it back to the manufacturer for replacement but it would have to be clean, so we duly called up the original rug man and left it for collection at one of his pick up points. 

Two days later I got up for work (very early) – looked in dismay at the pile of laundry and as I left the house yelled something like “...and can you put some laundry on please...”.

Mid morning I got a ‘phone call.  “How do you fancy having a rug washing business?”  That was a bit more laundry than I had in mind...

Apparently the original rug man had retired and closed the business.  Chris had already called him to see if there was any equipment for sale – which there was.  So we bought some, found an industrial unit in Stroud, added some more equipment and some well placed advice from the original rugman, and so was born The Rug Man Services Ltd.  At least I thought, we would be able to get our own rugs washed...