Accident inspires business

Seven years ago Jackie Mildenhall's 13-year-old daughter broke her leg trialling her first pony.

Mum left the hospital to buy a present for her horse-mad daughter.

``I tried to buy something horsey and I couldn't find a thing,'' she said.

``She didn't have a horse at the time so I couldn't go to the local saddlery and buy horse stuff. I couldn't even find a poster. I couldn't buy anything. Just one soft toy at the florist.''

Facing her daughter's three-month recovery in plaster, she went looking online and found plenty of gifts but they were overseas.

With husband Rex, she saw a business opportunity.

``I went to a gift fair to see what I could find. They looked at me blankly when I asked them if they had anything with horses on it. They just looked at you as if you were an idiot,'' she said.

``So we thought, right, we'll just buy it from overseas, but that was hard.''

Frustrations finding suppliers, minimum order amounts and shipping hassles nearly caused her to give up after three months.

But persistence paid off and they now carry about 600 products including tapestries from Belgium and bed linen from Europe.

``Sourcing product is time-consuming but, to me, it's like someone going fishing. You can go out all day and come back empty-handed, but you still keep going back,'' Jackie said.

She was surprised how little product was made in China and how much was made in the Americas.

``It's getting harder but you'd be surprised at what you can find.''

Not being horse-savvy counted against them when they first opened a stall at the Horse of the Year Show: ``So we rock up here with a whole lot of things Jackie's bought, thinking a horse is a horse is a horse _ but, no, it's not,'' Rex said.

``So we're selling to these people who know everything about horses and they're saying, I wouldn't have a cob or, they're all Arabs.''

Their business (www.horsegi fts.co.nz) operates from their Havelock North home, which is also home to their daughter's horses and a pet pig.

``We both like that rural lifestyle. I had to learn how to drive a truck,'' Jackie said.

She also admits she's a bit more horsey now.

``I used to stand on the other side of the fence when my daughter was getting lessons and now I plait them, change their covers and run a horse business. Horse people are great. I love them.''

She plans to continue growing the business: ``It's a very full-time job now, but Rex wants to retire so I have to double it.''-->-->-->