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HORSE SENSE: Sales manager Tony Carella front, with, from left, James Eaton, Clyde Griffiths and Mike Askew

A DORSET trailer company will be supplying emergency transport for the four-legged stars of this summer's Olympic Games.

Wessex Trailers has secured a deal to send two of its specialist horse trailer ambulances out to Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympics.

Sales manager Tony Carella said: "Hong Kong were looking for a trailer for horse ambulances because they've got the Olympics coming up, they're holding the equestrian events at Hong Kong quay.

"A member of the jockey club came over especially, he was here for two or three days and went to look at other suppliers as well. But he fell in love with our trailer and loved the product."

The order also includes four of Wessex's regular Pegasus Equestrian' trailers and Mr Carella says such a major deal shows how far the business at Waddock Cross has come since it was established 30 years ago.

"We're a small manufacturing company that first started as a one man band doing trailers and it progressed from there.

"We became the south's leading outlet of light commercial trailers, producing more than 70 different models We now have 25 guys working for us, at least ten in our main manufacturing warehouse.

"Nearly everything is constructed and cut by hand and everything is assembled by hand.

"When it comes to specialist equipment we only produce that on site, to order.

"There are only two other companies in the UK that produce these specialist trailers."

Wessex Trailers has already received some prestigious orders for its horse ambulance, including for the Blue Cross and Her Majesty's Royal Household Cavalry -, but Mr Carella says the Olympic order is extra special.

"It's not everyone who can say they are providing specialist equipment for the Olympic Games. Touch wood it isn't needed but if something was to happen I would be very proud to see my product there and know that it is going to help."

He also noted an ironic element to the fact that a Dorset company is supplying equipment for the 2008 games.

"It's a bit of a weird one, the sailing is coming to Weymouth in 2012 and we are sending these trailers out to Hong Kong this summer.

"We are very proud to be a part of the 2008 games and maybe when it comes round to 2012 we might be a part of that as well."

7:59am Friday 1st February 2008

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