About Us!
Where The Journey Started
H.M. Equine Transportation & services was founded in September 2020. We Started off transporting horses within our local area in the Scottish Highlands. Our First vehicle being our trusty old pick up and Ifor Williams Trailer. It Soon became apparent that there was a need for longer distance transport as well as a local service, and in November 2020 we expanded, adding a 3.5 tonne Lorry to the fleet.
The Legend Behind the Name
Hollows Mist
The name behind H.M.Equine Transportation & Services belongs to ex racehorse Hollows Mist. He has been owned by Samantha for 12 years since his retirement from racing in 2009.
Since his retirement, Hollows Mist (stable Name Smurf) has enjoyed a varied ridden career including eventing, dressage and side saddle.
Currently 25 years old he is semi retired and enjoys hacking around the countryside and is even partial to the occasional creme egg!
Smurf holds a huge part of Samanthas' heart, and she goes as far to say that he inspires her everyday. So it was only natural that the business was named after him.
A Family Business
Stephen & Samantha Murray
Stephen and Samantha Murray, are the faces behind the business. Both originally from Cumbria, they moved to Inverness separately, with Samantha moving in March of 2018 and Stephen following in July of 2019. The pair married on Samanthas 29th birthday in October 2019.
The couple have years of experience between them, both with a background in professional driving.
Stephen holds his full category D (bus &coach) licence, along with professional drivers CPC and digital tachograph. He has had a long and successful driving career spanning over 22 years transporting passengers all over the UK & Europe.
Samantha also holds her category D licence, professional drivers CPC and digital tachograph, and has driven coaches across the UK & Europe for 8 years. In March 2018 Samantha obtained her category C+E (HGV Class 1) licence.
Stephen grew up in the Scottish Borders, taking part in the local common ridings every year on a hired horse. Although he hasn't owned his own horse until recent years, he was part of the local riding school pony club, and participated in all the activities there.
Samantha has worked in a few professional yards ranging from a riding school & dealers yard to racing yards. She has extensive knowledge and experience with horses and even qualified in Equine Sports Massage Therapy in 2019 to further her knowledge and understanding of equine anatomy.
Samantha has also spent many years successfully competing her own horses in eventing, dressage, showing and sidesaddle. Breaking and schooling horses for clients is also something Samantha has had experience in alongside her work and own horses.
The Lorry Puppy!
Willow
The latest addition to the Murray clan, Willow joined us in May 2021. She is a Border Collie who loves days out in the lorry with us and chewing the seatbelt!
She is great company for us on the road and she loves saying hello to everyone. You can be sure that wherever the lorry is, Willow isn't far away!