About Us

Sharpen Equestrian Marketing Ltd was founded in 2009 by Penny Gamble and Charlotte Hollis. Having met at Aberystwyth University in 1998, both went on to forge their separate marketing and business careers; Penny in establishing her own successful web and marketing business and Charlotte in delivering large scale projects for bluechip clients for a lively and growing marketing agency.

Sharpen was born out of a collaborative project to establish the informative, niche websites www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk and www.drivinghorseboxes.co.uk. In researching the industry and supporting services, we quickly identified that the equine industry in particular is not strongly represented on the web. Our own personal frustrations at not being able to find answers to our questions prompted an initial conversation that then led to Sharpen Equestrian Marketing. Our collective skills and experience have enabled us to launch our own successful initiatives and those of others.

Charlotte Hollis BSc (Hons) MBA

A farmer’s daughter, Charlotte grew up with horses as her parents diversified into horses when she was very young. The small DIY livery yard, intended to utilise redundant farm buildings, very quickly turned into a thriving equestrian centre with circa 140 horses. Experience gained through her involvement in the busy riding school, livery yard, training and event centre has stood Charlotte in good stead over the years as she has tackled both equestrian and other challenges alike.

Professionally, she has worked permanently and as a freelancer with a successful marketing agency and has managed projects for the very small and the very large, including Corus, De Beers Diamonds and Coca-Cola.

Outside of work, Charlotte is a keen and competitive rider, regularly taking part in BD, BE and BSJA events. She is also working with her husband, also a farmer, on a number of diversification projects, including a new DIY livery yard.

Penny Gamble BSc, MSc

Also from a farming family, Penny founded her own website design and online marketing company back in 2003 and has built an impressive portfolio of clients in a diverse range of industries, including well known equestrian brands. With a focus on developing websites that are well designed, content-rich and based on strong underlying systems, the aim is to help businesses develop an online presence that delivers tangible results and, in turn, growth.

When not helping her clients make their mark on the world wide web Penny loves nothing more than spending time with her two horses. A lifelong rider, she enjoyed a successful competitive career in her Pony Club years and now classes herself as more of a happy hacker. As a new mum, Penny’s now relishing the chance to get back onto the Pony Club scene as soon as daughter Livy is old enough. This, combined with strong business acumen and technical knowledge, makes the move to offer specialist equestrian marketing solutions a natural progression.