Behind the Scenes with Windsor Carriages
- Rebecca Seear
- Mar 6, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Exclusive Insights: 10 Questions with Rebecca Seear
Unveiling the Magic: Behind the Scenes at Windsor Carriages
Windsor Carriages offers a unique and exclusive view of Windsor, whilst we work year round, springtime is when things really start to come alive. We can trace our heritage back to 1849 and as the last remaining horse drawn hackney carriage company in the UK, we offer a very special experience to our guests. We have lots of exciting plans for 2024 and look forward to sharing them with you in due course, we plan to strengthen our offering to our awesome clients seeking a special experience and help those getting married to celebrate in style. We are also expanding our offering to be able to work with our corporate clients to provide that unique team budding experience. So watch this space!
We wanted to begin by sharing a little more about what goes on in a 'day in the life of' behind the scenes at Windsor Carriages and what better place to start than by speaking with the owner and 5th generation licensee, Rebecca Seear:
Meet Rebecca Seear: From Tech Media to Windsor Carriages
1. What is your background?
I grew up in Windsor Great Park. My parents ran a busy equestrian livery yard, and I spent much of my childhood perched beside my father on the box seat of his carriage—learning not just how to drive, but how to observe, listen, and respect the horses in our care.
My father was a professional coachman. The Hackney Carriage licence he held gradually became the last of its kind—a living piece of history—and he drove commercially for over 50 years through Windsor town and across the estate.
I stayed close to home to study English and Classics at Royal Holloway, continuing to help my grandfather and father with the horses while completing my degree. But after gradiating, I followed a different path, stepping into the corporate world and building a career in the fast-moving tech and media space, working for pioneering companies like Amazon and Technicolor.
It was at Amazon that I first felt the pull to return. I’d taken one summer off, to help dad as his health was in decline, a sabbatical, I thought, to help with the horses and support my father. That was thirteen years ago. I went back to LA briefly, but something had shifted. A call, the horses, and heritage that was too strong to ignore.
So I came home—for good. And I brought everything I’d learned with me.
Today, I run Windsor Carriages with a renewed sense of purpose: blending the elegance and charm of a Victorian era carriage company with the service standards and operational excellence I developed in my global career. I consider it a privilege to continue, evolving the business for a new generation while keeping our heritage at the heart of everything we do.
A Typical Day: Preparing for a Windsor Carriage Experience
2. Talk us through a typical day for you.
No two days are ever the same at Windsor Carriages. While our guests often see only the elegance and ease of their experience, behind the scenes is a carefully orchestrated operation, one that reflects our commitment to heritage, hospitality, and exceptional service.
A typical day begins well before our guests arrive. In truth, it begins the day before, with briefing calls, weather checks, route approvals, and finalising the day’s itinerary.
Whether we’re hosting a private estate luncheon, welcoming a wedding party, or delivering a full-day curated visit for overseas visitors, no detail is left to chance.
Morning preparations start early. The horses are fed and groomed, with the coachman and groom spending several hours preparing them for travel. Carriages are loaded, routes are confirmed, and I begin by checking in with our event organiser or guests to capture any last-minute changes. I also liaise with our chauffeur to confirm guest collection.
As the morning progresses, I touch base with the carriage team to convey any real-time updates, occasionally, parts of the estate may be closed or conditions may require a change to the planned route. Depending on the nature of the booking, I may collect flowers, oversee catering, or coordinate with trusted partners including castle guides and boat skippers.
Operating in Windsor means we often require clearance to pass through secure areas or estate gates, so I check in with our security contacts to ensure smooth access. It’s all part of working in a royal town, and part of the privilege of what we do.
Each carriage must meet the requirements of our Hackney licence, akin to a London black cab. That means full safety equipment is required, including a first aid kit (for horse and human).
Our team meets at a pre-approved, risk-assessed location. It’s never quite the same twice.
Once on site, the final preparations begin: harnesses are polished, hooves are painted, and chilled refreshments are packed into our bespoke carriage coolers, designed with inspiration from traditional safari storage. Blankets, umbrellas, and guest comforts are added before the team changes into formal country attire.
Only then do the horses begin their day. Carriages might travel to Windsor Castle, the Savill Garden, or a more discreet estate location, depending on the guest itinerary.
At day’s end, everything is reversed. Horses are washed down, carriages cleaned, and the team debriefed. While our guests return home with memories to treasure, we quietly ensure the horses are bedded down and every detail from the day is completed to the highest standard.
When not working with us, our coachmen are often found providing horses and carriages for film and television productions, continuing to share their exceptional skill and dedication with wider audiences.
3. How often do you run the carriage experiences?
We operate throughout the year, with our calendar flexing according to demand and the rhythm of the seasons. During the spring and summer months, when the estate is in full bloom and many of our guests are visiting from overseas, we may host three to four experiences per week. In the quieter winter months, this naturally slows to one or two per week.
We typically take a short pause in January, when the ground conditions become icy and safety, always our first priority, can no longer be guaranteed for the horses.
That said, winter visits can be especially atmospheric. Guests are often surprised at how warm and comfortable the experience is. Our covered carriages, equipped with traditional blankets and thoughtfully curated comforts, provide a snug travelling environment as the winter landscape unfolds outside. A glass of mulled wine or a rich hot chocolate completes the picture.
Each experience is individually designed, and our schedule is shaped around private bookings rather than fixed public rides, ensuring every guest receives the level of attention and detail we’re known for.
The Stars of the Show: Our Beloved Horses
4. Tell us more about the horses?
Our horses are at the very heart of everything we do. Their welfare comes first, always. Every horse used in our experiences is a commercial working horse, owned and cared for by our professional coachmen. They live at home with them, not in commercial stables, and are loved and nurtured as part of the family.
They’re not only highly trained but remarkably intuitive. You can see how much they enjoy the work, ears forward, relaxed expressions, and a quiet confidence that only comes from being well-handled, well-travelled, and well-loved.
We regularly work with a small, trusted group of horses who are carefully matched to each occasion.
Joey, our traditional cob, is something of a local celebrity, his cheerful character and distinctive look have made him a firm favourite with guests.
Belle, a beautifully refined Hackney mare, is owned by our coachman Jonathan and shown competitively when she’s not gracing our carriages.
For grander occasions and larger events, we often welcome two striking Friesian horses, Hendricks and Jacob, magnificent, jet-black, and instantly recognisable. When they’re not appearing with us, they can often be found on set filming period dramas such as Bridgerton or working behind the scenes on major productions.
Each horse is selected not only for their temperament and training, but also for the impression they leave, bringing quiet power, grace, and heritage to every moment of the experience.
Preserving Heritage: The Importance of Traditional Carriage Rides
5. What do you love most about your role?
What I love most is the opportunity to share something truly personal. I was raised in Windsor Great Park, surrounded by horses, tradition, and the rhythm of carriage life.
Today, welcoming guests from around the world to experience this heritage, on the very estate I grew up on, feels like inviting them into my home.
It’s a little like hosting a dinner party: I want every detail to be just right. From the moment our guests arrive, I want them to feel completely at ease, immersed in something quietly extraordinary.
At the heart of it all is tradition. The craft of carriage driving and horsemanship was once passed down through generations, coachman to apprentice, parent to child. Sadly, in many places, that lineage has been lost. But here, it still lives on. Watching our coachmen’s own children learn alongside them, just as I did, gives me real hope that this heritage will continue to breathe into the next century.
As anyone with horses will tell you, this isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. It’s a calling. I feel deeply proud that Windsor Carriages supports local families, providing meaningful work and keeping a centuries-old tradition alive in the most beautiful and thoughtful way we can.
I’m equally passionate about continuing our schools and charitable programmes, which are designed to connect children and families with the beauty and tradition of what we do. These experiences offer a glimpse into the elegance of Victorian travel and the way we once moved through the world—before the arrival of the motor car. There is something truly special about seeing young minds light up with wonder as they step into a carriage for the first time.
Where possible, we also use the carriages to support fundraising efforts and community initiatives, offering moments of joy while giving back to the place we’re so proud to call home.
6. What do you like least?
There’s very little I don’t enjoy about my role—though I must admit, the accounts and invoicing aren’t my favourite part of the job. That said, they’re essential to ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
I also have a habit of getting a little nervous just before a guest experience begins. I want everything to be perfect—especially the refreshments. One Christmas, a guest had requested hot chocolate with a splash of Baileys. We were so deep in conversation that I completely forgot to add the Baileys! Thankfully, the moment was easily rescued, and the guest enjoyed it as a separate treat—perhaps even better than planned.
Those small moments of imperfection remind me that hospitality is ultimately about how we make people feel. Even when something slips, it’s our warmth, presence, and care that guests remember most.
There was a lovely moment recently during one of our Estate Luncheons, hosted for a group of high-net-worth guests. Everything had been carefully arranged—tables and chairs appeared as if by magic, laid with crisp linens, teapots, fine crockery, and all the details that make these moments feel both elegant and effortless.
As the lunch unfolded, I overheard Shelby, one of our team members, sharing a quiet laugh with a guest. Something had happened—I’m not quite sure what—but I caught her gently say, “It’s a bit like camping, really.”
Now, I doubt any of our guests had ever camped in the New Forest as we do each summer, but in that moment, a lovely truth emerged. Beneath the silver trays and polished service, there was a sense of warmth, joy, and connection. The kind of hospitality that feels personal—where laughter is shared and everyone feels at ease.
That moment reminded me why we do what we do. For all the polish and planning, it’s the human touches that linger in memory.
7. What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Enthusiastic. Passionate. Caring. Animal Lover and Perfectionist, I want everything to be just right.
Looking Ahead: Windsor Carriages in 2024
8. What are your predictions for 2024?
The media is full of predictions for the year ahead, for me I look forward to happy horses and a growing team. I also forecast (and hope for) good weather, as sunshine always makes for an awesome day. Although I do reassure all of our future guests that we are prepared and have fully covered carriages, so the British weather cannot impact us.
9. What exciting plans do you have for 2024 you share with us?
We have lots of exciting plans on the horizon for 2024, we are looking forward to growing and being able to share this amazing experience with many more guests. We plan to work with some exciting new partners (watch this space!) and focus on our marketing, it is surprising how many people still say they have never heard of us!
10. Tell us four things we don't know about you?
Yes, four things you did not know about me: I am a carriage sales manager for an auctioneer in Reading, helping them to organise the sales and create estimates for their carriages for sale; I have my own horse Murphy; one dog Daisy and I am almost a vegan, almost because I am struggling to give up cheese!
If you are celebrating a special occasion this year; getting married; organising a group visit or just want to see Windsor in a very beautiful and unique way, click HERE to find out more about our packages and arrange a discovery call.
