Moving a business from one location to another can be a distraction at the best of times, and to tackle it in the teeth of a recession shows great confidence.

Young up-and-coming racehorse trainer Charlie Longsdon displays that confidence, even though creating a new facility to house and train the horses involves major works.

"It's very exciting, and a bit scary for us, too," admitted Mr Longsdon, talking about the relocation of Charlie Longsdon Racing.

It is moving from Cotswold Stud in Sezincote, Gloucestershire, where the business has been running since it started in 2006.

He added: "Cotswold Stud has been fantastic to us but the move will give us room for expansion."

The business's new location is a 500-acre farm between Chipping Norton and Great Rollright, the home of point-to-point enthusiasts Chris and Fran Marriott. He is full of praise for their involvement in the project.

"They are very excited about it — horses are their life really," he said.

"They’ve put a lot of work into this and they're not seeing it as a big money spinner, it's more a passion that's good business, too."

Mr Longsdon, 33, grew up with eventing and moved naturally into working in the equine world. With a passion for racehorses, he worked with top trainers such as Kim Bailey and Nicky Henderson, before striking out on his own.

Since then, Charlie Longsdon Racing has notched up more than 30 winners and won more than £300,000 in prize money for his horses's owners.

This is good news since the reputation and livelihood of a trainer depends completely on results.

The horses are owned by individuals or syndicates, who pay Mr Longsdon to train them to win races in return for a share of the prize money.

For owners there are also chances of capital gain, if a horse proves its worth.

There are trainers who seek to show a quick profit from a horse that shows early potential, but jump trainers like Mr Longsdon are in it for the longer haul, training horses to win races and develop them over time.

"No-one should buy a horse thinking they will make money," warned Mr Longsdon.

“It is better for owners to treat it as a sport that gives you great days out and immense satisfaction, as well as prizes.”

The move to Great Rollright gives Mr Longsdon immediate capacity for 50 horses, and room for further expansion, when the time is right.

Understandably in the current economic climate, Mr Longsdon is growing the business in a manageable way.

"We have 36 horses at Cotswold Stud and we're hoping to get that up to 40 this year, once we are in," he said.

After receiving planning permission for the necessary works, the gallops were designed and constructed on the hills surrounding the farm. An existing barn has been converted to stabling, and a new barn of the same size is being built next door.

The office is taking shape opposite the barns and there are also rows of older stables which can be refurbished to accommodate more horses in the future.

Next to the older barn is a curious large circular object that looks a little like a fairground roundabout, but with a steel cage around the perimeter.

"This is a horse-walker, a great invention," said Mr Longsdon. The motorised track runs around a central point and exercises the horses on their own.

"They can cost from ten to £16,000, but they're worth their weight in gold."

However, the building work is not all about the four-legged assets of the business. Mr Longsdon and his wife, Sophie, will initially live in a cottage in the yard, while a home is built for them about 200 yards away, on the site of an old wooden house.

A couple of other houses will also be built there to fund the whole project. But living on top of the equestrian facility is not a problem.

Mr Longsdon said: "Someone has to be here all the time anyway.”

But he is looking forward to moving into the new house where there will be that vital separation of home and business, even if it is only a short distance.

Mr Longsdon's biggest and proudest moment came in January this year when jockey Tom Siddall rode Songe to victory in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

With the backing of a great team and the new facilities fully up-and-running, he will be expecting many more moments like that in the future.