A NAILSWORTH horse supplement business has defied the odds to win a national award after just nine years since its launch.

Equifeast, of Avening Road Nailsworth, has beaten hundreds of entrants to win the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Innovation of the Year Award at a ceremony in London on Thursday May 22.

Launching in 2005, the family business design, manufacture and market nutritional supplements for horses and has tripled in UK sales in the past three years. It has brought to market over five new products and count riding pro Harry Meade and Olympian Laura Tomlinson as loyal customers.

Malcolm Green and wife Sally had previous involvement in the animal supplement market, having launched The Birdcare Company in 1994. The idea of creating a horse supplement came to marketing and research director Malcolm as he struggled to control a misbehaving horse he was riding.

Mr Green praised the hard work and passion of his staff and is hoping the award can help the business develop further: “Winning the Business Innovation of the Year Award has come at an ideal time. To be able to make international approaches while promoting ourselves as the UK’s most innovative business is a great conversation starter” he said.