Champion equestrian Debbie Topping is bringing some of her extensive horse know-how to the world of business and moving animal hygiene firmly into the 21st Century.

Debbie - a four-time champion team chaser with the Forge Flyers - has won the rights to sell a unique range of disinfectants and sanitisers targeted at the animal world.

Called Envirocair Veterinary, the product kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria and is proven to last for 14 days, removing the unhygienic conditions in which animal diseases can thrive. 

Used regularly, the uniquely long-lasting disinfectant is expected to save the lives of countless animals across the UK.

Explaining how she got involved, Debbie said: "I did not consider myself a businesswoman, just a normal horse-rider and animal lover. However, I was so impressed when I trialled Envirocair Veterinary that, when I was offered the opportunity to become the main UK distributor, I jumped at the chance."

That decision led to the launch of Debbie's new business, Protek Biochem Ltd, which is distributing Envirocair Veterinary across the UK. 

The product already has a strong pedigree and was used by the British Carriage driving team at the World Pairs Driving Championships 2011. It is also being used by a number of the horses and trainers heading to the London Olympics in 2012.

And Debbie is not just targeting the equestrian world, but also the rest of the UK's animal care sector.

Vets, racehorse trainers, riding stables, dog kennels, catteries, poultry farms, pigeon fanciers, dog breeders and police dog trainers, pig, sheep and cattle farmers, agricultural shows, pet stores, animal rescue centres, among others, are all in her sights.

Statistics for the equine sector alone are staggering, with as many as 70,000 horses intended for racing with 640 trainers in Britain. The British Horse Society has 74,131 members and 2,678 registered instructors in over 1,000 BHS riding schools.

British eventers number 25,000, show jumpers 15,500 (with 17,000 horses registered) and dressage accounts for another 13,000 or so.

And Debbie is confident Envirocair Veterinary will take a large slice of this market because it does not require special protective clothing to be worn when used.

"It doesn't harm skin or irritate the respiratory tract, so you don't need to get dressed up in special clothing every time you use it," she said.  

"Used properly, it quite literally kills the threat of major animal diseases such as influenza and equine strangles, ringworm, parvovirus in dogs and the bovine TB virus. 

"It's absolutely ground-breaking and it's not an exaggeration to say that Envirocair Veterinary will protect the health and even save the lives of countless horses, livestock and other animals across the UK."

Debbie signed the distribution agreement with product manufacturer's Biotech International Ltd last month, before officially launching Envirocair Veterinary this week.

Biocide International plc is a British company with a global reach and is well established in the human health sector, with its products in use in hospitals worldwide. It is also the operational arm of Biotech International Ltd.