Woman thought to have been crushed to death by horse

Paramedics rushed to stables in Mortimer West End on Tuesday night

An amateur horsewoman was found dead at stables on Tuesday evening after her favourite horse was believed to have slipped, fallen, and crushed her.

Sarah Neal, aged 35, was discovered at the isolated yard on Tuesday evening. She is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack when the horse landed on top of her.

It is not known how long she had lain at the stables in Mortimer West End, near Aldermaston, before she was discovered just before 8.30pm.

Paramedics rushed to the stables following a 999 call from the police.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service said that paramedics carried out resuscitation attempts on the horsewoman but were unable to revive her.

Sarah was taken to hospital, where a post mortem examination is expected to be carried out.

Yesterday (Wednesday), her parents Jennifer and Christopher, were said to be too devastated to talk about their daughter after hearing news of her death.

Distressed brother James answered the door at his parents' home on a quiet estate in West Berkshire, and said: “It all happened so suddenly. We are still trying to come to terms with it all.”

Sarah was a bridesmaid to James' wife Patricia at his wedding in 2010.

Sarah's father had been contacting relatives and loved ones letting them know the tragic news of her death.

Friends said that the single woman had been riding horses since she was a child and took part in equestrian events at the weekends.

She had posted lots of photographs of her horses Rosie and Tim on Facebook and yesterday devastated friends left memorial messages to her.

Schoolfriend Jenny Abery posted: “RIP Sarah xxxxxx this must be such a shock for your family, my thoughts go out to them. I found a picture of you and I as kids the other day riding our ponies in Bradfield together, happy memories xx Totally shocked :(“

Friend Michelle Ivermee said: “RIP Sarah I am going to miss you ar the yard never forgotten, love Michelle xxxx”

George Hastie posted on her Facebook page: “Sarah, such a tragic sad loss, you will be missed at the yard_Such a lovely bubbly person, Rest in Peace xxx”

Steve Price said: “Dear Sarah, you are already sadly missed, dappy, funny, witty, hard worker, never complaining, never had a complaint, loved and missed by all who touched you. RIP”.

Michaela Gorman said: “Gone but never forgotten! U were took away 2 soon. Always in my thoughts! RIP”