A MUM-OF-THREE was dragged to her death by a beloved horse she tried to capture in a field, an inquest heard this morning.

Sarah McLeod was dragged 'a considerable distance' attached to a rope she had tried to put around her much-loved animal Pheonix's head, and was found later by a friend.

Oxford Coroner's Court heard that the single mother adored the horse she described as her 'pretty baby' and was still attached when she was found.

Ms McLeod, a customer advisor at B&Q who lived in Upper Heyford, had owned Pheonix since 2012.

On July 24 this year, the 36-year-old went to visit the horse at Elm Tree Farm at Wendlebury to put water out for him.

Coroner Darren Salter heard that Pheonix had trotted away and Mrs McLeod's shoes were discovered in the field at a spot where it was believed she managed to catch up with him.

However when she tried to secure the horse something seemed to have spooked him, causing him to bolt, and she was dragged for 'some distance', suffering fatal head injuries.

It was thought she was killed relatively quickly.

Wayne Lacey, who discovered Mrs McLeod's body, told how he had gone to the field to help his own wife.

In a statement he said: "At approximately 7.45pm I came to the field at Elm Tree Farm. I could see a wheelbarrow on its side and something odd in the field with a horse tied to it. As I approached, I realised it was a person.

"I turned the person over but I could not find a pulse. I recognised her as Sarah McLeod."

Ms McLeod's mother Audrey said her daughter had kept horses since she was 18 and went to visit Pheonix almost every day.

Ms McLeod would take brushes, flea treatment and other equipment to the field to look after Pheonix and also her mother's horse.

In written evidence, Audrey McLeod wrote: "Pheonix was generally very well-behaved but didn't like sudden flashes or flapping of clothes for example. He would mess me about more than he did Sarah.

"With Sarah she would still have to put on a head collar and a lead rope but she would often let this hang down. Sometimes I had seen her with the lead collar and head rope draped over her shoulders and neck. I don't think Sarah would ever wrap the lead rope around herself. I've never seen her do that."

Detective Superintendent Charlotte Eden, the investigating officer from Thames Valley Police, told the inquest that the police had found Sarah's property strewn around the scene.

Mr Salter said: "There is bound to be a bit of speculation in this case because there is no witness. The indications are that the rope was attached towards the upper body, as clothing was dragged up.

"It is far from clear what the initial trigger was, something that spooked or caused Pheonix to bolt, but it quickly resulted in a tragic and, perhaps, a freak accident really."

Ambulance crews confirmed Sarah's death at 8.05pm, but the coroner said an approximate time of death could be taken as 7pm.

He recorded a conclusion of accidental death.