Double gold medal-winning Paralympian Natasha Baker, who lives in Cowley, not far from the spot where a black Welsh Cobb mare, its hooves tied together and wearing a red horse jacket, was found in Fray’s River close to Packet Boat Lane on Monday , has called for tougher laws to protect horses.

“If something so horrible needs to happen to spark a a change in the law that protects horses then perhaps something good will come of this,” she said.

“I just think it was absolutely sickening. It just sticks in the craw,” said Natasha, 24, who was in Florida at the time of the incident but got up to speed via getwestlondon.co.uk

She said the vital thing was for horse owners who found themselves unable to care for an animal for financial or any other reason to act sooner rather than later, sell their horse to a good home or ensure that it went to someone who would take care of it.

“If you cannot care for an animal there are ways and means of dealing with it,” she said.

There is no explanation yet of how the horse died or how it came to be in the river, and no firm evidence of cruelty or neglect. However, the 21-year-old woman who found it - and who asked to remain anonymous - said its ribs were clearly visible through its skin.

The London 2012 dressage star, who works closely with the charity Worlds Horse Welfare, called on the public to be vigilant and report suspected cases of neglect.

“Anybody can relate to it, whether you are a horse owner or not”, she said.

RSPCA explains the law