Zara Tindall 'heartbroken' following death of her horse

Zara Tindall has paid an emotional tribute to her horse Toytown, who died on Tuesday.

The royal's world championship-winning horse Toytown was thought to be around 25 years old and had to be put down for medical reasons.

Mrs Tindall said in a statement: "I'm heartbroken to say that yesterday morning I had to say goodbye to my greatest friend and horse of a lifetime, Toytown.

"He was the most incredible athlete with the biggest heart, European and World champion back to back.

"He made my career and I couldn't be more grateful to him for the amazing times we had together. He was a huge part of my family, an amazing animal and a true champion. I will miss you forever."

She rode the chestnut gelding to an individual three-day eventing gold medal at the World Equestrian Games in Germany in 2006, which followed the pair winning individual and team European eventing titles in 2005.

Spotted by Zara's father Captain Mark Phillips when she was just seven, Toytown proved his worth by going on to win numerous world championships.

Toytown missed out on the 2008 Olympics due to another injury and three years later he was retired from competing after being paraded in the arena at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, the Gloucestershire estate where Zara's mother the Princess Royal lives.