Olympic dressage rider Jane Gregory was remembered today as an absolutely outstanding horsewoman and an ideal member of the British team.

Mrs Gregory, 51, who rode for Team GB at the 1996 and 2008 Olympics, is believed to have suffered a heart attack at her home in Great Cheverell, last week. She died in hospital on Friday.

"I have been in a state of shock and sadness since it all happened,"

said Richard Davison, who was on the Olympic team with Mrs Gregory in 1996 and team captain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Jane was a lovely person. She was a naturally competitive person but she always put the needs of the team, and often other people, before herself. She would volunteer her help and that is very unusual in a competitive person."

Mrs Gregory made her first mark on the international stage in 1994 riding Suzie Cumine's Cupido at the World Equestrian Games.

After several years out of the limelight, she made a comeback in 2008 with Aram's Lucky Star.

Mr Davison said: "She was an absolutely outstanding horsewoman and a very natural one.

"In equestrian, people are often as good as their best horses and those horses come and go over the years. Jane was very realistic.

"She had horses who were not the top but she never tried to train them into being something they were not. Consequently, the relationship she had with them was very unforced. She got the best out of her horses - that only could have been gotten from one of the top riders anywhere in the world.

"Her horses got much further in competitions because they were working with Jane."

Mrs Gregory brought an easy going "calmness and a confidence" to the team that helped the overall performance. She often offered to take the dreaded first rider out position in competitions, Davison recalled.

She married Aram Gregory, who rides for Hong Kong, in 2006 after a 20-year courtship. They set up their home and training base at Greenlands Farm in 2001.

Since 2008, she had a stable of up-and-coming horses including Dancing with Wolves, Douglas IV and Soul Sister which all scored wins at levels up to Prix St Georges.

There are also a number of "quality horses that we are keeping our eye on" as potential candidates for London 2012 and Rio 2016, according to Davison, who is the British Dressage Olympic team captain.

World Class Equestrian performance director Will Connell said: "Jane dedicated her life to horses, coming from a non-horsey family, and started riding at a local trekking centre in Cornwall.

"Jane was the ideal team member. Her infectious enthusiasm and obvious pride in wearing the Union flag permeated the team and helped develop a positive atmosphere.

"Jane was an extremely talented rider who worked hard to always look for improvements from herself and her horses.

"From the moment she came out of the competition arena in Hong Kong (Beijing Olympic Games) she has been focused on competing at London 2012. Her memory will remain with us as we strive to deliver the medals in London next year."

British Dressage chairman Jennie Loriston-Clarke said: "This is tragic news. Jane was an inspiration to many in the sport and was so proud every time she competed for her country.

"Her enthusiasm, energy, dedication and positive outlook on life was infectious and she always had time for everyone.

"She will be dearly missed by all in British Dressage and everyone who had the privilege to meet her or watch her perform."