HUNDREDS of equestrian fans have paid tribute to a revered horse which helped secure a silver medal for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

Opposition Buzz, who had been ridden by three-day eventer Nicola Wilson, of Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton, for ten years, died aged 17 after suffering a seizure in his stable.

Miss Wilson said the horse, known as Dodi at home, had been put to sleep on veterinary advice and that his death had come as a shock.

She said Dodi had been retired from four-star competition in April and from the sport in September, following a final outing at Allerton Park, near Knaresborough, where he was cheered around the course.

Miss Wilson said: "We were all with him at the end which was lovely.

"He had a wonderful life and was enjoying his well deserved retirement.

"He was a very special horse who will be missed beyond belief.

"He made so much possible and opened so many doors for me."

The pair's successes for Britain included the 2009 European Championships and the 2010 World Equestrian Games, where they were part of gold medal winning teams, before winning the Olympic silver medal at Greenwich Park alongside William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips, Tina Cook and Mary King.

After Miss Wilson announced Dodi's death, fans left almost 800 tributes on his Facebook page, with some describing him as the "greatest eventing horse of all time".