A huntswoman who was facing jail after being filmed whipping a saboteur has been killed in a riding accident just weeks after being told she would be prosecuted.

Jane Goring, 57, was filmed thrashing the animal rights activist up to 17 times around the head during an ugly row last year.

Yesterday it emerged Mrs Goring died after falling from her horse on Wednesday during a draghunt - an equestrian sport where riders chase a trail of artificially laid scents with hounds.

Jane Goring is thought to have fallen from her horse and died during a draghunt - an equestrian sport where riders chase a trail of artificially laid scents with hounds (pictured with her husband Richard, 79, and Alice Goring, centre left)

A post from the Mid Surrey Farmers' Draghounds group on Facebook paid tribute to the sheep farmer.

It said: 'We very much regret to inform you that Jane Goring was tragically killed whilst out dragging yesterday at Leigh.

'On behalf of the masters and members of the drag hunt, we send our condolences and thoughts to Richard and Jane's family at this awful time.'

Close relative Alice Goring also paid tribute, writing: 'The cruelest reminder to live every day, because you never quite know when your time may be up. Sleep tight Jane, we will never ever forget you.

Alice Goring also paid tribute, writing: 'The cruelest reminder to live every day, because you never quite know when your time may be up. Sleep tight Jane, we will never ever forget you'

Mrs Goring – whose husband Richard, 79, is part of the country's oldest luxury family hotel dynasty – faced two criminal charges through a civil prosecution

'Thank you for everything and for making our grandpa so incredibly happy, something we will never forget and always love you for. We will miss you so much - you really were one of life’s legends, with the bestest laugh I have ever heard.

'So many amazing memories, you will never be forgotten and we so wish you didn’t have to leave so fast. Will always remember this photo as the day we arrived late to Ascot and you had to practically run over everyone’s picnics to get us there.

'You were such a special lady and have left so many kisses on everyone’s hearts.

Jane Goring, 57, was being prosecuted for assault for thrashing the activist up to 17 times around the head during an ugly row caught on camera. She was killed in a riding accident yesterday

However some activists appeared to mock her death in posts shared on animal rights Facebook pages.

Some posted the word 'karma' beneath the posts reporting her death, while others appeared to use the laughing emoji to 'react' to messages of condolences.

While another admin from a group named Stop The Cull shared the story with the caption: 'She won't be missed by us'.

Footage of the original incident in Hailsham, East Sussex, in which Mrs Going was heard screaming 'get off my horse', went viral in November last year and was viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Some posted the word 'karma' beneath the posts reporting her death, while others appeared to use the laughing emoji to 'react' to messages of condolences

Another admin from a group named Stop The Cull shared the story with the caption: 'She won't be missed by us'

Less than two months later police concluded there was not enough evidence to proceed and dropped the case.

However, Goring – whose husband Richard, 79, is part of the country's oldest luxury family hotel dynasty – faced two criminal charges through a civil prosecution.

The pair travelled from their £1million farm in Heathfield on the Sussex Downs to appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court last month.

Mrs Goring is thought to have fallen from her horse and died during a draghunt - an equestrian sport where riders chase a trail of artificially laid scents with hounds

Footage of the confrontation was posted on the Brighton Hunt Saboteurs' Facebook page, dividing viewers over who was in the wrong

During a brief legal hearing, Goring pleaded not guilty to beating Simon Medhurst, a veteran animal rights and environmental campaigner and member of the South Coast Hunt Saboteurs.

She also denied assaulting fellow saboteur Shirley Makin by 'riding her down' with her horse during the confrontation.

Footage of the confrontation was posted on the Brighton Hunt Saboteurs' Facebook page, dividing viewers over who was in the wrong.

The footage showed Mrs Goring riding towards the saboteurs, shouting at them to 'get back to the road'.

She then appeared to spur her horse into a man recording the incident, pushing him back several feet. Another masked man rushed in front of the horse and grabbed hold of the bridle.

Clash: Huntswoman Jane Goring, a wealthy landowner from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was filmed striking a saboteur with her riding crop during an ugly clash

Confrontation: The hunt saboteurs claimed that Mrs Goring, 57, (pictured) used her whip 17 times during the altercation

In response, she yelled: 'Get off my horse, get off my horse' and repeatedly whipped the man.

He desperately tried to shield his face while still gripping on the horse, shouting 'stop using it as a weapon.'

A hunt steward pushed him away and shouted: 'Get off the f****** horse. Don't grab f****** horses.'

Mrs Goring then appeared to take a swipe at another protester, forcing him to jump out the way.

Mrs Goring repeatedly hit out at the protester during the clash between the Brighton Hunt Saboteurs and East Sussex & Romney Marsh Hunt Club on Saturday

The saboteurs claimed they were the victims of an unprovoked attack and claimed the huntswoman simply 'lost the plot'

Warning they were filming, the hunt saboteurs shouted: 'Don't charge horses into people. You cannot ride people down.'

The man suffered bruising to the face and head but did not require hospital treatment.

A second clip then appeared to show the same woman charging her horse at the saboteurs from behind.

Brighton Hunt Saboteurs said they attended the meeting to make sure no illegal hunting took place. They insist they were the victims of an unprovoked attack.