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Vet who treated polo ponies that survived Spirit of Tasmania journey gives evidence

Sixteen of the 18 horses that traveled on a Spirit of Tasmania ferry trip in 2018 likely died about eight hours into the voyage, a court has heard, and the two that survived were the last loaded onto their converted refrigeration trailer.

Ferry operator TT-Line is fighting 29 charges of breaching the animal welfare act, including that it failed to ensure the horses were individually stalled and to ensure there was adequate ventilation.

The Burnie Magistrates Court has heard the professional polo ponies were exposed to high temperatures, increasing their respiratory demand, and likely died about eight hours into the voyage across the Bass Strait.

Sophie Doake, a vet based in Victoria, told the court she had not been informed of the fate of the other horses when she was called to help.

She said one of the two surviving horses had a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute, far above eight to 16 that would normally be expected.

A red boat docked at a wharf with cars parked in the car park.
The horses likely died about eight hours after boarding the Spirit of Tasmania.(ABC News: Luke Bowden)

She also said that horse had a heart rate “double what it should have been”.

As a result, Dr Doake said the horse would have “without a doubt” been in a level of pain.

It was only after she completed her examination of the horse she was informed of the circumstances of the incident.

She said it was her understanding that the horse was the second last to be loaded on the trailer.

Horse transport truck parked on Spirit Of Tasmania ferry.
The trailer that carried the horses had a gap where the tailgate is located.(Instagram: chelcroz)

The only other surviving horse was in good condition, and Dr Doake understood that horse was the closest to the trailer’s tailgate.

The court had previously heard a gap where the tailgate is situated meant more air was able to get in.

More evidence to eat

Evidence in the long-awaited hearing against the state-owned company began to be heard on Thursday after TT-Line’s defense lawyers launched multiple unsuccessful attempts to adjourn the proceedings.

Two men, one woman holding, wearing masks, walk across a road outside Burnie Supreme and Magistrates sign, rainy day.
TT-Line defense lawyers argue no-one could have foreseen the deaths of the 16 polo ponies.(ABC News: Lachlan Bennett)

The court began hearing evidence from an investigator into the deaths, Biosecurity Tasmania’s Debra Grull, who appeared in court on Friday.

Dr Grull told the court she had transported up to six horses at a time across Bass Strait in a personal capacity.

“It’s about making sure that the horse not only merely survives the transport but undertakes the crossing well,” she said.

Dr Grull said well-ventilated transportation was “crucial” to a horse’s health and welfare.

Defense lawyers argued Dr Grull did not demonstrate any specialized knowledge in horse transportation.

They said comments around ventilation were “opinion” and she did not have adequate qualifications to make them.

Magistrate Leanne Topfer ruled Dr Grull was able to give the evidence.

Aerial view of Barnbougle Polo January 2018 event, north east Tasmania.
The ponies had competed at an event at Barnbougle in north-east Tasmania.(Supplied: Barnbougle Polo)

The hearing was added until next week, when Dr Grull will continue giving evidence.

Former Australian polo captain Andrew Williams, who was driving the trailer, changed his plea to guilty in July to charges arising from the incident.

He is due to be sentenced at a later date.

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