Sixteen ponies die in transit to NSW after Barnbougle Polo

UPDATE: THE former Australian polo team captain who was driving the truck in which 16 polo ponies died says he is shattered by the deaths and has consulted his legal team.

Horses compete at the polo event at Barnbougle. Picture: STU GIBSON

UPDATED: THE former Australian polo team captain who was driving the truck in which 16 polo ponies died says he is shattered by the deaths and has consulted his legal team.

Eighteen A Grade polo ponies were on board the truck, with two understood to still be fighting for survival.

The deaths were discovered on January 29 after the truck crossed Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania, and followed the Barnbougle Polo event in Northern Tasmania on the Australia Day long weekend.

“What I know is I saw 18 healthy horses on my truck just before departure in Tasmania, and an hour after leaving the boat in Melbourne I discovered 16 of them were dead and cold, ” owner Andrew Williams said.

“I didn’t change anything. Yes, it was a warm night. I have asked for answers, but have received nothing.

“I am a farmer, a polo player and a breeder of ponies. They are the reason I can feed my family. To have that taken away is gut-wrenching. It is with the legal team now and hopefully they will receive the answers I deserve,” he added.

The two surviving ponies were offloaded at Yarra Glen, and the remaining 16 were transported to Wagga Equine Hospital, where autopsies are being conducted.

Mr Williams said he had done the trip 11 times previously in the same truck.

He has put his career and livelihood on hold after the incident.

“I have lost a breeding line that was priceless to me, and I have already had to knock back playing commitments,” Mr Williams said.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment has refused to say why the deaths were not made public, despite the incident occurring almost two weeks ago.

DPIPWE has also declined to say when it expects results or interim results from its ongoing investigation to be released.

Tasmanian equine industry member Pru Cotton said transporting horses across Bass Strait had been a concern for the industry “for some time,” with some associations actively lobbying the TT-Line board for changes.

Ms Cotton said there were concerns about not being able to check on horses during the journey.

“It is a huge issue for Tasmanian equestrians, because it really is an impediment to them meeting on the mainland,” she said.

TT-Line has declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing.

EARLIER: PREMIER Will Hodgman said he is yet to receive a briefing on the deaths of 16 polo ponies following last month’s Barnbougle event.

Mr Hodgman this morning said he looked forward to being fully appraised of the facts and the work being done on the investigation.

He said the deaths were concerning.

“Our hope is the matter will be investigated efficiently and as effectively and as quickly as possible but that needs to happen to understand the cause of what is a tragic situation,” he said.

Opposition leader Rebecca White said the deaths were a tragedy, and she hoped the investigation would provide a conclusive explanation.

“We need to know exactly what went wrong so it never happens again and open communication needs to occur between the investigators and the Tasmanian equine industry who are watching this issue very closely,” Ms White said.

“I urge the Government to make sure they keep the peak equine groups in Tasmania informed of the investigation so all those who transport horses across Bass Strait, from pony club competitors to the racing industry, can have full confidence that their animals can travel safely.”

EARLIER: AUTHORITIES in three states are assisting the investigation into the deaths of 16 ponies in transit following last month’s Barnbougle Polo.

The deaths have been described as a tragedy by the RSPCA’s Andrew Byrne.

The horses belonged to at least two separate owners, and died in transit from the Barnbougle event at Bridport to Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, at some point between January 28 and 29.

They were transported on the Spirit of Tasmania, but further details about the journey are unknown.

The travel coincided with a heatwave that crossed southeastern Australia on the Australia Day long weekend, where Hobart experienced it’s hottest night on record.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment is investigating the deaths, after taking over the investigation from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

DPIPWE confirmed it was being assisted by other jurisdictions, including help from the Chief Veterinary Officers in Victoria and New South Wales, but declined to provide further details of the investigation while it was ongoing.

RSPCA chief veterinarian Andrew Byrne said the mass death was an extremely sad event.

“It’s tragic that we’re seeing this in the 21st century,” Dr Byrne said.

“A thorough investigation will be a good thing.”

Dr Byrne said he could not comment further until more details about the incident were available.

The Spirit of Tasmania on the Mersey River, Devonport. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman said a surveyor attended the Spirit of Tasmania on January 30 after the deaths were reported. AMSA indicated it was satisfied that the vessel appeared to have complied with AMSA requirements relating to the carriage of livestock, prior to handing the investigation to Tasmanian authorities.

Two champion herding rottweilers died on board the Spirit of Tasmania in 2011, with tests indicating the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust fumes of cars on board.

More than 3500 people flocked to this year’s Barnbougle Polo, the fourth year of the event.

The Spirit of Tasmania was a sponsor, but declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.

Barnbougle Polo was contacted for comment.

The owners of the ponies did not return the Mercury’s calls.