Pony deaths: Mystery remains over Spirit of Tasmania crossing tragedy

AUTHORITIES from three states are scrambling to determine the cause of death for 16 prized polo ponies — potentially worth up to $100,000 each — that were discovered dead an hour after disembarking from the Spirit of Tasmania.

AUTHORITIES from three states are scrambling to determine the cause of death for 16 prized polo ponies — potentially worth up to $100,000 each — that were discovered dead an hour after disembarking from the Spirit of Tasmania.

Andrew Williams, the former Australian polo team captain and coach who was driving the truck carrying the 16 dead A-Grade ponies, said he was “shattered” by the deaths.

Mr Williams was returning from Tasmania following the Barnbougle Polo event on January 20 at Bridport, in northern Tasmania. The truck was shipped across Bass Strait overnight on January 28 and arrived in Melbourne the following day, a journey Mr Williams has made 11 times before in the same vehicle.

He said he was shaken by the “gut-wrenching, discovery”, which was made en route to NSW about an hour after the truck disembarked.

“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,” Mr Williams said. “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.”

An investigation is being led by Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment with assistance from chief veterinary officers in Victoria and NSW, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Post-mortem tests are being carried out by the Wagga Wagga Equine Hospital where Mr Williams rushed the horses after the shock discovery.

An initial investigation by the AMSA found the Spirit of Tasmania vessel and its operator TT-Line appeared to have complied with requirements relating to the carriage of livestock satisfactorily. A Spirit of Tasmania spokesman said they would not comment on specifics while investigations were under way.