Gallop Stable’s operations director put under scrutiny as defence witness
Mr Thanabalan Rengasamy said Sharpy was in 'perfectly fine' condition when he visited the ranch where it was housed, three to four days before May 15, 2013. Photo: Koh Mui Fong
SINGAPORE — The operations director of Gallop Stable on Friday (May 13) defended his company’s treatment of horses, in particular the thoroughbred mare Sharpy at the centre of an animal cruelty trial, but the prosecution ripped apart his testimony by pointing out inconsistencies, even asking the judge to “impeach the credibility” of Mr Thanabalan Rengasamy as a witness.
Testifying as the defence’s witness, Mr Thanabalan said Sharpy was walking normally and in “perfectly fine” condition when he visited the Pasir Ris ranch where it was housed, three to four days before May 15, 2013.
His company, Gallop Stable, had taken good care of Sharpy, he said, and it “refused to give up on her” even after veterinarians recommended that it be euthanised.
The stable, which operates three ranches here and one in Malaysia, is disputing one charge of failing to provide adequate veterinary attention to Sharpy.
On May 15 that year, an animal welfare officer from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) found the horse to be recumbent and in poor body condition with leg wounds.
Mr Thanabalan, who was stationed at a different ranch, said he received regular updates about Sharpy’s condition through text messages and photographs from Ms Manisha Shankar, who tended to the horse.
When Ms Shankar — whose parents own the stable — reported that fluid was “oozing out” of Sharpy’s leg on May 15, Mr Thanabalan said he “immediately” advised her to call for a vet, but the vet was available only the next day, so he instructed her to administer painkillers in the meantime.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Marshall Lim then picked apart his statement, saying there was no evidence that such communication took place.
Mr Thanabalan’s claims also contradicted the testimonies of past witnesses, who had told the court that Ms Shankar had called her parents, and that Gallop Stable sought the help of veterinarian Dr Phyllis Yew on the morning of May 16, DPP Lim said.
While Mr Thanabalan maintained that his company had provided adequate bedding for Sharpy and was “highly commended” by the British Horse Society (BHS) in 2012 for its stable management, DPP Lim pointed out that BHS had informed AVA that the stable lost the accreditation in 2013, because horses and ponies on its premises “were in conditions not acceptable to BHS’ standards”.
Mr Thanabalan claimed that no BHS officer had ever visited the stable’s ranches. He also spoke at length about his job and Gallop Stable’s corporate philosophy to give injured or retired race horses a “second life”, so much so the district judge had to advise the defence counsel to “rein him in”.
Seeking the court to impeach Mr Thanabalan’s credibility as a witness, DPP Lim presented a statement made by Mr Thanabalan to the AVA in July 2013, where he acknowledged that the stable had put down three horses under his recommendation. These horses were unsuitable for riding lessons because of physical impairment or temperament.
DDP Lim said: “By your own words, if a horse is not good for business, it was to be given away or put down … (yet) you are testifying about how Gallop Stable values its horses and that it is not about the cost, but giving horses a second chance.”
On Mr Thanabalan’s point that the stable tried to save Sharpy, he added: “I suggest to you, that the only reason why Gallop Stable is investing large sums of money, time and effort to rehabilitate Sharpy after May 15, was because (it) knew AVA was already scrutinising you.”
Mr Thanabalan disagreed.
The trial is expected to resume at the end of July or early August.
