A Victorian horse trainer became a paraplegic when a horse fell on him while exercising in sand, a court has heard.
Trainer Glenn Hancock had warned his bosses at the Riverend Park stables in outer-eastern Melbourne that the sand in a horse sand roll was too deep, the Victorian Supreme Court heard.
On September 22, 2006, Mr Hancock was training a two-year-old when it became spooked. Its legs became caught in sand and it fell back on Mr Hancock.
The weight of the horse fractured Mr Hancock's back and ribs and left him a paraplegic, the jury heard.
Mr Hancock had earlier suggested a Bobcat be used to remove some of the sand, his barrister Tim Tobin SC said.
Instead, track manager Greg Brown asked two staff to remove sand with wheelbarrows, it is alleged.
Their efforts produced no meaningful result, Mr Tobin said.
He said Riverend Park knew from what Mr Hancock had told them that the sand roll was unsafe.
Mr Tobin said the stable had a duty of care to Mr Hancock to provide a safe workplace.
Mr Hancock has since regained some of his ability to walk, the court heard.
The court is yet to hear the amount of damages being claimed.
Lawyers for Riverend Park are yet to open their case.
The civil trial before Justice David Beach continues.
AAP
The Age
