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21 polo horses die mysteriously in Florida
? Horses from Venezuelan team die before US Open semi-final
? Carcasses taken to laboratories around Florida for testing
The devastating incident in Wellington, Florida struck shortly before the horses of the Lechuza Caracas team were due to appear in yesterday afternoon's semi-final of the US Open, the most high-profile event in the American polo calendar and a highlight of the international circuit.
At about 2.15pm, two horses dropped in their trailers as they were being
unloaded before the match. Others then showed signs of dizziness, breathing heavily and collapsing all around.
As the animals fell, their groomers and veterinarians scrambled to treat them, spraying them with water to cool them and administering intravenous fluids.
But the efforts were in vain: all horses that showed symptoms have since died.
A total of 14 horses died yesterday, and a further seven overnight, wiping out almost the entire team that had been brought to the International Polo Club Palm Beach where the US Open is held.
The Lechuza Caracas team has about 60 horses, though it is normal to take up to 24 to a match.
The carcasses of the 21 stricken horses were transported to laboratories around Florida for instant testing which is expected to take several days.
Terence McElroy, a spokesman for the Florida department of agriculture
which is leading the search for an explanation, would not be drawn on
possible causes.
"We pretty much have an open mind - we simply want to get to the bottom of it," he said.
Speculation focused on the possibility of toxic shock, which would fit the symptoms displayed by the horses of dizziness, water in the lungs and cardiac arrest.
If so, that would then lead investigators to ask what caused the toxic reaction.
It could be explained by contaminated food or water, which in turn would raise the issue of whether the intoxicant was mistakenly or consciously given to the animals.
Further attention will fall on whether the animals were given any performance enhancing fluids before the match.
It is not uncommon at this highest level of the sport for horses to be given cocktails of fluids, similar to steroids, though steroids themselves are banned in some circuits, including the British competition.
"Our hearts go out to team Lechuza Caracas and hope that a speedy answer can be obtained," said John Wash, the president of the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Dawn Redman, a commentator on the sport who lives in Florida, said "the polo world is shocked. These were beautiful and absolutely magnificent ponies, trained to a very high standard."
The deaths are a particularly hard blow for Victor Vargas, the multi-millionaire Venezuelan businessman who owns and plays with the Lechuza Caracas team. Not only has he lost the cream of his crop, but also the future is impacted as the dead horses included several mares who would have carried the team's next generation.
All the animals were aged 10 or 11 - rendering them at their prime. Several were thoroughbred Argentinian horses, considered the best for polo, and worth more than $100,000 each.
guardian.co.uk ? Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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? Horses from Venezuelan team die before US Open semi-final
? Carcasses taken to laboratories around Florida for testing
The world of international polo is anxiously awaiting the results of laboratory tests today after 21 horses from a Venezuelan team died suddenly in a mystery outbreak that has left the sport shocked and reeling.
The devastating incident in Wellington, Florida struck shortly before the horses of the Lechuza Caracas team were due to appear in yesterday afternoon's semi-final of the US Open, the most high-profile event in the American polo calendar and a highlight of the international circuit.
At about 2.15pm, two horses dropped in their trailers as they were being
unloaded before the match. Others then showed signs of dizziness, breathing heavily and collapsing all around.
As the animals fell, their groomers and veterinarians scrambled to treat them, spraying them with water to cool them and administering intravenous fluids.
But the efforts were in vain: all horses that showed symptoms have since died.
A total of 14 horses died yesterday, and a further seven overnight, wiping out almost the entire team that had been brought to the International Polo Club Palm Beach where the US Open is held.
The Lechuza Caracas team has about 60 horses, though it is normal to take up to 24 to a match.
The carcasses of the 21 stricken horses were transported to laboratories around Florida for instant testing which is expected to take several days.
Terence McElroy, a spokesman for the Florida department of agriculture
which is leading the search for an explanation, would not be drawn on
possible causes.
"We pretty much have an open mind - we simply want to get to the bottom of it," he said.
Speculation focused on the possibility of toxic shock, which would fit the symptoms displayed by the horses of dizziness, water in the lungs and cardiac arrest.
If so, that would then lead investigators to ask what caused the toxic reaction.
It could be explained by contaminated food or water, which in turn would raise the issue of whether the intoxicant was mistakenly or consciously given to the animals.
Further attention will fall on whether the animals were given any performance enhancing fluids before the match.
It is not uncommon at this highest level of the sport for horses to be given cocktails of fluids, similar to steroids, though steroids themselves are banned in some circuits, including the British competition.
"Our hearts go out to team Lechuza Caracas and hope that a speedy answer can be obtained," said John Wash, the president of the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Dawn Redman, a commentator on the sport who lives in Florida, said "the polo world is shocked. These were beautiful and absolutely magnificent ponies, trained to a very high standard."
The deaths are a particularly hard blow for Victor Vargas, the multi-millionaire Venezuelan businessman who owns and plays with the Lechuza Caracas team. Not only has he lost the cream of his crop, but also the future is impacted as the dead horses included several mares who would have carried the team's next generation.
All the animals were aged 10 or 11 - rendering them at their prime. Several were thoroughbred Argentinian horses, considered the best for polo, and worth more than $100,000 each.
guardian.co.uk ? Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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