Poison Suspected in Deaths of Polo Horses -21 Venezuelan Polo Horses Poisened in FL

[EV_Ares]

Dam sickos.

WELLINGTON, Fla. — At least 21 horses collapsed and died on Sunday as they were about to take part in a polo match in Florida, and investigators said on Monday that poison was the most likely cause of their deaths.

The horses, from the Venezuelan-based Lechuza Caracas team, were being unloaded in preparation for the United States Open polo championships in Wellington, Fla., when several of the animals inexplicably began to stumble and collapse. Many of the horses died at the scene as veterinarians tried to save them and spectators looked on. Others died at vet clinics or while en route to a local clinic.

Veterinarians who examined the animals said that it appeared that they had died from heart failure caused by a toxin of some sort. But the precise reasons for their deaths were not expected to be determined until Friday, following necropsies, said Peter Rizzo, the executive director of the U.S. Polo Association.

rest of the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/sports/othersports/21polo.html?ref=sports

[hlthe2b]

1. Given they were from Venezuela, I hope there is not a connection...

with any anti-Chavez sentiments.... Just saying...

I can not even imagine how horrible this would be to have one after another just drop... Whoever was involved deserves the karma they have brought upon themselves--in every way.

[malaise]

2. That was the first thing that crossed my mind last night

Hubby said steroids and I donned my tin foil hat.

add

[csziggy]

5. Vargas, the team owner, has been known as "Chavez's Banker"

See this blog in this message: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5494551&mesg_id=5497105

[csziggy]

3. Damn - those horses did not deserve that

Vargas has done enough things in his life that could piss people off, I wonder if it was meant to strike back at him? I posted a link to a blog earlier that gave a history of Vargas' life: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5494551&mesg_id=5497105

I hope they find who did this, but even if they do, Florida law is not all that tough on animal cruelty IIRC.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Domestic terrorism and it should be treated as such.... pull out

all the stops.... this is just horrible in the extreme.

[Retired AF Dem]

6. Thats it

jump to conclusions before the facts are known. It is just as likely that it could be fungus in the hay the horses eat. I do agree with you though, if it turns out to be poison, kill them all.

[kestrel91316]

7. I heard this AM that one suspect was an adverse reaction to

an insecticide used on the horses. Maybe somebody did something really intelligent, like the time one of my clients took flea dip and randomly diluted it and used it as a spray on their dog and wondered why he got deathly ill.