POLO HORSES DEATH UPDATE

Officials blame mineral overdose

By: AP | WSAV-TV
Published: April 29, 2009

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Florida officials say a mineral
overdose is the probable cause of death for 21 polo horses that
fell ill as they prepared for a championship match earlier this
month.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said
Tuesday the animals likely overdosed on selenium, a common mineral
that can be toxic in high doses.
The horses from the Venezuelan-owned Lechuza Caracas team began
collapsing as they were unloaded from trailers at the International
Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. Some died at the scene, others
hours later. All 21 horses were dead by the next day.
The toxicology results say the animals had "significantly
increased selenium levels."
Necropsies previously revealed bleeding in the horses' lungs.