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As champagne-sipping spectators gathered on Sunday for the US Open Polo Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida, tragedy struck hard. Suddenly, two horses being unloaded from their trailer collapsed on the field and a deadly chain reaction went into effect. Almost immediately, five other horses became dizzy and they toppled like dominoes, one after another. Additional horses died overnight or early Monday morning while receiving medical treatment. Final toll: 21 horses.
The question on everyone's mind: What would cause these horses to mysteriously drop dead simultaneously? The Palm Beach Post is now reporting that the Florida Department of Agriculture confirmed today that the horses suffered from hemorrhaging of the lungs.
"The thing that is consistent with all the horses is hemorrhaging and pulmonary edema. That's consistent through all the necropsies so far, and we certainly expect that with the remaining few necropsies."
--Mark Fagan, Florida Department of Agriculture
The deaths were likely caused by toxic poisoning and state and local veterinary teams are still trying to determine the exact source. Vets have theorized that the horses died from heart failure possibly brought on by some sort of toxic reaction due to tainted feed, vitamins or supplements, or a combination of the three.
All the dead horses (each valued at $100-200K) belonged to the Venezuelan-owned team Lechuza Caracas, which was favored to win the title at what's described as the World Series of this sport. The team included about 40 thoroughbreds in all, maybe more. (Each team brings 40 to 60 horses per match, as the horses are swapped out during the match to keep them from becoming over exhausted.) The team, owned by Venezuelan businessman Victor Vargas, has not made any public comments since the deaths but we can assume that they are in shock and overcome with grief.
When the games resume, players on the remaining teams - Audi, Las Monjitas, Orchard Hill and White Birch - plan to wear black armbands and grooms will put black ribbons on the tournament polo ponies' tails. A moment of silence will be observed before the opening game. The devastated team, Lechuza Caracas, officially withdrew from the tournament on Monday even though many rival teams, including Wellington-based Audi, offered the team their extra horses. Victor Vargas, though reportedly touched by the gesture, declined.
Meanwhile, authorities in Florida have opened a criminal investigation into the matter to determine if the deaths were accidental or intentional. The Associated Press has just reported that Juan Martin Nero, of Lechuza Polo, told the Argentine newspaper La Nacion that the horses were given a commonly used supplement known as Biodyl that contains a combination of vitamins and minerals. Nero claims the drug is often given to horses, but was likely tainted at a lab.
"The players, the owners of the horses were in tears. Bystanders and volunteers were in tears. This was a very tragic thing. It's just incredible. So unbelievable. The reaction throughout the polo community worldwide is one of disbelief. Disbelief and grief."
--Tony Coppola, announcer for the International Polo Club Palm Beach
When tragic events occur, the question naturally arises: Should animals be used for sport and entertainment? Some of the same questions have popped up around elephant polo, a high-society sport popular in Thailand and Europe.
Some argue that it is cruel to use animals in a manner that forces them to perform and entertain us, calling it unnatural. I certainly cannot speak for elephants (and find the use of circus animals wrong and creepy) but I can say that I've met and ridden many horses that love a good competition. Like a few human Olympians I know of, these animals seem to thrive on being tested in sport. I truly believe that animals welcome hearty play and those that are the best at what they do - human or animal - also happen to love it. Ever seen the dogs at the start of the Iditarod? Those pups are nearly busting out of their fur - they cannot wait to get started.
What's your take on this? Was this just a terrible fluke or proof that animals should not be used in sporting and entertainment?
Related reading:
Some additional speculations on causes of death over at Nothing to Do With Arboath:
"Speculation focused on the possibility of toxic shock, which would explain
