# 21 Polo Ponies drop dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 20, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777 "2009-04-20T20:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/1 "2009-04-20T20:58:15Z")
[Twenty-one polo horses collapse and die in Florida](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090420/us_nm/us_usa_polo_horses_2) > [@](#): > > The International Polo Club of Palm Beach said the Lechuza Caracas team was preparing its horses for an afternoon match when two collapsed and others began “exhibiting dizziness and disorientation.” > > “From the reports I’ve received, they came out of their trailers and they were dizzy … and began toppling over,” said Terence McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture. “It’s my understanding that all of these horses have died, 21 in total.” Just too bizarre. I figure someone will want to curse at someone, hence the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/2 "2009-04-20T21:00:11Z")
:eek:Bad food? Bad water? Some kind of sickness they didn’t detect? Were all the horses stabled together?! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/3 "2009-04-20T21:01:55Z")
The story says the team is based in England, so they were probably transported together recently. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/4 "2009-04-20T21:05:42Z")
Geez, how sad! And weird! That must be heartbreaking for the team and owners. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/5 "2009-04-20T21:06:24Z")
I just hope it isn’t something awful like a ship that wasn’t properly decontaminated after having a mass sickness, or a lazy employee not taking their job duties seriously. Surely the team was able to check on the horses and be sure they were fed and watered though? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/6 "2009-04-20T21:11:11Z")
I’m suspecting that someone poisoned them on purpose - an organized-crime related thing, a rival, or some other such nefarious plan. The owner of the club probably pissed off the wrong person. That seems to be the only plausible explanation here, and while you would have to be a really sick fuck to do something like that, the world is unfortunately full of them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/7 "2009-04-20T21:12:21Z")
I’m going to save my rage for when they do the necropsies and figure out whose fault it was (even if it was mean old god who took those beautiful ponies – seriously, if they’ve got the same team as two years ago I’ve seen them in action and they are stunning. The riders weren’t too bad, either, but that’s no subject for this thread). ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/8 "2009-04-20T21:21:13Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m suspecting that someone poisoned them on purpose - an organized-crime related thing, a rival, or some other such nefarious plan. The owner of the club probably pissed off the wrong person. That seems to be the only plausible explanation here, and while you would have to be a really sick fuck to do something like that, the world is unfortunately full of them. [Not so fast…](http://www.ocala.com/article/20081010/NEWS/810100340/0/SPECIALSECTION03) Odd that this really didn’t make the national news, but the fact a bunch of richie-rich assholes have their precious polo ponies go tits up and it’s news. I’m pitting the assholes and the news. Peace on those poor animals. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/9 "2009-04-20T21:23:52Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m suspecting that someone poisoned them on purpose - an organized-crime related thing, a rival, or some other such nefarious plan. That’s the kind of dirty, cutthroat game polo is! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/10 "2009-04-20T21:24:23Z")
> [@](#): > > [Palm Beach Post](http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Dead_Polo_Horses.html?cxntlid=inform_artr) > Dr. Scott Swerdlin, a veterinarian at Palm Beach Equine Clinic near the polo grounds, treated one of the sick horses. He said it appeared the animals died of heart failure caused by some kind of toxin that could have been in tainted food, vitamins or supplements, or by some combination of all three that caused a toxic reaction. > > Officials said they have ruled out any sort of airborne infections… > [@](#): > > [Palm Beach Post](http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/04/20/0420polohorses.html) > [T]he Florida Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Polo Association have launched investigations into the deaths, as has the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department. > > At the Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab In Kissimmee, pathologist Teri Johnson said it’s too early to determine if the toxins were deliberately inserted into the horses, but considering how quickly the horses died, she likely ruled out any sort of virus. > > “I don’t know if we would be able to identify whether it was deliberate vs. non-deliberate when looking for a toxin or poison,” Johnson said. .. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/11 "2009-04-20T21:28:27Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > [Not so fast…](http://www.ocala.com/article/20081010/NEWS/810100340/0/SPECIALSECTION03) > > Odd that this really didn’t make the national news, but the fact a bunch of richie-rich assholes have their precious polo ponies go tits up and it’s news. Some horses dying of an unknown cause is probably more newsworthy than a bunch dying from botulism. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/12 "2009-04-20T21:31:30Z")
Some informed speculation over at [Fugly Horse of the Day](http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/2009/04/too-bad-horses-couldnt-just-say-no.html) is that the ponies: > [@](#): > > had a reaction to tainted steroids administered by an Argentine vet not licensed to practice here. > > SHOCKER…not. > > I have been involved in polo, off and on, since high school. It is without a doubt my favorite equestrian sport and normally one thing I like about it is that there is a typically high standard of care. > > [snip] > > BUT… > > Around the early 90s, polo got a new problem. At the barn I was at, it came in the form of a South American player. He moved in with three horses - cute, good looking horses but very unpopular with the barn help. Entering their stall was like sticking your hand into a piranha tank. They all bit. The ears went back and they snaked out with lightening speed to try to get a piece of you. Very unhappy ponies. > > Soon, I learned why. Mr. South America was injecting them with a steroid called Winstrol V. It made them bulk up - that’s why they looked so good - but it also made them as mean as Simon Cowell on a bad day. > > [snip] > > FYI, the Lechuza Caracas team consists of team owner Victor Vargas and professional players Guille Aguero, Sapo Caset and Nicolas Espain. And there is plenty of information online about Mr. Vargas. Google him, you’ll be reading all day! Let’s just say I’m guessing honesty and fair play isn’t his strong suit, in anything. Proven? No. Makes sense? Unfortunately, yes. Another article I read (can’t recall where now) pointed out that the speed with which they took ill and died suggests reaction to an injection rather than ingestion of tainted feed, although another line of speculation is that they were made sick from eating grain that had come from a mill which hadn’t cleaned its production line after running a batch of cattle feed. There are ingredients in cattle feed that will poison horses. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/13 "2009-04-20T21:38:39Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Were all the horses sta **b** led together?! ☹ Going to helena handbasket for misreading this letter then laughing at it. But all those horses has gotta be hard on the people witnessing it, to say nothing of the horses. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/14 "2009-04-20T21:40:37Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > There are ingredients in cattle feed that will poison horses. !!! Would not have guessed that! I mean, they’re both graminivorous grazers, right? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/15 "2009-04-20T21:57:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > !!! Would not have guessed that! I mean, they’re both graminivorous grazers, right? [With certain crucial differences.](http://www.cvhs.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=414&Itemid=389) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/16 "2009-04-20T22:12:22Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m suspecting that someone poisoned them on purpose - an organized-crime related thing, a rival, or some other such nefarious plan. The owner of the club probably pissed off the wrong person. That seems to be the only plausible explanation here, and while you would have to be a really sick fuck to do something like that, the world is unfortunately full of them. First thing I said when I saw the headline: “Oh. Migod. This is right out of Dick Francis.” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/17 "2009-04-20T22:32:43Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m suspecting that someone poisoned them on purpose - an organized-crime related thing, a rival, or some other such nefarious plan. Wait to see if the official report is 21 unrelated acts of suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/18 "2009-04-20T23:05:04Z")
> [@](#): > > He moved in with three horses - cute, good looking horses but very unpopular with the barn help. And thus a new ABC sitcom was born. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/19 "2009-04-20T23:13:22Z")
They can re-use an old series name – _The Ropers_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777/20 "2009-04-20T23:17:59Z")
Dick Cheney had them poisoned. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-polo-ponies-drop-dead/493777.md?page=2)