Officials Blame Mineral Overdose in Horse Deaths
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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.
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Some died at the scene, others hours later.
All 21 horses were dead by the next day.
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The toxicology results say the animals had "significantly increased selenium levels."
Necropsies previously revealed bleeding in the horses' lungs.