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Horse Wishes
by author Deborah Straw

Still the most popular hormone replacement therapy in North America, PremarinTM is an oral estrogen replacement drug derived from pregnant mare’s urine (PMU). The debate about PMU ranches and the raising of mares (and foals) continues throughout North America.

Although conditions do appear to be better than they once were for these equines and the sales of Premarin^TM are down, many animal rights groups and individuals still question why these horses have to be confined and bred for such purposes. Another newer concern has also arisen: as the drug’s sales fall, what will happen to those redundant, healthy mares and their foals?

Horses are one of the most intelligent mammals. Sometimes steady, sometimes excitable, they are subject to boredom or depression as are all sentient creatures. If forced to live in difficult conditions, they suffer physically and emotionally.

Premarin^TM, the most popular HRT drug in North America, is made from the urine of pregnant mares, which produce a high concentration of estrogen, as do pigs and cows. Produced by Wyeth-Ayerst, PremarinTM has been in wide usage since 1941. Ayerst Organics Ltd. in Brandon, Manitoba, has produced it since 1966, exporting it to more than 80 countries around the world.

During PMU production, the mares breed naturally during June and July and pregnant mares go back into their stalls, where their urine is collected from mid-October to March. The mares foal in early May and remain outside in the pastures with their mothers for three to five months.

In the fall, thousands of the foals are sold to feedlots and slaughtered for the horsemeat industry in Europe and in Japan. A few fortunate foals are placed as people’s companions by adoption organizations. One placement group is FoalQuest Ltd., headquartered in Olds, Alberta. Since 1999, they have found homes for more than 800 PMU foals.

Haley Hashagen of San Jose, California, has adopted eight PMU foals through FoalQuest and plans to adopt more this year. Although she went to Alberta last summer with a negative attitude about the entire PMU business, she was impressed with what she found. “These are small family farmers trying to make ends meet. They name their mares; the horses seemed healthy. I don’t necessarily agree with the whole industry, but FoalQuest does a good job.”

However, not everyone shares her optimism. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protests the treatment of these mares and foals. Brandi Valladolid, campaign coordinator, says, “The PMU business is a vicious cycle of impregnating horses, confinement, and ripping away their foals for slaughter until the mare is worn out and she, too, ends up on the kill floor.”

The Animal Alliance of Canada, a nonprofit organization of 20,000 supporters and volunteers who advocate for protection of animals and the environment, do not endorse PMU farming either. Explained Shelly Hawley-Yan, a director, “Our organization is completely opposed to the treatment, use, and abuse of PMU mares and foals. There are many compassionate herbal alternatives to the symptoms of menopause. The abuse of these animals for the sake of producing pharmaceuticals of questionable benefit to women is completely unnecessary.”

Deborah Straw’s articles have appeared in many prestigious periodicals. Her books include Why Is Cancer Killing Our Pets? How You Can Protect and Treat Your Animal Companion (Healing Arts, 2000). In August 2002, Straw became the first speaker on cancer in animals at the 30th Annual Cancer Control Conference in Los Angeles.

Source: alive #257, March 2004