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drug research
October 2008 
Anyone want to adopt?
Harmony
There is a big issue out there with momma and baby horses that are veterans of Premarin drug harvesting. There are so many of them in need of quality homes and love. Do you have a way to adopt someone?
For those of you who are not familiar with Premarin, it is a hormonal drug for menopausal women. Since the 1940s, the hormone-rich urine of pregnant mares has been processed into drugs doctors prescribed to treat menopausal women. After being impregnated each fall, the mares (approximately 40,000-60,000 industry-wide) spend winter inside "pee barns" where they are inhumanely hooked up to urine collection systems until they give birth in the spring. Most of the foals are sold at auction, where many end up in slaughter. Now many of these mares face the same fate following new findings on the risks associated with hormone replacement drugs.
Since October, 2000, the maker of Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst has recalled nearly 400 million doses of Premarin, the menopausal drug made from the urine of pregnant mares. This would have been really cool, had the nearly 20,000 mares and a number of their little foals been placed in good homes - but they are not. Instead, most are heading for the table of Belgian, Italian, French and Japanese horse-eating man/woman/child.
Something can be done by you or a friend...
If you want to earn a right to adopt a horse in the sweat of your own brow, here is what you can do in the sunny California
Access: Public
Great post Harmony. Great cause. Great attitude. Great intentions. Great voice. If I may affirm/back-up/support it:
When I was growing up I always wanted a horse. After I was able to buy a horse I became enamored with (among other things) the prospect of my friends adopting horses or rescuing horses. My enthusiasm for this prospect (aside from my desire to rescue horses) wasn’t born out of an urealistic idea of what was involved in the ownership of horses. It was actually born out of an experiential realization of what was involved.
Now, I’m not saying owning or adopting a horse is totally easy and financially viable for everyone, but in Alberta (I can only speak on behalf of Alberta) the total cost of rescuing a nice looking young horse with the initial cost of purchase thrown into the yearly total (payed off over 5 years) is around $700 (canadian) a year (including vet, worming, and feed but not including board which wouuld be an extra $50-100 dollars a month for pasture or significantly more for an indoor arena with stabling). The reason I don’t include board is because a lot of people know people, relatives, who own farms and/or have horses. At least in Alberta.
So… a possible minimum for keeping/buying a horse (very possible in Alberta, less possible in California most likely) is $700 (even less for US) a year. The horse you’d come out with, at least if I was buying for you, would have a value of $2-3000 (proven by a number of re-sales I have done). This means if you ever felt like the horse business was more than you bargained for you could sell the animal, and if you sold it privately for the figure above you’re more or less assured the horse is out of the meat market for the rest of it’s days. No one wants to part with their $3000 horse for meat prices.
Now, one thing I didn’t mention is that if your a newb at horses you’re going to have to learn. There are countless ways to do that, but most of them cost money. Unless you have a super-knowledgable family member initiate you you’re looking at more spending.
Still, the point is: It’s doable (even if I may have painted a slightly over-optimistic picture above). Very, very doable. And owning a horse truly a remarkable ride. Just scroll down to the bottom of Harmony’s blog and read all the comments to see why. Horses are spiritual teachers extraordinaire. I can’t even begin to go into that. I wrote an entire book on it. Also, there’s as many ways to have fun with horses as there are people who own them.
Any one of the horses that end up on supper tables could be your best friend.
Brian David.
Hi Harmony,
When I read this post I could feel a sinking feeling in my heart. I have never owned a horse but know in my heart the underlying feeling of right/wrong has never been so obvious. The story you tell is in your face and doesn't hold back and I like that you tell the truth so bold :| I tip my hat to you \:)
Brendan
Harmony, thank you for this post, I will circulate the wild horse and premarin mare story in hopes o ffinding some adopters.
Mitakuye Oyasin!
All My Relations!
Blessed be,
CalmEagle
Brondu, Just “B” and CalmEagle, thank you for your comments and for spreading the word. A friend of mine just went over to McLean, Texas last week, and she worked on rescuing the horses that got injured badly in the Texas wildfires there not that long ago. She and her group did some healing work, bought and hauled lots of hay and dispensed antibiotics for the burns, and love for the inner burns. Keep the FIRE going, you guys, and thanks for the awesome support.
I would love to adopt but I think it's a little risky. How could we know if there parents woren't in some drug rehab program?