Horsesinart.com

Equine Angels
Rescue Foals from the Premarin Industry
by Susan Williams
in co-creation
with Anna Twinney
hen you align yourself with people who share your passion magic happens. such is the case when two equine advocates susan Williams and Anna twinney met. susan, an equine intuitive artist, photographer and conscious creator at windhorseone studios, and Anna, an international equine specialist, natural Horsemanship Clinician, Animal Communicator, energy Healer, and founder of reach out to Horses, had much in common. their combined love of the equine spirit along with a shared passion to educate, inspire, and teach people about the welfare of all equines cemented their friendship. they decided to join forces to make the world a better place for horses.
one of their collaborations was inspired by a visit to ray of Light, a rescue farm in Connecticut where equine Angels rescue sanctuary brings their rescued foals from Canadian feedlots where they faced probable slaughter. Annually these foals were cast off, disposable by-product of the Premarin industry.
Premarin is a hormone replacement drug for women made by the pharmaceutical industry. Millions of women take Premarin or Prempro to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. What most women and their health-care providers don’t know is that Premarin is made from the urine of pregnant mares; PMU or Pregnant Mare Urine. this lack of awareness contributes unknowingly to the inhumane treatment and suffering the mares and their foals endure for this highly profitable industry.
the unfortunate Premarin mares are kept pregnant until they can no longer produce foals. While they are pregnant they are confined to stalls too narrow to turn around or lie down. the reason for this inhumane confinement is because there is a rubber collecting cup strapped to them to collect their urine. Horses can doze standing up, but they cannot sleep deeply. in addition, they need natural movement for essential physical and mental health.
once the foals are born and considered old enough, they are removed abruptly from their mothers who are immediately bred again. so the cycle of misery is endless. often the foals are not old enough to be weaned, causing potential lifelong physical and psychological effects of malnutrition.
one case in point is Petie, a beautiful pinto draft cross and one of five foals rescued by equine Angels rescue sanctuary. Petie was diagnosed as a special needs foal after he arrived at ray of Light farm. it is likely that he was weaned too early and he could not eat solid foods so they had to make a slurry with his food to teach him how to eat. He also developed joint problems and is partially deaf. Petie is doing well now thanks to the dedication and generosity of people who support ray of Light and equine Angels rescue sanctuary.
Kind-hearted ranchers and rescue organizations try their best to place the foals born out of this production process. However the current economy and surplus of horses has created a system where the foals and Subscribe to
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non-producing mares end up in feedlots and often suffer the horrific fate These foals pictured were rescued from slaughter after being
today to read the rest of this
of the slaughterhouse where they will end up as a gourmet meal on dinner prematurely taken from their mothers. Winged imagery by
great article!
photographer Susan Williams.
often the mares and foals are difficult to place in new homes due www.horsesinart.com
to their lack of loving care and knowledgeable handling. the feral foals

Source: http://horsesinart.com/pdf/26-27_sum2011.pdf