Re: Premarin-Alert to horse lovers (long, but please read)

[avpinc@bellsouth.net]

Monika,
    Thank you for your courteous and informative post.  I have been
made aware that I have fallen into a trap that I actually warn other
people about--I have allowed myself to become emotionally affected
by an issue without giving the benefit of the doubt to those involved.
As it seems with many industries and issues, the bad situations get
the press and the attention and the good are either overlooked or
taken for granted.  I can only hope that any bad press that comes
to these farms will not end up harming the horses, but will only serve
to make the industry even more vigilant about policing itself for negligence
or abuse.  I will take all opinions  and information and file it away for
future use, and will be sure to give credit to those in this industry who
do, indeed, take care of and value the horses they use for profit.  I
wish all who responded to my original post had the graciousness to
allow for my concern, rather than assuming I was out to get all of
these farms, and I will be careful in the future to state my concerns
in a more detached manner.   Linda

Monika Smith wrote:

> Linda,
>
> Here's another opinion, and my two cents.
>
> I've been to a PMU farm to REALLY look at it. I was impressed enought to
> leave a mare at a facility to foal out. she was there from month 3 - 11.
> Had vet, farrier care. Was turned out every 3 days and in a tie stall that
> allowed her to lie down. Lots of hay on the ground, lots of water and feed
> to eat. We picked up up fat and sassy and she foaled out just fine. But,
> she was a quiet, easy going type of mare.
>
> While I do have concerns about PMU farms...some are NOT well run and I do
> prefer horses have more freedom that what is offered there; my biggest
> concern is the reaction of well intended people, such as yourself, on this
> issue. Just think...if your concern to stop PMU farms does cause Ayerst to
> stop PMU farms, what happens to the 70.000 mares? Economically the PMU
> farms will NOT keep the mares. Those horses will go for slaughter and/or
> drop the prices of horses that go to auction since some of those mares are
> decent horses.
>
> If you must contact your doctor and Ayerst, ensure that they have a
> contingency plan to PHASE OUT PMU farms. I believe very strongly that when
> (not if) a superior synthetic is developed (to what we have now) that
> company will pull the plug.
>
> Monika, Koko and Ripp
> (public relations consultant in day job, with no affliation with Ayerst)