PMU (Pregnant Mare Urine) Information
by Julie Peterson
Many women have heard of the wonders of hormone replacement therapy, but few really understand how it is
made and that it actually causes suffering to thousands of horses. PREMPRO™,
PREMPHASE® and Premarin®, manufactured by Wyeth-Ayerst, are all made of conjugated
estrogens from pregnant mare urine (PREgnant MARe urINe) or PMU. Urine is collected
for six to seven months of an eleven month pregnancy via a urine collection bag that is strapped on to the
mare between her rear legs. In most cases, the mares are kept in an upright position, tied by the neck and
are not allowed to turn around, lay down, go out to pasture or even walk. Their water intake is limited and
many mares suffer from kidney and liver damage. The life expectancy of a PMU mare is about half of that of
a non-PMU horse given basic care.
As a result of this cycle of keeping mares pregnant, foaling, and being impregnated again, there is an overabundance of foals being born inside the PMU farms. Of course, the colts are simply not wanted because they cannot produce the liquid gold for the business. Only a handful of the fillies are kept to become replacement pregnant mares, the rest are sold at auction. This leaves thousands of unwanted foals born every year, an estimated 60,000 a year, born into a situation where their care is just not a priority. Many are purchased for slaughter and sold as horse meat in Europe.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you are being prescribed PREMPRO™, PREMPHASE® or Premarin®, for
estrogen replacement therapy, talk to your doctor about the many recognized alternatives including
synthetic estrogens made from plant materials such as soy, yams and other vegetable sources. You do
have many safe and effective alternatives to those that cause animal suffering in their production. As long
as the Federal Government maintains its current regulations the only way to stop this form of animal abuse
is by cutting the demand for the product.
If you are thinking of owning a horse, consider adopting a PMU mare or foal. There are rescue organizations that will help you find the right horse. Please contact us for more information on PMU mares and foals available for adoption.
