Horse people are passionate

The vast majority of horse people are very passionate about their horses and what they do with them. Some train horses for others; some have horses for pleasure, to go on trail rides through this beautiful country of ours. Some use for sport such as roping, bull dogging, competitive horse shows or dressage. Some people buy horses to sell them or others rescue them. Debra Naismith is just such a person. Six years ago she found out a little known secret that moved her to tears. And she became so passionate about it she named her non-profit organization Passion Horse!
For decades, Premarin was the most popular drug in the United States, with an estimated 22 million women taking the drug to treat menopausal symptoms in 2002. Because Premarin is made with estrogens extracted from pregnant mares' urine (PMU), thousands of mares are used to produce this bitter pill, contributing to the unnecessary overbreeding of horses.
From October to March, the pregnant mares live in the "pee barns," forced to stand in stalls with urine collection devices strapped to them. The stalls are deliberately narrow to prevent pregnant mares from turning around and detaching the collection cups. In April, the mares are let out to pasture to have their foals and re-bred. A few fillies are kept as replacements and the rest of the foals, sometimes as young as two months, are rounded up and sold to meat buyers.

The manufacturers of PMU drugs would like us to believe that every single foal born as a result of these pregnancies is sold to be used for companionship, recreation, ranching, shows and competitions - what they call "productive markets." The fillies sometimes grow up to replace their worn-out mothers, too. But the horse market is oversaturated as it is, and there just aren't enough homes for another estimated 5,000 foals born from this industry each year. As a result, PMU foals may be at risk for slaughter, their meat shipped to Europe and Japan for human consumption.
Horses are not our food, but the Humane Society of the United States estimates that each year more than 90,000 horses are slaughtered in this country. Horsemeat processed for human consumption is exported to Europe and Japan, where it is considered a delicacy and sold for as much as $20 per pound.
Passion Horse Ranch is the brainchild and passion of Debra Naismith and her husband Jeff. Debra rescued her first PMU baby, Bailey, 6 years ago and found her calling. Passion Horse Ranch was founded to help the helpless; all the babies born to the Premarin drug industry. Passion Horse Ranch fundraises all year to raise money and awareness to help save some of the babies from the horrific fate of slaughter for human consumption. Deb has saved over 100 babies since she started rescuing 5 years ago.
But there is a new problem. Two months ago Debra was surprised by the developer of her country-side housing addition that she could no longer run here organization from there. The organization and the horses and the barns have been there for over six years and now the developer has decided that he does not want a rescue located in his development. He cited that there were too many horses and that they could not run a business in his area. I would question how many people who live there are running a business from their property. In six years the developer never said a word that they were not allowed to run their small grass roots non-profit rescue. After seeking legal advice they found out he has the right to do this. But they also found out that they are being singled out.
The rescue operation is now forced to move and they have found a place to take it to. They found a piece of land in which the owners are on board with what they are doing and want to help. But in the meantime their home, like so many others, is upside down on what they owe versus what it is worth.
If you are in the market for a horse that is gentle and something you want to get passionate about they have them. The majority of horses they adopt through the auctions in Canada are larger. They are Clydesdales, Percherons or Belgian mixes. Clydesdale crosses are more in demand, so the rancher wants more money for them, as well as full Percheron or Belgian foals. Sure you can go to the sale barn and find a foal for a lot less, but these babies are born and destined to a dreadful fate if we don't step in to save them. Adopting a PMU baby is a decision of the heart, not the wallet.
So why do you want one? They're huge. They are draft horses and are considered cold-blooded, meaning they have a much quieter and less reactive personality that a Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred, for instance. They are safe, sane, smart, quiet, willing, friendly, not spooky, and they are thinkers. Draft crosses have the best of both worlds. They have the draft mind and attitude combined with the agility and abilities of the Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred they are crossed with. They are truly "sporthorses." They are versatile as well. Draft cross horses can now be seen in almost every discipline out there, from dressage to trail, and from barrel racing to hunter jumper…they can do it all well, and with style! They also make the best trail horses (except watch out for low branches!).
There are a number of ways anyone can help, and not all of them involve adopting a baby horse. First and foremost, educate yourself on the facts about Premarin and the PMU industry, and then get out there and talk to women who are taking Premarin, educate them, and get them to ask their doctors to prescribe something else. The fewer women who take the drug, the less demand there is for the urine, and the less babies are born each year. It's really that simple…
Second, either come and volunteer at the ranch, volunteer to help at events that are held periodically throughout the year, or you can help us by coming up with new and interesting ways to raise money to save more babies each year. Get involved!
Third, make a donation to the ranch. Horses cost a lot to feed every week. We typically have anywhere from 6-15 rescue horses on the property at any time in various stages of health. Not all are PMU's. No horse that comes onto the property as a rescue or donation leaves unless it is to a perfectly matched forever home. It can get expensive, but it is worth it every time we adopt a horse to a family and then hear about how well he or she is doing. You can pick one of the horses that live here on the ranch and make a donation to that specific horse via PayPal, or you can make weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly donations. Whatever you are comfortable giving will be well received, greatly appreciated, and utilized as fully as possible.
Ultimately though, the real goal of saving the foals is to find them a good forever home. Consider adopting one yourself. It's the challenge of a lifetime; taking a scared, newly weaned foal that's never had a human hand on him, home, and training it from the ground up. It's a daunting prospect, but the rewards are incredible. There are several PMU rescued horses at the ranch, which belong to the ranch. They are truly gentle giants. They were all hand-raised, with lots of love, and they are all very impressive, to say the least. They are all, also used in the lesson program that Passion Horse Ranch runs. And talk about being noticed out on trail?! Everywhere those horses go; they are the center of attention.
If you need more information or are interested in finding out more about adopting, donating to this passionate cause or lending a helping hand with their new location see their website at www.passionhorse.com .