Slaughter
A large number of horses, an estimated 100,000 of them in 2005, are slaughtered in the United States every year, butchered and served as steaks on the dinner table of other countries. The inedible parts end up as food by-products in our own country. Most of these slaughtered animals are in perfect health, with the ability to live many long and useful years if given the chance. All of them are castaways from a society that refuses to see the horror of their death.
Giving Horse Urine to Women
Another large sector of our horse population is used in the production of "Premarin", (Pregnant Mare Urine). Premarin is a drug used for estrogen replacement. While its medical use is debatable, the method used for the collection of pregnant mare urine is deplorable. Pregnant mares are made to stand for months at a time with very little water, giving a stronger product which translates into more money. After giving birth, the mares are bred again and their foals are sold to the slaughterhouse. This cycle is repeated again and again until the horse becomes worn out, unable to continue standing. Her reward? Her own trip to the slaughterhouse.
