Visiting Lazarus at the State Fair: and what you should know about hormone replacement therapy

Lazarus, Percheron horse, California State Fair

Premarin sounds like an innocent treatment which is offered to women as hormone replacement. It's made from PREgnant MARes urINe.

Lazarus, Percheron horse, California State Fair

PMU horses are bred, not for the foals, not for the joy of riding or companionship, but simply to "harvest" the pregnant mother horses's pee.

And that, girls, is what goes into those hormone replacements. Horse pee. Pregnant horse pee.

The brood mares, and the foals they produce, are nothing but a means to produce this money-making drug. The conditions that the mares are kept in vary from decent to horrible. The foals might be adopted out, but are often sent to slaughter... all for treating those annoying "hot flashes" (or "hot flushes" in the UK). Did you know that? Did you?

There are organizations who rescue, heal, and rehome these discarded, beautiful horses. Check out http://hope4horses.com, http://kisshorses.com.

The magnificent horse in these picture is Lazarus: named so because he was born during his mother's trailer ride from the PMU (Pregnant Mare's Urine) facility. He was close to death... but look at him now. Huge: 18 hands high, calm, tolerant, strong, friendly and gentle. He is a Percheron,

I have to go say hello to Lazarus each day that I'm at the state fair. Go say hello, and read his story. It's pinned to the horse box labelled "Percheron".

Lazarus, Percheron horse, California State Fair

Read the full story of Lazarus here, and find out about the rescue center, Hope for Horses and Kisshorses.com 

And... do ask your doctor what exactly he/she is prescribing for you, when they suggest you need a hormone replacement. There are other treatments than abused and discarded horses. Find one.