They Save Horses …

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 1999 by Helen Johnson

As Lori Oliwenstein's excellent article on hormone replacement ["That Certain Age," July] points out, as long as Premarin continues to be overprescribed by doctors, the tragedy of horse slaughter will go on and on.

But there is hope for the pregnant mares whose urine is used for Premarin and who endure inhumane treatment, and their foals, who are often killed. The United Pegasus Foundation (UPF) is an equine humane association that helps retrain and set up adoptions of the abused horses. Each September, UPF representatives attend auctions in the Manitoba area, where unwanted Premarin foals are sold and often wind up slaughtered to provide meat for overseas markets. By using sponsor dollars, UPF buys as many foals as it can, transports them to its farm in Southern California and cares for the animals until they are adopted by caring people. For more information on foal sponsorship or adoption, contact the Foal Rescue Fund, 120 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006; (626) 279-1306; fax (626) 452-8620.

Helen Johnson Greensburg, Penn.