Saved from slaughter
Story and photos by Laura Liger

Flash, a foal from a Premarin horse, was saved by Betsy Cate.

Throughout time, horses have held an extraordinary connection to humans — some sort of cosmic bond held deep in our hearts that has been portrayed in a variety of ways, from cave art to modern movies.

It is no wonder, then, that hundreds of organizations are devoted to the preservation, care, and adoption of horses whose chances of survival dwindle each year.

In the past, those rescued consisted primarily of retired race horses, but as Betsy Cate of Columbia learned through the process of adoption, there are growing numbers of Premarin horses and their offspring in need of good homes.

Premarin horses are pregnant mares whose hormones are extracted from their urine by catheter, which is a process that extends throughout most of their pregnancy term. Approved by the FDA in 1942, Premarin (pregnant mare’s urine) has been the primary drug prescribed by doctors to treat the symptoms of menopause in millions of women around the world.

Betsy Cate and her horse Flash, an offspring of a Premarin mare

According to Susan Wagner, president and founder of Equine Advocates, Inc., “The production of Premarin requires the operation of around 700 ‘farms’, in which around 80,000 horses live.” Consequently, tens of thousands of foals (baby horses) are born and orphaned each year.

In 2002, when results of clinical studies showed higher rates of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and breast cancer in women taking Premarin, the use of the drug dramatically decreased. Pharmaceutical companies quickly reduced production and terminated hundreds of contracts with Premarin farmers, who raise and sell mares to the drug companies.

Because approximately 75% of the pregnant mares once needed are now obsolete, the matter of finding homes for the mares and their foals will be critical. Most often, Premarin foals are sold at auction and then bought for recreational use or purchased by food companies for slaughter. “The short–term result,” according to New York Horse Rescue (NYHR), “will be a glut of Premarin foals falling prey to slaughter house buyers.”

Part of the problem, say many horse advocates, is that people are simply unaware of the problem. This was the case for native Columbian Betsy Cate, who began riding horses in Columbia at Mr. Webb’s Riding Academy at the age of six.

No longer a competitive rider, Cate consulted NYHR in order to adopt a horse for casual riding. “I was interested in adopting a young, mild–mannered horse,” Cate explained, “that just about anyone could ride.”

When Cate became interested in one particular horse, she soon learned through a follow–up consultation at NYHR that the horse she had chosen was the offspring of a Premarin horse.

Prior to the adoption and information obtained through NYHR, Cate says she knew very little about Premarin horses and their foals. Aside from finding homes for Premarin foals, NYHR states that another primary objective is “to educate the public about alternatives to Premarin as an estrogen replacement,” which is exactly what Cate and her horse, Flash, have accomplished.

Flash, who is the offspring of a Premarin mare and now three years old, has met all of Cate’s expectations and more. Not only is he a gentle horse, ideal for the riding to which Cate is now accustomed, but he is also used by Elizabeth Grove, Cate’s daughter, for teaching young riders at Congaree Horse Farm. Currently, Flash is participating in a young rider’s camp headed by Grove.

Assuredly, Cate is testimony to the bond that humans and horses share. As she rode Flash around the rink at Congaree Horse Farm, it was apparent that Flash is more than mere recreation, but rather, likened to a good friend.

When asked if she would adopt more Premarin foals, Cate replied that the eight horses she already owns require an extraordinary amount of time, labor, and devotion. There is little doubt, however, that in addition to saving the life of Flash, she has raised awareness of an issue that could potentially save hundreds more.