Restricting water consumption to keep high hormone levels in the urine is another alleged abuse. Proponents say well run PMU farms do regulate the mares’ water intake in order to make collection more efficient, but not to produce higher hormone levels. They say it is the diet and not the water intake that keeps the hormone levels high. Members of FoalQuest say they have never seen mares suffering from dehydration at any of the farms they work with. The mares they have seen also appear to receive good veterinary care and routine farrier care.
As for premature weaning, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that most of these mares get to spend the summer with their foals in huge pastures. The foals are weaned between 4 and 6 months, which may be early, but not as heartbreaking as the two or three week weaning I feared. Weaning can be traumatic for many foals.
Both animal rights groups and groups like FoalQuest are trying to work more closely with the farmers and buy the foals directly from them instead of going through the sales. Some of the farms make sure the foals are eating grain for two weeks and are dewormed before weaning.
Should you consider adopting a PMU foal? Ethically you could debate that adopting (buying) these foals supports what some denounce as a vile industry, but on the other hand you may be saving a foal that may otherwise go to slaughter. Personally I don’t see how getting one of these babies supports the industry, because the money is coming from the urine, so whatever happens to the foal is of little economic value.
The first thing you should do if you are considering an adoption is read my article “Prime Time” to be sure you want a foal for the right reasons. “So my children can grow up with it” is not a good reason to get a foal. Carefully and honestly consider your abilities and the amount of time you have available for such a long-term endeavor.
However, if you have the expertise, time and facilities, you may want to look into a PMU foal. These foals are actually well bred. They are mostly Paints, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, Draft breeds and crosses of these breeds. Most are foundation stock (strong bloodlines closely related to the breed’s founding sires). The foals do not seem to suffer from any long-term psychological or physical damage.
