Ridecamp: Re: [RC] PMU stall confinement

>Sure they're better treated than the Morgans you
> mentioned, but are they *really* better treated than wild horse in NV that
> freeze and starve - but are free?  By whose definition do we judge what
> "better" treatment is?  Would the wild horses opt for PMU stalls?  It's
the
> nature of horses to live in the open.  The PMU mares, no matter how well
> cared for, are not being cared anything close to naturally, and I doubt
> very strongly it's the way *they* would choose to live.

It is also the nature of horses to eat and seek comfort.  We had a wild elk
who spent an entire winter in a small horse pasture down the river from us
last year.  It was not her "nature" to live that way, but she chose it over
starvation.  (I'd suspect her teeth were bad.)  Death by starvation is slow
and horrible.  Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that the horses would
choose food and confinement over freedom and starvation.

I agree that I prefer freedom, and that horses prefer freedom.  But in many
equine circles, the confinement that the PMU mares undergo temporarily is
standard housing 24/7.  These mares at least are turned out part of the
year, and get regular turnouts during their stints.  If you want to pick on
confinement situations, there are far worse outfits than well-managed PMU
farms.

Heidi


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