To Whom It May Concern:
Hi, I'm Dixie, a Belgian draft horse born on a ranch in Canada that dealt with the Premarin Industry.
This is my tale:
Being a mare (female), I was used in the PMU (pregnant mare urine) lines to produce pregnant mare’s urine for the hormonal drug Premarin. I was kept pregnant year after year for this purpose, and many of my foals were purchased by meat buyers and shipped overseas, slaughtered for human food. Premarin was once the most prescribed drug in North America. Many women have suffered deadly cancers and other medical issues from the use of this drug. The popularity of this drug has fallen and Premarin is now the fourth most prescribed drug in North America.
Due to the drop in demand for Premarin, my ranch lost its contract with the drug manufacturers. It was almost certain that 90 other pregnant mares and I were going to be sold for slaughter. Did you know slaughter is currently outlawed in the United States, and horses are shipped to Canada and Mexico, where slaughter methods are horribly inhumane?
Luckily for me and my friends, a great group of people raised enough money to buy us and found homes for us all. I was adopted by my human Mom, Julie, when I was 5 years old and pregnant for the fourth time. Little did either of us know that our lives would be forever changed by this amazing adventure!
Dixie on arrival to her new forever home....
I am now the spokes-horse for a group called Heart of Dixie Equine Rescue, Inc. HODER was organized and founded by my new Mom, and many of her friends in the South Georgia area. We have a 90 acre property in Brooklet, GA for all the horses to live on. HODER members have dedicated themselves to helping save all horses and equines in need.
I was very afraid when I first arrived in Statesboro - I had never been petted or groomed or even had a treat in my whole life. I had been beaten many times by other humans and I was afraid of being hurt again. It has been a long journey, but now I trust my Mom and most other humans. Everyone is kind to me and I found out how tasty those funny looking carrots and apples are!
My beautiful baby filly, Daisy, was born 3 months after I arrived here. My Mom loves and takes care of her, too. I am very proud of Daisy and have been happy to watch her grow up. She's the first baby I was allowed to keep.
Once I became friends with the other horses at my barn, I learned there are are a lot of local horses in need of being saved, too. Sometimes their humans could not afford to take care of them anymore or sometimes they were terribly abused or neglected. I was sad that they could not be rescued like I was. I had a long talk with my human mom and she and all her wonderful friends have agreed to help all equines in need.
I am asking for your help. We need donations to help rescue, rehabilitate and re-home all of these horses. We need donations of money, horse feed, hay, grooming and tack supplies, horse trailers, fencing material, golf carts and a 4 wheeler. Did I mention that we need money?
We need people who can adopt these horses and give them the life and love they deserve. We need sponsors who will sponsor a horse so that it can be placed in a safe environment and never have to worry about being hurt or neglected again. We need volunteers to help with fund raising and horse care, and we need help getting the word out.
WILL YOU HELP SAVE A HORSE'S LIFE?
Please write, or email me at the address below to find out how you can help. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. You CAN help! Write today!
Dixie
c/o Heart of Dixie Equine Rescue
112 Lincoln St.
Statesboro, GA 30461
912-764-8476
Our Blog: "http://www.heartofdixieequinerescue.wordpress.com"
Non-Profit Status applied for and coming soon!
