The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) endorses the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) position statement on “Management of Mares Used in the Pregnant Mares’ Urine (PMU) Collection Industry,” which reads as follows: “Through on-site investigations and peer review of ongoing research, the American Association of Equine Practitioners believes the collection of urine from pregnant mares and care of their offspring as prescribed by the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Horses in PMU Operations represents responsible management of horses to produce a commodity for the benefit of mankind that should not result in abuse, neglect, or inhumane treatment of horses.”  --JAVMA, Vol. 232, No. 1, January 1, 2008 "All (tie-stalled pregnant mares) were free of classic stereotypies and other abnormal behavior, which is consistent with observations that tie-stalled horses exhibit lower than average equine industry rates of behavior problems." - AAEP Proceedings, Volume 44, 1998, "Health and Welfare of Stabled PMU Mares Under Various Watering Methods and Turnout Schedules: 2. Behavior". (This research was co-authored by Dr. Sue McDonnell, PhD., a renowned and respected horse behavior expert from the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania)
"PMU mares receive quality feed and water, and in many respects the care is comparable to that given horses, or for that matter any livestock, used for other purposes in North America." - Arthur B. King, DVM, CVMA, Spring 1997
"PMU farms labeled "responsible" by inspectors" - American Association of Equine Practitioners Report, February 1997

"The ranchers showed a pride in their animals and a concern for their well being. Based on our inspections, the allegations of inhumane treatment of horses involved in PMU ranching are unfounded."

- Equine Veterinarians' Consensus Report On the Care of Horses on PMU Ranches, produced by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the International League for the Protection of Horses, May 1997

"Through on site investigations and peer review of on-going research, AAEP believes the collection of urine from pregnant mares and care of their offspring as prescribed by the recommended "Code of Practice," represents responsible management of horses to produce a commodity for the benefit of mankind that should not result in abuse, neglect or inhumane treatment of horses."

- American Association of Equine Practitioners, Spring 1998

"Regarding the condition of animals and facilities, we feel the allegations of abuse and mistreatment are unfounded."

- United States Department of Agriculture, 1994

It's (PMU ranching) a highly regulated, highly inspected industry and there has been a witch hunt in the industry that is undeserved."

- Darrell Dalton, DVM, Alberta, Canada, March 1997

"AQHA supports their (AAEP, CVMA and ILPH) findings that PMU ranches follow humane handling, housing, transportation and nutrition practices."

- American Quarter Horse Association, Spring 1998

"PMU ranchers...should not be subjected to scorn or ridicule from the people who don't know or use horses, and especially not from those of us who do."

- Kimberly Herbert, Editor, The Horse., March 1997.

". . . the new generation of PMU operations that now dominate the industry are very much alive and driven by progressive, astute practices that will allow them to become major players (alone or in partnership) in the breeding of better than average animals. The combined economics of it makes too much sense to resist." PMU operations will be major suppliers to the performance horse and recreational markets."

- Pete Fraser, the only Canadian to ever hold the position of President of the American Paint Horse Association (1994), speaking about future trends
in the horse industry during the 1996 Alberta Horse Breeders and Owners
Conference

"One of the most significant recent developments in the world of equine sales and marketing has been the creation of NAERIC, the North American Equine Ranching Information Council. (NAERIC) is becoming a strong force in equine marketing, as PMU ranchers are trying to breed and market their mares' offspring as good using horses."

-Richard McCarty, from "The Horse Sale Report 2001…A Profile" Northern
Horse Review, December 2001

"The PMU Code is the most visible, the most used, and the most complied with, of all the Codes of Practice for farm animals."

- Harry J. Enns, the former Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

"I noted that at the farms visited, the barns were warm and the mares were sleek and in good health. They seemed very content. They had room to lie down in the clean, well-bedded stalls if they wished to do so…At the present time there is no proven substitute for [Premarin], and the millions of women who benefit from Premarin can be grateful to the horses who provide it."

-Dr. Robert Miller, a retired veterinary practitioner and the author of several
books, after a two-year study and several visits to PMU farms.
Source: "PMU Farms-A Firsthand Report" by Robert M. Miller, D.V.M.,
Western Horseman, July 2001

"For several years, I have worked with a team of veterinary and animal science experts in equine nutrition, reproduction, exercise physiology and behavior from universities across North American, studying the health and well-being of PMU horses. Our findings, as well as those of other research teams, are that the health and welfare of these horses are excellent.

For example, we now know that PMU horses have the lowest incidence of aberrant behavior-almost none-of any domestic horse population studied. Management practices of ranchers in the care of their horses are sound, and science-based equine management and continual improvement ensures the highest possible standard of care.

I know personally that the health and well-being of these horses is among the best of any domestic animal groups, including household pets."

-Dr. Sue McDonnell, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, July 2002

"Based upon the nutritional needs of young horses, weaning at approximately four months (of age) is not only sound practice scientifically, but it is also likely optimum management for young horses in western Canada and North Dakota Ranches."

-Dr. Gary D. Potter, PhD, PAS, Dipl. ACAN
Professor
Leader, Equine Sciences
Texas A & M University

"Wyeth-Ayerst and NAERIC are to be credited for their leadership. Everyone who comes on these tours is surprised at what they see and ends up being pleased to have the opportunity to participate. I've previously bought, trained and sold horses, and from my own experience, I believe that the ranchers are headed in the right direction. They stand to make as much money from the sale of their foals as they do from collecting the PMU. This is a plus for the ranchers and a plus for the Sport Horse industry. Truly a win-win situation!"

-Ned Bonnie, Chairman of the Performance Horse Registry and informal sport
horse buyers= group tour leader, 2000

"My overall impression of the tour - it was mind boggling! And pretty impressive! Some of the half-breds I saw were even nicer than the three-quarter breds. As a buyer, I can be pretty picky, because there are so many to choose from. What I might overlook in a low choice situation, or accept if I bred it myself, I can pass up in this (high quantity) situation and go for the highest possible quality. Even the second string prospects were still stunning horses. This is truly a buyers' market. I only purchased one weanling filly this year, which will be wintered out in Saskatchewan before I bring her home next spring. However, since I returned home, I have been working out the logistics of buying more weanlings next year."

-Pat Dumont of Aldergrove, British Columbia, a new member of the 2001 Sport Horse Buyers' Tour.

"This year, my wife Tamara, and I, were able to accept NAERIC's generous offer to participate in the (sport horse buyers') tour. We went with the thought of buying three horses, but we got excited. We bought ten head and we are tickled with them. We will keep some of them ourselves for fox-hunters and some will be resold. We can market the bigger horses-the type that are big and showy-as dressage, three-day event horses, or just for pleasure riding. The tour was a most rewarding experience, one of the best of our lives."

"We love horses and we love looking at horses. We didn't see any bad ones, they were all good - some are just better than others. We plan to tour on our own in the future, on a yearly basis. It is one of our goals as we faze out of our small animal practice. Touring the equine ranches in Canada for sport horse prospects gives us several advantages over our usual sources in the U.S. The first advantage is having such a large number of quality horses to select from. Secondly, we like the favorable US exchange rate. It makes it worth working out the logistics to transport the horses home."

-Jim Powers, D.V.M., from Madison, Alabama, after attending his first Sport
Horse Buyers' Tour in 2001

"In August of this year, my wife and I had the opportunity to join the NAERIC Sport Horse Buyers' Tour. We spent five busy days evaluating conformation and soundness on well over 300 horses of various ages, ranging from weanlings to three-year-olds. Many of the buyers on the tour, including myself, purchased horses. The horses that we saw were in good hearlth and received proper care. Management appeared very acceptable."

"The five-day tour was very satisfying and enjoyable. The horses that we evaluated were of good quality and, in my opinion, are very marketable in the United Stated for sport horse and pleasure use. I hope to see more of them in our part of the country."

- Benjamin Bramsen, D.V.M., Buellton, California, September 2001