Maria Genovesi opened Godspeed Horse Hostel in July 2004. Genovesi is rescuing Premarin horses from PMU farms in Canada.

What is PMU? It stands for pregnant mare urine and it is the source for Premarin®, a hormone replacement drug prescribed for menopausal women around the world. There are approximately 73 PMU farms operating in Canada today. This industry has been around for more than 50 years, employing 7,000 mares to reproduce. The result is the birth of thousands of unwanted foals each year. If these foals don't get adopted or purchased by the private market they are often sent to feedlots until they are two years old; after which they are old enough to be sold to slaughter.

Oddly enough, many of the foals are CanAm (Canadian/American) sport horses which primarily consist of one or more of the following bloodlines: thoroughbred, draft, or warm-blood. They can even be eligible to be registered with the Performance Horse Registry through NAERIC. "Many of the PMU foals have outstanding pedigrees and are incredible prospects for professionals and amateurs alike. We don't cherry pick though. We take any PMU foals that need homes, its just sometimes we get some pedigreed ones."

As for rescues in the tri-state area, if you know of a horse in need or if you have a horse that needs a new home, please contact Godspeed Horse Hostel. Godspeed Horse Hostel also facilitates rescues through Genovesi's extensive equine network and a Subsidized Boarding and Re-Homing Program that the rescue offers at the farm.

If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns about horse rescue, please feel free to contact Godspeed Horse Hostel. We welcome your input.

Executive Director:	Maria Genovesi Godspeed Horse Hostel Amenia, NY
Technical Director, Volunteer:	Kerri Dexter Amenia, NY
Advisory Board:	Frank Weller Equine Angels Resuce Sanctuary New Milford, CT