I have a PMU baby, he's 11 yrs old now, BEST darn horse I've ever had. He jumps up to 4ft3, does training level dressage(this winter level 1) and barrel racing, trail riding, everything. He's a great horse. They usually have very nice mindsets!
>>>>They are used specifically for pmu. They are kept in stalls and kept pregnant until they are to old. And the foals are sold at auction to whoever. We all know how that goes...
PMU farms have become more scarce in the last few years as demand for Premarin products has diminished.
There are strict regulations about mare confinement, turnout, foaling, weaning age and procedures, and etc., and farms are inspected regularly for compliance.Mares and new foals are usually pasture kept through the summer, and after the foals are weaned the mares are put "on the line" approximately 150 days each year, from Dec-April.
I am not saying there aren't bad PMU farms-- but there are also bad race horse farms, bad dressage barns, bad lesson barns, bad show barns, and etc.... the life of a PMU mare might not be 100% ideal, but standing/laying in a warm barn eating all winter with turnout all summer and mandatory regulated vet and farrier care is not the worst life ever either.
Here are some links to PMU ranches that breed higher quality, registered horses.
I have a Canadian horse and she is one of the foals from a PMU mare. We got her from an adoption program that saved all the foals from the slaughter house.