Socks Mitchell is a horse with a story. Socks Mitchell is also the reason Agent 99 works so hard to deliver really cool, old funky junk to the CatEyeGirls' customers.

Socks is a “Premarin" baby.  He is the offspring of a draft horse mare that was impregnated to collect pregnant mare urine which is used to produce Premarin -- a hormone replacement drug Pfizer brings to market that helps women stave off menopausal symptoms while it increases the risk of cancer of the uterus, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots.

There are an unknown number of "Premarin foals" born and slaughtered every year for meat and supple, unblemished hides to make wallets, jackets and purses out of.  (Estimates range from 20- 400,000 annually.) 

Rescued out of a “kill pen,” Socks Mitchell was adopted by Agent 99 in 2006.  He stands 16.3 hands (67 inches at the withers) and weighs in at about 1500 pounds.  The nickname "Big Horse" seems to fit.  Socks is presently working at a training level in dressage learning leg yields, gait transitions and canter departs.

Socks spends his leisure time playing soccer, tipping his water bucket over and eating to maintain his full-figure.

So . . . what does Socks Mitchell have to do with funky junk?

Having a horse is a luxury . . . In Agent 99's barn lives a “big” motivator to pick well, do the work, deliver really cool antiques and funky junk to CatEyeGirl customers while she strives to improve her craft, creatively repurpose and recycle more and expand her knowledge base to share with her customers. 

That’s what Socks Mitchell has to do with funky junk -- he is the chief, behind-the-scenes-source-of-inspiration to build a network of happy, informed and inspired funky junk customers!

(You can learn more about Premarin babies with a cursory internet search on “premarin mares.”  The details of the treatment of the pregnant mares and their babies are graphic and may forever alter your views of the pharmaceutical industry and hormone replacement therapy.)