horse meat.

[greenboy]

Three years ago I ate horse meat in France, I wonder why we don't have a market for this in the states...

[Immaculate Sublimity]

My guess is many people view horses as a form of companion animal, something you spend more time working with, training, and working on, than your average meat animal. I'm not sure if there are any legalities to eating your horses. Guess that would be something to investigate.

[mekasmom]

About five years ago PETA and the HSUS ran a campaign to have horses deemed companion animals rather than livestock. All the slaughterhouses in TX and IL closed, so now there is no horsemeat.
We ate it at grandma's house as kids. It is very red, kind of like bear, but not as greasy of course.

[Quiet Guy]

nothing stopping you from processing one for yourself, just don't try to sell any

[arabian knight]

And even when the processing plants were open they were still not able to sell horse meat in the USA all of it went out of the country.
There is a movement trying to get a few back open again, as we have such a problem now because of those people that wanted to stop horses going through such suffering, but all it did was make more horses suffer even more ill fated deaths.

[brody]

same reasons dog isn't a popular meat in NA I think ...

[springvalley]

The Japanes still buy alot of horses, they put them on ships in California, head across the ocean and its hangin meat by the time they get to port over there. And all the guts and stuff feed the fishes on the way, yum yum. They like good horses also they don`t buy crap horses, such a shaame. Alot of good horses have ended up with this fate, maybe it`s better than being stuck in a life of hardship and mistreatment. > Marc

[wolffeathers]

I think there just simply isn't a market(or a large enough one) for it. In the US they are looked upon as pets.

Even when we did have slaughter houses, all or a vast majority of it was exported.

Instead of trying to push for more ethical treatment, they just had the slaughter houses banned. I used to have mixed feelings about the slaughter, but since they've shut down I have seen so many starving, neglected and abused horses. People have been known just to turn the horses loose, because they won't even bring bottom dollar at the auction house. I have been offered so many 'free' horses in the last few years. Many are still being sold for meat, but they are being shipped longer distances to the slaughter houses. Don't know how that's any better. While I don't think I could raise one to slaughter myself, I have come to the conclusion that in the event one fatally injures itself(broken leg, etc) it will be put to use(especially for the dogs on a raw diet) instead of putting the whole thing in the ground. The last horse we had colicked, so the vet pumped him full of meds trying to save him and we lost him anyway. So we lost a friend and had to dig a hellofa hole to bury him, it seemed like such a waste on top of a loss.

[southerngurl]

But remember, horses are often given meds that aren't intended for animals for slaughter.

[Countrygrl3]

There is a guy pretty close to here that sells it under the table like. Most ppl around here would flip out if there actually was a market for it. But thats just my area.

Sue

[Rogo]

When I was growing up - here in the U.S. - my mom bought horse meat at the grocery store. I'm 71, so that was some time ago. Think the sale of it was stopped after WWII.

There are some in the U.S. who raise horses for their freezer and do their own butchering. After all, meat is meat. You won't hear much about it though.

If folks can no longer afford to keep their horses, turning them loose to die of starvation and dehydration is a cruel thing to do. They'd be better off if those folks fed their family.


=== But remember, horses are often given meds that aren't intended for animals for slaughter. ===


Meds are pumped into any meat you purchase at the grocery stores. Confinement raised critters are not healthy critters and need meds.

Those of us who feed DE don't pump meds. If they can't get sickness/diseases, no meds are needed. Haven't vaccinated or seen a vet for over 30 years. The same for the house pets - although we don't eat dogs in our culture.

I'm a big meat eater. If I was served horse, I'd eat it. I've eaten plenty of exotic meat. The meat I raise is swine and that brings some flack too. In every country, the Potbelly pig is a meal on the hoof. In the U.S., they're not considered livestock, but pets. I raise Potbellies for meat. Most meat breeders of PBPs keep quiet to avoid the flack. Not me - nor the meat breeder I got my breeding stock from. Raised like pigs instead of pets, the meat is delicious. Plus you can have PBPs in areas where you can't have hogs.

[KSALguy]

only reason Horse, Rabbit, Goat, PotBelly Pig and even GuineaPig are not found on the Common American Menue is because we have WAY TO MANY TREE HUGGERS and city goofballs that dont know any better than meat comes from plastic packages in the store and animals are cute fuzzy little things to be kept and petted and tide up with ribbons and bows lol,

[Rogo]

I've seen rabbit and goat in the grocery stores. Just depends what part of the country you're in. The best meat comes out of your backyard!

[greenboy]

Before when I was a boy if you didn't want a horse and you have to take care of it right away you may sell it for meat. Now that's impossible, so is very common to see horses abandoned in the middle of the field. Two years ago I called the SPCA to report an abandoned horse and they never showed. I think one of my neighbors got the horse and sold it... if you ask me. What a shame...

[tinknal]

For most of the last 500 years or so wars have raged back and forth across Europe. Of course war always left dead horses and hungry survivors behind. Only natural that they developed a taste for horsemeat.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by Rogo

I've seen rabbit and goat in the grocery stores. Just depends what part of the country you're in. The best meat comes out of your backyard!

Here too. We have rabbit, goat, yak, bison and elk available in our meat section of the local grocery store.

[6e]

Wouldn't it be like against some animal cruelty laws to go out and shoot your horse and butcher it up? I know here, although it is done, it's still considered animal cruelty to put down your own dog, even though it's probably quicker.

I'm not against using horse meat if they're put down humanely. In emergency situations or even not emergency, but I sure wouldn't blurt it to the world what you were processing. LOL Would be excellent for dogs on raw diets. I would just worry about the legal aspects of it.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

I can't imagine it being illegal to shoot any animal to put it down. When we need to put a horse down, if it's not an emergency, we take them to a local lion zoo where they are shot humanely and fed to the cats. Seems a lot better than putting them in a hole in the ground.

[Ed Norman]

In the 70s, a friend knew two old hermits who lived way back in the woods. They got to town every year for supplies, and bought an old horse. It packed their supplies in, then they butchered it for meat. Dual purpose breed, I guess.

[Rogo]

The 'tree huggers' have been bringing this country down for some time.

This country could be self sufficient in every way from energy, food, manufacturing, etc.

Until folks with cojones say 'no more' this country will continue to plummet.