Killing Horses for Humans to Eat!

[cupman]

I watched a program on the travel channel and it featured horse meat. Up until that point the idea of horse meat disturbed me. They made it look good. I've heard that the Chinese think cheese is absolutely disgusting and scoff at the idea of it though I have never verified if that is true or not. Different strokes for different folks. I'd try horse meat with an open mind.

 

[KristyHall]

I watched a program on the travel channel and it featured horse meat. Up until that point the idea of horse meat disturbed me. They made it look good. I've heard that the Chinese think cheese is absolutely disgusting and scoff at the idea of it though I have never verified if that is true or not. Different strokes for different folks. I'd try horse meat with an open mind.

It is about normalizing a food. From what i understand, disgust is the only one of our base human emotions that is learned from other humans. It is part of survival, a way to pass on information from parent to child that instinct alone can not teach. I am trying to normalize fish. I grew up around polluted waters so we never ate fish, and we were too poor to buy it. Add to that I am allergic to shellfish and many aquatic creatures, so fish became guilty by association. Even seaweed and algi creeps me out. I have been forcing myself to try a little at a time while thinking of it as safe and normal, and I am slowly adjusting. I just can't pass up the benefits of some fish, seaweed, and agli because it was never normalized for me. I still can only eat a couple of bites before I feel sick, but at least now I can be in the same room while it cooks.

Same problem I have with the smell of cooking meat, and eating chicken I just killed. The smell still lingers in my brain, so when I slaughter I wear nose plugs, and when I cook meat I add seasoning right away to cover the smell. I think it's the smell of blood I dislike.

 

[cupman]

That's an interesting perspective. I am similar in that sense. I slaughtered one of my turkeys because he hurt himself and was just laying there unable to get around. I cooked him up and ate part of him as he came out of the oven but after that day the smell just repelled me from my turkey. I gave as much away as I could to friends and unfortunately ended up throwing a lot of him away. I was going to feed him to my chickens but it just seemed a little too strange.

 

[chickened]

In all reality are not "wild" horses in america an invasive species? When swine go feral they are ivasive but when horses went feral (about the 1600's) they are protected... seems there is a bias for horses.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I remember when I posted here last time... :-] I was so stupid.

There are so many over populated horses, we should be HAPPY. Its a way for them to die quickly, and [hopefully] painlessly, instead of starving to death.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

 The problem lies with the fact that because horses are pets here, it makes knowing what they were fed difficult come slaughter time and puts the health of consumers at risk.

I'm sorry, but the health of consumers is already at risk. How many people in this country cook on Teflon cookware everyday? Or eat foods loaded with artificial flavors and preservatives? Or eat veggies treated with pesticides? I mean, IMHO, its all relative. Our government (also IMO) doesn't care about the health of its consumers. Only that they buy the product from the store instead of growing or raising it them self. When I posted on here earlier about having tried horse meat and liking it, it was absolutely true. But it was another case of a very young horse that was dangerous and was deemed better fit for a skillet than as a pet, so never had a chance to be pumped full of crap. YES, I agree that most American horses are not fit to be food in any country. BUT, if you had to choose going without food or eating something that may or may not be safe to eat, what would you do? Unfortunately, there are MANY people facing that decision right now. Me, personally, I would eat. And yes, the smiley beating the dead horse is completely appropriate here. This thread is just going in circles.
Nikki

 

[cassie]

I'm sorry, but the health of consumers is already at risk. How many people in this country cook on Teflon cookware everyday? Or eat foods loaded with artificial flavors and preservatives? Or eat veggies treated with pesticides? I mean, IMHO, its all relative. Our government (also IMO) doesn't care about the health of its consumers. Only that they buy the product from the store instead of growing or raising it them self. When I posted on here earlier about having tried horse meat and liking it, it was absolutely true. But it was another case of a very young horse that was dangerous and was deemed better fit for a skillet than as a pet, so never had a chance to be pumped full of crap. YES, I agree that most American horses are not fit to be food in any country. BUT, if you had to choose going without food or eating something that may or may not be safe to eat, what would you do? Unfortunately, there are MANY people facing that decision right now. Me, personally, I would eat. And yes, the smiley beating the dead horse is completely appropriate here. This thread is just going in circles.
Nikki

Good grief!! What on earth do the people you know feed their horses? Mine, and all the horses with which I am personally acquainted, are fed hay, either alfalfa or grass hay or a combination, and grain. Some are on pasture. They are fed nothing that would make their flesh unfit for consumption by any species. Personally, I wouldn't want to eat a horse, but that is my personal prejudice.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Good grief!!  What on earth do the people you know feed their horses?  Mine, and all the horses with which I am personally acquainted, are fed hay, either alfalfa or grass hay or a combination, and grain.  Some are on pasture. They are fed nothing that would make their flesh unfit for consumption by any species.  Personally, I wouldn't want to eat a horse, but that is my personal prejudice.

I don't know what people give their horses, as I am not a horse person. Before reading this thread I assumed everyone else fed their horses the same as you. But, apparently, I'm very wrong there...
Nikki

 

[PeepsInc]

It reminds me of a western movie I saw once. The cowboy was talking about how he nearly starve & froze to death. He ate a horse to survive.The person he's telling the story to was shocked to hear he could eat his horse. The cowboy telling the story responded with, NO! It wasn't my horse! .....Then it was ok.........................NOT Eating horse is something that's just part of our culture. Most people that have horses know they can be loyal animals. They say when a soldier died in battle a war hardened horse would stand over his rider. Never leaving his side. I guess it's just another case of, you get out of an animal what ever your willing to put into them.

 

[KristyHall]

Good grief!! What on earth do the people you know feed their horses? Mine, and all the horses with which I am personally acquainted, are fed hay, either alfalfa or grass hay or a combination, and grain. Some are on pasture. They are fed nothing that would make their flesh unfit for consumption by any species. Personally, I wouldn't want to eat a horse, but that is my personal prejudice.

A lot of horses that end up at auction include horses from failed competition or racing industries, old breeding stock, and other animals that are raised in an industry that usually requires specialized feed stocked with vitamins, antibiotics, and supplements that are not approved for animals meant for human consumption.