Why does the idea of eating horse meat bother people so much?!

[Sikeliot]

To me the idea of eating horse is no different than eating beef or pork. I don't understand. I understand the "Aww but horsies are cute!!```~*~*~*!!!" comments you'll get from some, but otherwise how is it any different than any other animal we eat for meat?

Why is horse meat not even legal in the US?

[Rudel]

Horse meat is fine, and I love it. It mostly developed in Europe during the XIXth c., and remained popular until recently in France.
Just one of these cultural things...

[Tooting Carmen]

Good point. Perhaps humans feel closer to horses than to cows and pigs - we ride on them after all.

[Rudel]

Good point. Perhaps humans feel closer to horses than to cows and pigs - we ride on them after all.
http://a.gifb.in/122009/1260795401_pig-rider.gif

[TCDA1986]

It's no different, just culturally some countries' aren't used to it and have a view of horses as "cute", really it's ridiculous that they would be shocked by the idea because it is a delicacy.

[Snchpnz]

Yeah, I don't get it either. They are just another farm animal. I personally have no interest in trying horse meat but if someone else wants to eat it I don't see why they shouldn't. People eat much cuter/weird animals like rabbits and ducks and no one bats an eye.

[Not a Cop]

It's a cultural thing, for example in Russia horse meat is a Tatar thing, Russians don't eat it much.

And no, horse is not another farm animal, it's much more usefull in household than pigs for example.

Also it may come from ancient IE culture since Proto-IE lived in steppe, and horse is everything for a steppe man.

[1stLightHorse]

To me the idea of eating horse is no different than eating beef or pork. I don't understand. I understand the "Aww but horsies are cute!!```~*~*~*!!!" comments you'll get from some, but otherwise how is it any different than any other animal we eat for meat?

Why is horse meat not even legal in the US?

You're right, it's stupid. They don't mind brutalising chickens or cows, but H0rsiez R cut3.

Horse meat is apparently some high quality protein.

[Newport]

I've had horse, it was good but pretty salty. Goes right alongside Kangaroo on my 'sources of protein to aggravate others' :D

[Ultra]

Dunno, I just don't like horses. I like pigs and cows and chickens though, so for some reason I enjoy eating them too. Hmm, that's strange, usually it's the opposite.

[Han Cholo]

You're right, it's stupid. They don't mind brutalising chickens or cows, but H0rsiez R cut3.

Horse meat is apparently some high quality protein.

I wonder how do they get most of their protein. They eat mostly grass. I guess they can assimilate some sort of protein found in chlorophil

[Hjalt]

It's a regional thing of course. In Sweden they hunt wild moose (elk) and eat it, but I'm sure that's off-putting to others.

[Äijä]

Just ate horse last time I was in a restaurant.

[Sikeliot]

Just ate horse last time I was in a restaurant.

What did it taste like?

[random]

Horses look more healthy than cows& pigs.

[Äijä]

What did it taste like?

One of the best meat I have had, it was actually a Spanish restaurant in Finland.

[Rudel]

What did it taste like?
Should taste like blood and iron.

[Hithaeglir]

Horses are seen as companion animals the most,rather than productive animals such as cows,sheep,goats etc.
Would you eat dog or cat meat?

[Chrissi]

I like to eat at a mongolian restaurant. They have almost anything shark,kangoroo,horse I dont care as long as it tastes good

[ASSYRIAN_Libra]

I heard Burger King burgers are made with horse meat.

[StonyArabia]

The horse is noble animal, and it's truly one of man's best friends that's the main reason. Also the Horse is useful for travel, war, and friendship that's probably the main reason why.

[Taiguaitiaoghyrmmumin]

Horses are seen as companion animals the most,rather than productive animals such as cows,sheep,goats etc.
Would you eat dog or cat meat?

maybe a cat but not dogs. Thats because I have a dog though :p

[Rudel]

Horses are seen as companion animals the most,rather than productive animals such as cows,sheep,goats etc.
You've never had draft horses in Greece ? They're not really meant to be ridden, but to work and to be eaten (like oxen, really).
If it wasn't for the meat industry, most of these heavy breeds would have actually completely disappeared because of mechanisation.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Ardennes_horse.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Percheron1.jpg

[Smaug]

I have nothing against it, after all they are mammals like other animals we eat, but horses wouldn't be my first choice as food, for two simple reasons. The first is that we've got plenty of animals we can feed from, so I don't think it's necessary eating horse meat, that are animals more indicated to mounted activities. The second reason is the human-horse bound, which is similar to the human-dog bound. Horses are friends, not food.

[Petry]

The same reason the idea of eating dogs and cats bothers people.

[Rudel]

I have nothing against it, after all they are mammals like other animals we eat, but horses wouldn't be my first choice as food, for two simple reasons. The first is that we've got plenty of animals we can feed from, so I don't think it's necessary eating horse meat, that are animals more indicated to mounted activities. The second reason is the human-horse bound, which is similar to the human-dog bound. Horses are friends, not food.

As I've written above, horses aren't necessarily indicated to be mounted.

And you can buddy up to other animals as well. After all, does the welsh-sheep bound prevent you from eating lamb ?

[Petry]

I'm also against eating pig.

http://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-pigs/

[Smaug]

As I've written above, horses aren't necessarily indicated to be mounted.

And you can buddy up to other animals as well. After all, does the welsh-sheep bound prevent you from eating lamb ?

Of course it does! I don't eat lamb! Sheep are lovers, not food.

[Hithaeglir]

You've never had draft horses in Greece ? They're not really meant to be ridden, but to work and to be eaten (like oxen, really).
If it wasn't for the meat industry, most of these heavy races who have actually completely disappeared because of mechanisation.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Ardennes_horse.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Percheron1.jpg

I doubt draft horses are used anymore (because of the mechanisation you already mentioned).So most horses are bred for riding.
In general it's not common to eat horse meat here.It's not in our culture i guess.

[Smaug]

I'm also against eating pig.

http://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-pigs/

I didn't know you were kasher.

[Kazimiera]

When I was small there was a butcher in town who specialised in dog food. He got different meats from the slaughterhouses, minced all the offcuts down and then sold the meat to dog lovers like my grandmother. She'd go to the butchery once a week and buy horse meat (from whatever poor old nag on the way to the glue factory) and then cook it at home. She'd boil and fry it for the dogs. I used to flee the house when she cooked it because of the smell. I couldn't stand the smell of the meat. I've always associated horse meat with dog food. :puke:

Sometimes the butcher had seal meat and she'd buy that and cook it too. Nothing in the world worse than the smell of boiled horse and seal.

[Petry]

I didn't know you were kasher.

I don't like it because they are VERY intelligent, more than dogs actually.

[Dictator]

I'm also against eating pig.

http://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-pigs/

Peta is a bunch of batshit crazies.

[Petry]

Peta is a bunch of batshit crazies.

Yeah but they are right on this.

[Rudel]

Yeah but they are right on this.
How are they right ?

What, we should eat things because they have feelings, lives of their owns, because killing is nasty ? Bullshit. There's a boundary between our species and others, learn to make the difference. The only valid taboo is eating within your own species, cannibalism. And that's still a level of ethics beyond what most animals are capable of.
Pigs wouldn't have any issues eating you.

[Empecinado]

I think eat it is somewhat taboo because the horse until recently had a important role as means of transport, cargo and warfare, so it was considered a waste to use it as food. Also was considered a typical meal of famine times.

[Petry]

How are they right ?

What, we should eat things because they have feelings, lives of their owns, because killing is nasty ? Bullshit. There's a boundary between our species and others, learn to make the difference. The only valid taboo is eating within your own species, cannibalism. And that's still a level of ethics beyond what most animals are capable of.
Pigs wouldn't have any issues eating you.

I'm saying their arguments are veridical.

[Pjeter Pan]

It's a regional thing of course. In Sweden they hunt wild moose (elk) and eat it, but I'm sure that's off-putting to others.

Not really that sounds deliosius, I ate porcupine, eel, frog legs back in albania and when I tell people it freaks then out lol

[Raikaswinþs]

Because Penelope Cruz has a horsey face. People dont want to eat P.Cruz. Though some may want to pwn hr

[Peikko]

It's becoming more and more popular for barbeques and in restaurants. I enjoy horse meet, it has it's own taste different from beef.

[Dombra]

It feels a bit like betrayal when eating a horse

Not that I wouldn´t eat...

[Rudel]

It feels a bit like betrayal when eating a horse

Not that I wouldn´t eat...

« - You've betrayed me ! :cry2
- Yes, but you're so good ! :embarrassed »

[Äijä]

The horse is noble animal, and it's truly one of man's best friends that's the main reason. Also the Horse is useful for travel, war, and friendship that's probably the main reason why.

My family has always kept horses but it is still ok to eat it.

[Maleficent]

I've never eaten horse meat, nor have I ever had the chance. And I don't think I ever would, not so much because of the cute factor, but because of the human/animal friendship factor; the same reason I won't ever eat cats, dogs, or rabbits. I'll stick with pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and seafood.