Horse meat, would you?

[LeroyvdH]

A line from Texas chainsaw massacre - Meats meat and man hasta eat

[El Carnicero]

The Provincial meat inspection regulation specifically says that provincially inspected slaughter plants cant slaughter horses. (small mom and pop slaughter houses, not Cargill or the like)

That being said, the upper government desk jockeys asked us why not, about 2 years ago and if there was a reason specifically that the Regs don't allow it.

No clear answer or reason was ever given, other than a different type of restraint system for horse slaughter than for cattle slaughter but otherwise no decent answer was found.
So the Ag minister at the time basically say "Go to the plant operators and ask them if that regulation was removed if they A- would have clientele to do horse slaughter and B- would they be willing to do it if it was an option.?"

It came down to the plant owners basically says, some would be willing if they had the clientele and some wouldn't even with the option.

Their main concern wasn't cost based, but was PR based. (which I totally get) Who wants to show up to work every day to find a picket line of meat haters trying to block you form making a pay cheque.?

My view? I've never had horse meat, but I would like to try it, and see nothing wrong with it at all. All animals should be tasted at least once in your life time. and if it walks on four legs, it must be good for dinner.

[HighlandHeart]

I would try it if someone offered it to me, but I'm not looking to cook it up. If I can eat a lobster, I can't look down on any food. At least if people are eating them, they aren't being wasted. Judging from the poll, Southern Alberta is the place to open a horse themed restaurant.

[ak-71]

Originally Posted by straight

I've eaten horse meat a lot and enjoyed it. Back home (in Kyrgyzstan) horse meat and dishes prepared from horse internals and fat are a very popular.
https://youtu.be/sJoh4cJYvqw

Sorry, all comments in russian

I ate something similar in Kazakhstan - the best sausage I've tasted.

[michaelmicallef]

Why not I'm not prejudice.

[fitzy17]

I had horse meat this summer in Verona, Italy

[cowmanbob]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

I had talked myself into trying it until I saw your post.

You're right of course. I can't imagine anyone who has been through what we have seen from the back of horse could consider eating one.

My brother is in a program to ship horses to Japan for food. It's taken me 10 years to just agree to pasture some horses here for him.

Thanks for the reality check Bob.

You are still invited down for late season elk, even if you consume horse meat on a regular basis, around here we'll feed you beef.

[urcayuse]

I think I'm going to lock the gates to the horse pasture

[bat119]

This thread reminds me of animal house

[IMG][/IMG]

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by cowmanbob

You are still invited down for late season elk, even if you consume horse meat on a regular basis, around here we'll feed you beef.

Thanks Bob for the invite and life lesson.

[graybeard]

I have eaten it several times and it is good as beef; grain/pasture fed. I wouldn't go looking for it but I won't turn my nose up at either.

It is very good.....no problems here....

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by HighlandHeart

I would try it if someone offered it to me, but I'm not looking to cook it up. If I can eat a lobster, I can't look down on any food. At least if people are eating them, they aren't being wasted. Judging from the poll, Southern Alberta is the place to open a horse themed restaurant.

There is that. People who would NEVER eat horse or dog, but will eat gigantic sea spiders (crabs) and mutant giant cockroaches (lobsters), knowing full well that they are bottom feeders that eat carrion and feces....but would never consider eating anything as unclean as a horse. I think eating a crow, vulture or magpie is probably the avian version of shell fish, but cleaner. I'll take the horse. But only after the beef is all gone.

[walking buffalo]

Yes, please open up a Wild Horse hunting season.

[sjemac]

I have horse steaks in my freezer now.

[grouse_hunter]

Originally Posted by El Carnicero

The Provincial meat inspection regulation specifically says that provincially inspected slaughter plants cant slaughter horses. (small mom and pop slaughter houses, not Cargill or the like)

That being said, the upper government desk jockeys asked us why not, about 2 years ago and if there was a reason specifically that the Regs don't allow it.

No clear answer or reason was ever given, other than a different type of restraint system for horse slaughter than for cattle slaughter but otherwise no decent answer was found.
So the Ag minister at the time basically say "Go to the plant operators and ask them if that regulation was removed if they A- would have clientele to do horse slaughter and B- would they be willing to do it if it was an option.?"

It came down to the plant owners basically says, some would be willing if they had the clientele and some wouldn't even with the option.

Their main concern wasn't cost based, but was PR based. (which I totally get) Who wants to show up to work every day to find a picket line of meat haters trying to block you form making a pay cheque.?

My view? I've never had horse meat, but I would like to try it, and see nothing wrong with it at all. All animals should be tasted at least once in your life time. and if it walks on four legs, it must be good for dinner.

Thank you for this excellent post!

[guywiththemule]

Excellent meat. Ate it in Mongolia on 2 different pack trips with the nomads.

[michaelmicallef]

With the price of beef and everything else going through the roof I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't helped themselves already to a ferrel one
By now.

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by michaelmicallef

With the price of beef and everything else going through the roof I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't helped themselves already to a ferrel one
By now.

Cheaper at the auction than feral. About 25 cents a lb.

[ak-71]

Originally Posted by michaelmicallef

With the price of beef and everything else going through the roof I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't helped themselves already to a ferrel one
By now.

That's one of these cultural things I don't quite understand - everybody is dreaming of shooting mythical feral pigs, but shooting a feral horse is a federal offense.
Oh, well, guess everybody has to have a forbidden or sacred creature.

PS. If it was legal, I would.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by El Carnicero

Their main concern wasn't cost based, but was PR based. (which I totally get) Who wants to show up to work every day to find a picket line of meat haters trying to block you form making a pay cheque.?

I still remember, in the early 90's CBC ran a story on horse slaughtering operations in Alberta (canned and shipped to France). IIRC they were butchering feral horses.

The news coverage employed the use of hidden cameras etc. I can still remember Sandie Rinaldo shaking her head in dismay... "Oh, those magnificent animals!" Wonder if any of those people had ever seen the inside of a packing plant before...

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Husty

Never had it but would not hesitate to try it. Seems like urban people(central ab) are more against eating horse that rural(south and north ab) people percentage wise.

I would think that if asked urban people would be more opposed. There was a time when most urban people had a connection to a farm and knew where meat came from. Now there are people who are many generations removed from the farm and really don't want to think about where meat comes from, and for them it is something that one buys shrink wrapped from a grocery store. Asking some urban people about horse meat or game meat draws their attention to the animal that was slaughtered.

For most of mankind's existence man killed or was involved with the kill in order to survive. Now there is a large part of our population not involved with the kill and do not want to think about it.

I am actually surprised that there are not more opposed to eating horse than this survey suggests.

[Kos]

Originally Posted by Taco

Paardenrookvlees on crusty bread. Mmmm

X2

[The Spank]

Why not? I’d give it a try.

[357xp]

Iam sure most of us have had horse meat by eating hot dogs or Puritan stew....

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by 357xp

Iam sure most of us have had horse meat by eating hot dogs or Puritan stew....

I heard that many times but I think it was just a story.

[^v^Tinda wolf^v^]

If I ever have to I’d eat bb356’s butt cheek so yes horse would do just fine 😁

[Jeremy403]

Originally Posted by cowmanbob

Not a chance in the world I would eat my favorite rope horse or any other horse for that matter. I've owned too many faithful horses to even consider it. Anyone who calls himself a horseman would agree.

Agreed

[^v^Tinda wolf^v^]

My dog looks kind of tasty looking

[happy honker]

I absolutely would. As well as dog...just not MY dog!

Only thing I'm a bit apprehensive about eating is bugs, but It's looking like soon the whole world will be eating them in some form before too long.

I'll have a 1/4 Horse pounder long before I'll have an order of flies and gravy.

I have had horse my neighbors from Poland have cooked a couple of times and there was nothing wrong with it. Then again, they are outstanding cooks.