Category: News and Views
I happened to hear on CNN yesterday that Congress is planning to lift a ban on horses being slaughtered for their meat. Naturally, there's been a lot of controversy surrounding the issue. As for me, this might sound odd coming from someone so against animal cruelty, but I'm actually all for this one, just because, well, we already eat pigs, cows, chickens, turkey, fish and game. Why would horses be any different? Because it's not something we customarily eat in North America? Why should that be the deciding factor?
See, I am against hunting for sport. Pointless violence has never been, and never will be, something I personally encourage, but every other carnivorous animal in the wild kills other animals for their food. Why not us? and why should we be restricted to only certain types of animals?
anyway, those are just my thoughts. What do others think?
Jessica, I agree with you completely! Just because culturally we don't usually eat horsemeat doesn't mean it should be outlawed.
Like you, I am against hunting for the sport of it; there is no need to kill the biggest deer just to say that you did. Use it for meat and for fur, absolutely! But a dead deer for the sake of one? No way!
I know that in China and other countries they have dog as a delicacy. Culturally that wouldn't fly in the western world because many people view dogs as almost human. But I don't see anything wrong with lifting the ban on horsemeat. The question is, why was this ban there in the first place?
Kate
Well said ladies. As an Icelander, I was raised on horse and whale meat as a kid (cheapest meat there was, and my family did not have a lot).
Whale meat is nothing special, quite yuckie really, horse meat, if tender and from foals, is almost as good as filet of beef, you wouldn't know the difference. Tougher meat from older animals is not as good, but quite edible.
I absolutely agree about the pointless hunting, game fishing and causing pain and killing without need and even without the due respect of using the animal for food and clothing.
I think it is a certain respect factor to kill for food and security, it's how life goes, and it feels just fine.
But the pointless hurting bothers me and I'd never go out and hunt something just to say that I did.
I can't say I have ever had whale meat, but I'm up for trying almost anything once :)
I've had both deer and moose meat before. Both are very tasty. I've never tried horse meat, but I certainly wouldn't be against trying such a meal.
I'd be willing to try horse meat.
Lol, you lot are more open minded than I thought.
I understand vegeterrians, that do not want to eat any animals, that's fine with me. And there are the more exotic choices that people may be uncomfortable with, like dogs, and that's understandable.
But, in general, I am entirely against the idea that eating one animal, such as a cow, is ok while eating another, like horse or whale, is something terrible and barbaric.
As long as said animal populations are not threatened and the hunting is done in an organized and modest manner, not to mention that hunting be done to feed people, not just for antlers on a wall, I can't understand how people can have issues with it.
I am in agreement with everyone here.
The problem other people might have is that there are many people who view horses as on the same level of the hierarchy as dogs, cats, and other household pets.
Really, I don't give a damn. And I have no clue why the ban was ever established, but in addition to making money from selling horse meat to other countries, I heard the ban will help with the overpopulation of horses, especially here in Michigan.
Wonder if the ban was in effect from pre-automobile days, when horses' main use was for transport. There was quite a fixation during the latter part of the 19th century with bans of all sorts.
I tend to agree, horses for food seems harmless enough.
Before you say you'll try camel, my brother who is in the marine corps has had to eat that, and says it's pretty bad. He told me nothing good comes from a camel.
As to hunting? I hear a lot of people say people shouldn't hunt for sport, usually more as a political thing. But the hunters I know do it for subsistance, no more no less.
Get an elk, a moose, a deer, and fill the freezer.
Too many viewings of old safari films for most people, I'm afraid. A hunting license, and a tag for most animals on top of it, is quite expensive. Frankly, it's an investment people make because they can, and they feel like they're either saving money or eating better food (no hormones, etc. and no outrageous prices for food with a sticker on it that starts with an o).
Since the best meat comes from an animal that hasn't struggled and suffered, I should think there's little motivation, after all expenses paid, for random killing or deliberate cause of suffering.
horses are very very expensive. so I'm wondering if the eating of horse meat was made more mainstream, will that drive the prices of horses down? Or, will horse meat be more expensive than say, cow meat?
probably something of a luxury food like ostrich or buffalo
Another point I forgot to mention is that honestly, I think we humans have done worse things to horses over the years. Whipping them, scaring them intentionally, ETC.
I would never eat a horse just like dog. I agree with everyone here.
As to never eating dog, well, if both of you were starving make no mistake about it: the dog would most definitely eat you, given half the chance. It is a flesh-eater first. And we, while more omnivorous like pigs, bears and monkeys, also eat flesh ... so my take is I would probably consume dog if it came down to it, as distasteful as a dog may seem for food. They don't eat sweet grass, clover and grain like vegan food animals do.
The issue is thatt these animals (horses and dogs) are not raised for slaughter in this country like pigs, kattle, and chickens.
This s true. I am sure that in India, for example, you do NOT eat cow or pig. Which meats are eaten is primarily dictated by culture - Jewish and Muslim cultures do not eat pork, Hindus don't eat cow, etc.
True. But we claim to be a nation open to other cultural beliefs and ways of life.
I agree and take the indian view of this. Animals were created to be useful, so if hourses are much available and you can eat them, use the hides for clotheing, shelter, and the complete animal for transport, as long as the animal is used properly and completely and not wasted I see no reason not to use it.
Same with dogs, fish, cats, chickens, or whatever. Think of all the uses we serve alive and dead. Lol
Hell I've had bear, buffalo, and aligator so why not horses?
wow, what did bear taste like? and as for horses, yes i agree, why not eat them if they are reared properly, and then slaughtered humainly. no problems here, and i work with horses regularly, indeed, i have said, if someone could give me a job for life working with horses, but first i had to see one born, put one out of it's misery at the end of its life, and then eat one to get the job, i would. i know, crazy ain't I.
Genuinely curious here: How do you control such a large animal without being able to see it? Like when it's about to kick?
I can certainly imagine providing them their food and shelter, and shoveling out the manure, but you probably do considerably more than that. The time I remember being on one, I was enough above the ground I could not use my normal senses to get a picture of my surroundings, like where the turn was likely to be, etc. I understand judging distance from up there you would figure that out and compensate.
When I rode one of my aunt's horses once, it came to a dead halt, so I figured something was the matter, jumped off, stayed on its left like they tell you, and went around front to see what was blocking its way. Nothing was, but I had no real indicator that it had just stopped for its own reasons, till my aunt came galloping around and said it had just been being stubborn. I must have been a teenager then, about fifteen or so.
I am genuinely curious, not being a butthead.
But I have often found it quite laborious to deduce what's going on with most lower life forms, except birds, since they communicate all of their needs audibly and even their flapping sounds indicate their vitality. Well, cats of course, will naturally purr when contented so there is another exception.
Anyway was just curious, not trying to be a pain in the ass. At least the horses I was around didn't seem to make much noise. You could, for example, feed one out of your hand. Give it a carrot or an apple or something. But it gave no indication ahead of time telling you it even wanted one. Not one I could tell without looking at it.
I love to ride. You control it with your voice, nees, hands. Horses are like big dogs. If trained right, and you spend time with it they become attached to you, and vice versa. Soon you can simply call it and it will come to you. I guess this is the reason some people have issue with eating them. They can be intelligent and helpful friends to have. There beautiful as well, but so are Deer and Elks, and some cattle.
Unfortunately, that's just part of the foodchain. I'm sure if humans lived in the wild, we'd be in danger of being eaten as well.
Yup, and bear tasted great. It was so tender it melted in your mouth.