Horse meat forms a significant part of the culinary traditions of many countries, particularly in Eurasia. The eight countries that consume the most horse meat consume about 4.3million horses a year. For the majority of humanity's early existence, wild horses were hunted as a source of protein.[1][2]
As horses are relatively poor converters of grass and grain to meat compared to cattle,[10] in the western countries they are not usually bred or raised specifically for their meat. Instead, horses are slaughtered when their monetary value as riding or work animals is low, but their owners can still make money selling them for horse meat, for example in the routine export of the southern English ponies from the New Forest, Exmoor, and Dartmoor.[26][27]British law requires the use of "equine passports" even for semiferal horses to enable traceability (also known as "provenance"), so most slaughtering is done in the UK before the meat is exported,[27] meaning that the animals travel as carcasses rather than live. Ex-racehorses, riding horses, and other horses sold at auction may also enter the food chain; sometimes, these animals have been stolen or purchased under false pretenses.[28] Even prestigious horses may end up in the slaughterhouse; the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner and 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year winner, Ferdinand, is believed to have been slaughtered in Japan, probably for pet food.[29]
A misconception exists that horses are commonly slaughtered for pet food. In many countries, such as the United States, horse meat was outlawed for use in pet food in the 1970s. American horse meat is considered a delicacy in Europe and Japan, and its cost is in line with veal,[30] so it would be prohibitively expensive in many countries for pet food.[31]
Meat from horses that veterinarians have put down with a lethal injection is not suitable for human consumption, as the toxin remains in the meat; the carcasses of such animals are sometimes cremated (most other means of disposal are problematic, due to the toxin). Remains of euthanized animals can be rendered, which maintains the value of the skin, bones, fats, etc., for such purposes as fish food. This is commonly done for lab specimens (e.g., pigs) euthanized by injection. The amount of drug (e.g. a barbiturate) is insignificant after rendering.
Carcasses of horses treated with some drugs are considered edible in some jurisdictions. For example, according to Canadian regulation, hyaluron, used in treatment of particular disorders in horses, in HY-50 preparation, should not be administered to animals to be slaughtered for horse meat.[32] In Europe, however, the same preparation is not considered to have any such effect, and edibility of the horse meat is not affected.[33]
Sfilacci di cavallo: tiny frayings of horse meat, dried and seasoned; to be consumed raw, can be a light and quick snack, more popular as a topping on other dishes: ex. pasta, risotto, pizza, salads, etc.
Cavało in Úmido (traditional horse meat stew from Padua) with grilled polenta
Straéca: a thin soft horse steak, cut from the diaphragm, variously cooked and dressed on the grill, pan or hot-plate
Bistecca di puledro: colt steak, whose preparation is similar to straéca
Spezzatino di cavallo: also said cavało in úmido, small chunks of horse meat, stewed with onion, parsley and/or other herbs and flavours, potatoes, broth, wine, etc., usually consumed with , much appreciated also is a similar stew made of donkey meat, served in traditional trattorie, with many variations for different villages: spessadín de musso, musso in úmido, musso in tocio, musso in pocio
polenta
Prosciutto di cavallo: horse , served in very thin slices
ham
Salame di cavallo or salsiccia di cavallo: various kinds of , variously produced or seasoned, sometimes made of pure equine meat, sometimes mixed with others (beef or pork)
salami
al sugo di cavallo: a typical form of fresh pasta, similar to thick rough spaghetti, dressed with sauce like Bolognese sauce, but made with minced horse meat
Bigoli
Pezzetti di cavallo al sugo: horse stew, seasoned with sauce, vegetables and various peperoncino, widely used in the
Chunks (pezzetti) of horse stew (spezzatino di cavallo)
Salento
List of meat animals
Mare milk
Whale meat
Shark fin soup
Dog meat
Snake meat
Frog meat
Monkey meat
Cricket flour
Horses in Slovenia
Equine ethics
. International Generic Horse Association. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2007. (quoting a 1997 USDA report said to be no longer available online)
"U.S.D.A. Promotes Horse & Goat Meat"
a web site made by the French Horse Meat Industry structure, called Interbev Equins (French)
