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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Eating horses?

209 replies

5Foot5 · 29/10/2016 21:54

DH and I are watching QI on Dave and there has been a discussion about eating horse meat. We were both a bit surprised that it is still seen as slightly distasteful by many people.

I have knowingly eaten horse twice - once in France at a barbeque and once in a hotel in Iceland where we ate foal for a starter and it was sweet and succulent and lovely.

So AIBU for thinking we are a bit squeamish in this country and there is really nothing wrong with it and for asking would you/ have you?

OP posts:
nennyrainbow · 29/10/2016 23:04

I'm sure I probably have done, unknowingly, as have probably most people. I don't have an issue with it.

We keep chickens which are more like outdoor pets, in that they have names and personalities. We keep them on until they die naturally and then bury them in the garden. We eat bought chicken. So whilst I wouldn't eat my own pet, I can happily eat an animal of the same species.

I don't understand where the goody fucker comments come from: the OP is asking a genuine question.

Whatslovegottodo · 29/10/2016 23:04

None of them are for eating!

Eating horses?
Clandestino · 29/10/2016 23:04

Free range vegans are the only ethical choice.

Disagree. First extra virgin organic. The rest is second choice.

MrsTerryPratchett · 29/10/2016 23:07

extra virgin Come the zombie apocalypse we'd all better head to ComicCon or a Dungeons and Dragons convention.

Clandestino · 29/10/2016 23:07

I am sure I am not alone, or there would be much more of a horse meat industry in these islands.

As recent scandals have shown there is definitely one. Only people have problems acknowledging it openly.
I wouldn't have a problem eating horse meat if I knew it was tested and it's not full of antibiotics and other medication as long as it was edible.

Notverylucky · 29/10/2016 23:08

I've eaten it and I owned a horse at the time. Then again, there isn't really a meat that I wouldn't eat. If I was in a country where they ate dog (or cat or guineapig, etc) I would try it.
I'm more concerned with how the animal's treated during it's life and death. I think it's kinda hypocritical to eat beef, lamb, etc, but not horse.

I've eaten many types of meat such as crocodile, antelope, buffalo, venison, wild boar, hare, mallard, hogget, mutton, zebra, ostrich, etc. I haven't always known the ethical background of what I've eaten, but where I can, I will choose ethically sourced products.

user1477427207 · 29/10/2016 23:09

" As recent scandals have shown there is definitely one "

ewww yes gross, there was that. but that was clandestine. I personally know a Polish guy who worked for that slaughterhouse who was paid off to keep his mouth shut ....:)
I meant an out in the open industry.

Notverylucky · 29/10/2016 23:09

Posted too soon. Meant to add: YANBU

Original poster
5Foot5 · 29/10/2016 23:10

steppemum

Agree entirely. I am not vegetarian but think I could be (not because of ethical reasons but just because I love fruit and vegetables and often eat non-meat meals so if meat was off the menu I could happily find an alternative.) However, I do try to buy outdoor reared and free range.

I have never heard of battery reared horses.

OP posts:
Clandestino · 29/10/2016 23:11

None of them are for eating!

Some animals have been companions to humans for thousands of years as pets, such as dogs and cats.
Some, such as cows, sheep and pigs have been bred for millennia to provide food for humans.
Plus, herbivores taste usually better than the carnivores unless it's fish. So that's where the line is.

Clandestino · 29/10/2016 23:15

ewww yes gross, there was that. but that was clandestine. I personally know a Polish guy who worked for that slaughterhouse who was paid off to keep his mouth shut ...

I know well it was all illegal - but hey, people wanted to buy cheap burgers made from "exclusively selected best beef" so they got what they paid for. The problem was and still is that because this market is basically illegal, it is unregulated. Hence the fact that animals treated with substances which can harm those who eat their meat entered the food chain.

user1477427207 · 29/10/2016 23:16

yes I see your point....

FluffyFluffster · 29/10/2016 23:27

I probably wouldn't just because it's different and unknown to me. I'm not very good at trying new food. I'd struggle with goat as well.

In saying this, I have no problems with people eating meat from any animal so long as it was tortured first looking at you evil Chinese dog festival.

On the slightly off topic threat within the thread, I've seen people with very loving relationships with cows. The problem is that pet cows can get protective and aggressive so can be pretty dangerous so most farmers I know don't keep them. They also don't seem to know their own strength.

Clandestino · 29/10/2016 23:32

I probably wouldn't just because it's different and unknown to me. I'm not very good at trying new food. I'd struggle with goat as well.

It's delicious if the goat is very young.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/10/2016 23:34

There was an R4 program a while ago, an episode of Hardeep's Sunday Lunch, in which he visited a family of farmers in devon who were starting to develop a horsemeat business as a way to make keeping Dartmoor ponies viable. There is information here on the rationale for this - essentially, the alternative is to cull large numbers of foals in their first year (i suppose they end up in pet food).

I've never eaten horsemeat, DH has (tartare in Belgium). There's really no rational reason not to if you're not a vegetarian, its just a cultural norm. I've heard that some koreans who would be happy to eat dog are appalled that we have bunny on our menus.

QuestionableMouse · 29/10/2016 23:37

I wouldn't simply because the vast majority of horses in the UK aren't raised to enter the food chain (unlike cows, pigs and so on.)

Mynestisfullofempty · 29/10/2016 23:37

FluffyFluffster! Shock

Or was that a typo? Wink

steppemum · 29/10/2016 23:41

just as an aside, did you know that rabbit is so low in nutritional value that you would die if it was your only protein?

Very moving bit on the news last week about a farmer selling off his dairy herd. He knew each of them personally and they had names and some were years old. He had to sell them and was in tears.

limitedperiodonly · 29/10/2016 23:49

hey, people wanted to buy cheap burgers made from "exclusively selected best beef" so they got what they paid for.

It's not all right to pass things off as something else just because people aren't paying enough money or attention for your liking.

That's not only an arrogant way of thinking, but it's naive. How can you be sure that that suppliers and retailers are telling you the truth about the food you eat, instead of thinking that you're not paying enough money for them to be bothered with?

That's why we have trading standards in the UK. They are there to protect the people who buy from Greggs up to the people who order an organic unicorn every Christmas.

maninawomansworld01 · 29/10/2016 23:59

We have horses (to ride) at home but have eaten horse in France before.
I don't have a problem with people eating any animal so long as they are well looked while alive after and killed humanely when the time comes.

Personally I'd not eat dog - I know it's totally illogical but I love my dogs. That said I'd not criticise others for eating it though (unless they were supporting some of barbaric practices in China for example).

ChiefClerkDrumknott · 30/10/2016 00:14

Strikingclockgrislyshock

That's the speech I was thinking of, thanks for posting it Smile

OrangeFluff · 30/10/2016 00:32

Yes I've eaten horse steak whilst in Iceland, it was very nice. I also ate shark, but then I will try most things!

I had pigeon breast a few weeks ago- definitely a very strong flavour but I enjoyed it.

dybil · 30/10/2016 00:55

Yes, and enjoyed it.

Some of the precious replies on the first page are just cringe.

bluetongue · 30/10/2016 01:01

I ate horse sashimi (raw) in Japan. To be fair a friend had ordered it and I just had a try but I knew what it was at the time. Tasted pretty much the same as beef sashimi to me.

Would never knowingly eat cat or dog though.

aurynne · 30/10/2016 01:48

"I like horses and feel they have another purpose whereas the entire point of cows/pigs etc is food"

Yep, because being used as slaves for humans to ride sitting on them and hitting them with stirrups when we want them to speed up is so much more dignified than being used for food...