Don't Eat Steak in Miami
04. Aug, 2009 
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An article on NBC Miami.com suggests that a recent rash of horse killings in South Florida increases the chances of consumers buying and eating horse meat.
Particularly risky is meat purchased from roving meat vendors without licenses, such as those selling meat from refrigerated pickups or automobiles–not altogether uncommon in Miami.
In South Florida, 17 horses have been found slaughtered since the beginning of the year – and many more have been stolen – making it obvious that many in our international community don’t view the consumption of horse meat as taboo. It’s gotten so bad that horse owners and supporters gathered in Homestead this weekend in a community rally to discuss ways of putting a stop to the ongoing slaughter.
Horse meat is a delicacy in many parts of the world. In fact, horse meat has been a source of protein from the dawn of civilization. Eating horses was even common in the United States during the post-World War II years when beef and pork were scarce. Up to the late 1970s, the Harvard Faculty Club served horse steaks. In later years, the consumption of horse meat has become taboo because of the close relationship between humans and animals, bolstered by the spread of post-war cowboy culture. Americans have always viewed horses as similar to pets, friends, work tools and modes of transportation. We’ve love our horses, and would no more eat them than we would our cats and dogs.
But the debate over renewing the slaughter of horses for the purpose of human consumption is being renewed in this difficult economy, where the resources for feeding people and unwanted animals both are hard to come by.
Of course, everyone who reads this will be horrified by the prospect of slaughtering old Dobbin or Fleet Freddie for the table. I had a good laugh when I read the article above on MSN.com and found that the targeted advertisements showed juicy burgers and offered free recipes.
I am no more offended by the concept of horse slaughter for food than I am by the agribusiness model of feedlot production of cattle and pigs for human consumption. You may be shocked by this. But it’s a slippery slope. Where are you on that slope?
You won’t find me all up in arms over horse slaughter for the purpose of food because I believe that slaughtering a horse is no more barbarian than slaughtering a cow or pig or chicken or lamb. All are equal. Do I agree with horse slaughter in general? No. Where do you stand?
© 2009 enlightened horsemanship through touch and Kim Cox Carneal
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It makes me smile how things in daily life so often sync up with my regular blog reading.
Just yesterday I was at the chiropractor’s office (he’s Swiss) and his wife was telling me that in Switzerland horse meat is considered a fine meal, and that there are horse farms who breed horses for the meat market.
I doubt I’d ever eat it, and I don’t like the general idea of it, but the thought of a horse being raised humanely, fed and housed well, and then humanely slaughtered for food seems almost preferable to some of what I see at horse shows, where supposed equine athletes are crammed into trailers, forced into painful frames with bits, whips and spurs, and treated like “bad boys” when they don’t perform well.
Not to mention the 23 hours in stalls, invasive vet procedures to keep them “sound,” etc.
If we had to raise and slaughter our own meat, it would be interesting to see how many of us turned to vegetarian lifestyles.
Wow….what does it mean to say they “found” slaughtered horses? It is pretty horrifying to think that people’s horses are being stolen for consumption. And I’m not sure what the “found” thing implies – but it surely doesn’t sound professional, which makes it seem unlikely that these horses are being treated respectfully BEFORE they are slaughtered. I agree with you, Kim and Billie. I wouldn’t necessarily consume horse meat myself, but it would be hypocritical to protest it as being somehow more offensive than eating a cow or a pig. My biggest problem is just that I would hate to see a horse feedlot or grossly overfed horses for the purposes of human consumption. (For the record, I hate seeing ANY animal in that condition, I just have a more personal relationship with horses, so it stings a bit more)
Hi Michelle
I’ve only been following the slaughtered horse in FLA story loosely, but it’s still somewhat of a mystery from what I understand. Folks’ horses are going missing and then the turn up, well, you know.
I DOES sting more to think of a horse as a food product, simply because we love them so dearly.
I hope this goes out as something to think about for anyone who reads it that our lack of personal affection for individual cows, etc. does not make them any more deserving of the same fate.
billie
horse is considered a fine meal in may places. even those where it is considered a fine ride outside the restaurant. it’s all in how you raw the lines in your mind.
that brings me to your last point. the line is drawn for most of us by agribusinesss’ method of food production and supply. those nice shrink-wrapped steaks belie the process of feedlots and slaughter. mindful eating would probably eliminate animal products because it would consider what’s on the other side of the line.