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I recently had the opportunity to travel in Iceland where they eat almost anything that moves out of necessity. While politically sensitive to whaling pressures (most Icelanders justify the whale they're eating by saying it was caught in a net) there is absolutely no problem at all with eating horse meat. it struck me how culturally embedded this whole discussion is.

But, I think the discussion is being mischaracterized by appealing to euthanasia, old horses, and so forth. I really believe we should look for humane ways to help these animals out of misery much as we would any pet.

But make no mistake about it, when it comes to consumption of horse, based on my read of the menu in Iceland, it's not a grizzled old arthritic mare on the menu. It's young foal being cooked up and served on a plate for all of its youthful, fleshy tenderness.

If Americans realized that allowing horse consumption would lead to raising young horses for slaughter like veal, would we be okay with it?

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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