Don't Eat Your Horse - He won't trust you any longer!

[Chuckwagon]

Don't Eat Your Horse
(He Won't Trust You Any Longer)

Did you know the French, Italians, Swiss, Japanese, and Quebecois in Canada are horsemeat aficionados? Most of the 65,000 horses slaughtered in this country each year are shipped to Europe, Japan and to the province of Quebec. The French developed their appetite for horsemeat during the Battle of Eylau in 1807, when the chief surgeon of Napoleon’s Army advised the starving troops to eat the flesh of dead battlefield horses. Using their breastplates as cooking pans, the soldiers used whatever spices they could get their hands on. Horses are immune to BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). Their flesh is lean, protein-rich, finely textured, bright red, and firm. However, tougher cuts must be cooked long enough to break down the collagen connective tissue, or marinated before cooking to ensure both flavor and tenderness.

The height of a horse is measured in “hands” abbreviated "hh," at the highest point of the animal's withers (top of the shoulder blades). One hand is 4 inches or, as defined in British law, 101.6 mm. Thus a horse described as 15.2 hh tall, means it is 15 hands, 2 inches, or 62 inches in height. A pony at maturity is 14.2 hh. An animal any taller is considered to be a “horse”.

In spite of the old adage that "a good horse is never a bad color," unusual colors and markings such as white on all four legs, are always preferred and in demand. A mare’s gestation period is approximately 335-340 days and usually only one male “colt” or female “filly” is born as twins are rare. Newborns are called foals while those aged between one and two years are referred to as yearlings. Fillys 4 years and over are called mares. Colts are stallions until a castrated male becomes a gelding.

Horses are herbivores, digesting grasses and other plant material. Unlike humans, they are able to digest cellulose although they cannot regurgitate - a digestive problem quickly spelling occassional trouble with colic - a leading cause of death. Most wranglers I know, soon become “mighty ‘ticular” about just what goes into their horses mouths. A 1000 pound horse will eat between 15 and 25 pounds of food per day and, under normal use, drink 10 to 12 gallons of water.

The English and Americans find it offensive to consume horsemeat, as horses are companions, not food, the way most of us think of dogs! Yet, the Chinese and Koreans eat dog meat and consider it a delicacy. Horsemeat is particularly popular in Montreal and butchers specializing in the stuff are busier than ever due to the BSE fears spreading rapidly. Horse butchers in Montreal, claiming it to be superior quality from a sanitary perspective, sell minced meat, steaks, sausages, and brochettes. Yup, one man’s protein is another man’s pet. I'm just not going to eat ol' Patch!

Best wishes, Chuckwagon

[the chorizo kid]

did the galloping gourmet ever deal with this topic?

[Richierich]

I would like to say it is a shame we can not get hold of horse over in my part of the world, love the stuff, raw, barbecued, or just grilled.

If anyone does know of anyone able to supply horse in North Oxfordshire (or around and abouts it) then please let me know.

[beardedwonder5]

readingrustlers.com ?????

[Chuckwagon]

Chorizo Kid wrote:

did the galloping gourmet ever deal with this topic?

OOOooooo!

[the chorizo kid]

CHUCKWAGON
I TAKE IT THAT'S A "NAAEIGH"

[Chuckwagon]

Chorizo....
How many "mare" of those do you have?

Chuckwagon

[saucisson]

When I first went to a French Hypermarché more than 30 years ago I couldn't work out why some of the steak was so much cheaper than some of the other. Then I got my phrase book out and realised what Entrecôte de Cheval meant

Pity really, as I'm more adventurous now than I was then.

Dave

[Chuckwagon]

So Dave,
How do you like your horse cooked?

[jenny_haddow]

It's good meat, I often cook it in France. I reckon it would make good pastrami.

Cheers

Jen

[the chorizo kid]

chuckwagon
i wouldn't presume to saddle the forum with any more of my corny horse jokes. i gotta admit, chuckwagon, i love your posts. always informative, and often very funny. you'd love my wine forum; not one joke in the last 1,473,678 posts. i bet you could shake them up if anyone could.

[saucisson]

So Dave,
How do you like your horse cooked?

No idea, I have yet to try it...

[Chuckwagon]

Jenny, Where do you buy it in France? Specialty shop? (would that be a meat "mare"chandizer? And how do you cook it?
PS. Are we still going dancing if I stay in line?
Best wishes, Chuckwagon

[vinner]

The PETA folks recently shut down the last horse packing plant in Texas. I guess the price of horse flesh, and the number of starving horses, are both about to increase.

[jenny_haddow]

Not easy to find recipes, so I treat it like beef. When I googled for recipes for horse I got a mountain of hits for recipes for horse treats!
I find most of the large supermarket chains in France carry it. I can buy it in my nearest (one horse!) town any time.
As to the dancing CW, you must be warned that I went to an all girls school. When it came to dancing lessons, because I was tall I had to be the boy, so I tend to lead. I might tread on your toes.





Jen