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Post by solliy on Nov 15, 2013 17:19:23 GMT
I seen it one the front of one of the news papers I think she put it very well about how horse meat needs to be debated.
What do other people think ?
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Post by haltnotsquare on Nov 15, 2013 17:59:22 GMT
She makes some valid points though I for one have no wish or desire to eat horse meat, I am one of those who would not be able to eat an animal that to me is a companion, similarly I wouldn't eat cat or dog which is we all know are delicacies in other countries.
As for it reducing welfare cases - I am not sold on that working, if pople cannot afford to look after them properly as pets I don't see where they would find the money to care for them to be fit for the food chain.
Like any farming if it is done right and the welfare of the animal is paramount then I don't see why it shouldn't be considered. Though I don't know that there would be a big enough uptake??
I have read in the past about a small zoo holder who buys cheap market ponies to them have them slaughtered and he feeds his big cats with the meat as apparently it is a very healthy, lean meat.
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Post by Lavender on Nov 15, 2013 23:15:30 GMT
I certainly am for it, lets face it, ponies from this country are getting into the human food chain, one way or another! If it was better regulated, then surely welfare for these ponies/horses will rise and hopefully a better penny fetched for them!! Now down in Wales, there is a glut of ponies being bred and the welfare of ponies, turned out on the hills, is at crisis points, with welfare centers full! I know people are overbreeding and that is a problem, but that ain't going to change over night and not all breeders are responsible in doing the 'right thing', when it comes to weak/unsound (in wind/limb/temperament!) ponies they have bred! Perhaps, if there was an outlet for such ponies, it would stop the poor creatures being past from sale to sale, or even worse 'rescued' by some Numpty trying to save it from the meat man, far better for the ponies long term future, if it ends up on someone's dinner plate  HNS, I think if it was labeled correctly as horse meat, then people will buy it, lots of people I have spoken to said they would, as they have been already! I think the thing about the scandal was, people were lied too! |
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Post by minstrel on Nov 16, 2013 11:07:00 GMT
I certainly am for it, lets face it, ponies from this country are getting into the human food chain, one way or another! If it was better regulated, then surely welfare for these ponies/horses will rise and hopefully a better penny fetched for them!! Now down in Wales, there is a glut of ponies being bred and the welfare of ponies, turned out on the hills, is at crisis points, with welfare centers full! I know people are overbreeding and that is a problem, but that ain't going to change over night and not all breeders are responsible in doing the 'right thing', when it comes to weak/unsound (in wind/limb/temperament!) ponies they have bred! Perhaps, if there was an outlet for such ponies, it would stop the poor creatures being past from sale to sale, or even worse 'rescued' by some Numpty trying to save it from the meat man, far better for the ponies long term future, if it ends up on someone's dinner plate HNS, I think if it was labeled correctly as horse meat, then people will buy it, lots of people I have spoken to said they would, as they have been already! I think the thing about the scandal was, people were lied too! Couldn't have put it better myself!!! The scandal was that people who didn't want to eat horsemeat may have done so accidentally. I have no desire to eat horses as to me they are classed as a pet but if there is a market for it - which I am sure there would be - then it would be better to eat them then for them to end up a welfare case further down the road... |
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Post by gilliancaldwell on Nov 18, 2013 7:38:59 GMT
Not for me,i'll stick to my chicken,pig and coo thanks.
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Post by Kath the Magic Dragon on Nov 18, 2013 9:43:19 GMT
I never see the news so don't know what she said, but i agree that the main thing about the 'horse meat scandal' was the misleading packaging not the fact it was horse.
I personally wouldn't choose to eat it but if others want to, why not - i eat things that Muslims wouldn't, its just a different culture
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Post by puddledub on Nov 18, 2013 12:31:19 GMT
I never see the news so don't know what she said, but i agree that the main thing about the 'horse meat scandal' was the misleading packaging not the fact it was horse. I personally wouldn't choose to eat it but if others want to, why not - i eat things that Muslims wouldn't, its just a different culture I caught a quick clip of her speech and she didn't say " we should all eat or horses" she said that perhaps it could be considered, and would it help welfare, and ended by saying "..... just throwing that into the mix, for discussion" It has certainly find that, but feel that she had been vilified by some quarters because of being misquoted. Nobody would suggest that we should all eat horse, out that we should offer our pets into the food chain, but if there were some will choose to eat it, out even feed it to their food in manufacturered dog foods, then some of the horses/ponies that are current welfare cases would have a " way out" of their suffering without overloading the current welfare centres even further. |
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ZoeW
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Post by ZoeW on Nov 18, 2013 12:58:23 GMT
I dont agree with her, I think a move to one governing body controlling all equine documentation and issuing of passports is needed along with new laws about breeding of any non-livestock classified animals. If people want to breed animals of any kind they should have to apply for a costly yearly license, attend strict courses run by veterinary practices / universities, have to pass examinations before they are even issued a license. Sounds drastic, but its a more pratical long term solution to what is now a huge problem. Its about time laws were tightly reined in from the "production" side of animals, encouraging horse slaughter to help with welfare is the easy way out IMO.
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Post by Lavender on Nov 18, 2013 18:04:02 GMT
I dont agree with her, I think a move to one governing body controlling all equine documentation and issuing of passports is needed along with new laws about breeding of any non-livestock classified animals. If people want to breed animals of any kind they should have to apply for a costly yearly license, attend strict courses run by veterinary practices / universities, have to pass examinations before they are even issued a license. Sounds drastic, but its a more pratical long term solution to what is now a huge problem. Its about time laws were tightly reined in from the "production" side of animals, encouraging horse slaughter to help with welfare is the easy way out IMO. Sorry, but how would that help the unsound/unsuitable horses? We all know you can put the best two animals together, but still get a horse with conformation, that won't stay sound to do a job, or one with a bad temperament! At least these poor creatures wouldn't get passed from pillar to post!! |
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ZoeW
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Post by ZoeW on Nov 18, 2013 22:00:26 GMT
Not sure I agree with you there Lav, I'm not saying ban all UK horse slaughter, I'm saying breeding of non-livestock animals is totally out of hand and its about time the government stepped in and did something, suggesting that we add horse meat to our table is not a solution to the problem. The problem is the huge studs that breed 100 mares in a season in the hope of getting the one champion, people breeding because they love their old mare etc etc. If we had a stricter approach to breeding there would be far less welfare cases etc. There is another story of 45 horses being put to sleep in Wales on Horse & Hound, these used to be once a year and you were horrified, now it is every week, bottom line is breeding has gotten out of hand and IMO adding horse to the menu is not going to be a control to it.
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Post by Lavender on Nov 18, 2013 23:03:44 GMT
Not sure I agree with you there Lav, I'm not saying ban all UK horse slaughter, I'm saying breeding of non-livestock animals is totally out of hand and its about time the government stepped in and did something, suggesting that we add horse meat to our table is not a solution to the problem. The problem is the huge studs that breed 100 mares in a season in the hope of getting the one champion, people breeding because they love their old mare etc etc. If we had a stricter approach to breeding there would be far less welfare cases etc. There is another story of 45 horses being put to sleep in Wales on Horse & Hound, these used to be once a year and you were horrified, now it is every week, bottom line is breeding has gotten out of hand and IMO adding horse to the menu is not going to be a control to it. Totally agree with you, but people will never stop, regardless of how you regulate it, they will get round it! The WPCS has put up it's fees for licensing stallions, in a hope that will put people off licensing colts! And don't anyone dare mention 'grading' stallions, you should see our C stallion, we don't allow anyone to see him, but what a stockgetter he is |
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Post by sparkler on Nov 19, 2013 11:10:08 GMT
At last someone well known has spoken up for the horse! I wouldn't eat horse - and as for it being in the food chain - it already is, ask your local butcher!!! you may just get a surprise. I am sick of seeing old , crippled, poorly conformed, unwanted horses being passed around/on as " companions" because people are too pathetic to give their loyal servant the end he/she deserves - and this is HRHs main comment not " lets all eat our horses". Farming horses - they would be looked after as they then be a saleable commodity like cattle, sheep, pigs, goats etc. This is a highly emotive subject and too often we put our own emotions first ( I am generalising here) and not the needs of the horse, this needs to stop, we need to get real and take responsibility for the welfare and future of these wonderful animals that bring so much joy into our lives. Also - what the hell do people think the knackerman does with carcases?? sends them to heaven on a white fluffy cloud??? I am glad HRH spoke up in defence of the horse.  if every single owner cared enough to take their responsibilities seriously we would not have the depleted market and biggest equine welfare crisis this country has ever seen  twice this week I have had this discussion and its absolutely devestating that as a nation of horse lovers we are seeing this situation deteroriate instead of improving. |
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Post by Kath the Magic Dragon on Nov 19, 2013 11:14:44 GMT
I have an awful image of horses being fattened to the point of laminitis and pumped full of steroids on horse farms  |
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Post by Lavender on Nov 19, 2013 11:21:47 GMT
I have an awful image of horses being fattened to the point of laminitis and pumped full of steroids on horse farms Wouldn't really happen, my boss remembers when there was a proper meat trade and they actually favoured TB's, as its a leaner meat |
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Post by Equus on Nov 21, 2013 10:37:43 GMT
Seemingly horses have to be raised well for their meat to be good, not fattened up quickly etc. it's a slow-maturing meat.
I personally wouldn't eat it and would never put my horses into the food-chain, however, I've nothing against other people eating horse-meat if they choose to. And I'd rather it was an informed choice as to whether you eat it or not, not just sneaked into products.
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if every single owner cared enough to take their responsibilities seriously we would not have the depleted market and biggest equine welfare crisis this country has ever seen 
