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Re: [RC] Horse Slaughter - the International view. - Sharon LevasseurI would try Googling for Icelandic Horse Slaughter. But failing that, here is what the Icelandic Horse breeder wrote to me when I asked for more information: -------- oh, i love it when people actually are interested in things that they do not necessary agree with.... here on iceland, when the first settelers came, they brought their horses. cows, sheep and pigs came to, but in smaller numbers. the icelandic nature is harsh, with little food to offer, there are no big wild animals to hunt, only birds, no fruit, only berries and so on. fish was the only real natural food source already here in the beginning... because of this, combined with the very rough winter, all meat was far to valuble to just waste by burrying it. this included the horses. when a horse died or was injured (the landskape here causes quite a few broken bones) the horse would be salted and eaten. the same thing is visable in the way people here still use all the meat. like hearts, kidneys, the thick line of fat on the neck of the horse, tounge, stomach and so on. sheep head and balls are a delicassy.... the same thing goes for the skin of the horse. since there are no wild animals here with thick fur that can be used as blankets on the bed and so on, the horses skin was utilized... today this is more like a tradition. iceland was icolated for a long long time, and here horse meat is a natural thing. most people who breed horses breed both for riding horses and meat horses. i know one man who has 400 (!!!) horses in his herd, and sends about 150 foals to slaughter every year... foal meat is pretty much like veal. its softer and more smooth in the taste. the foal we owned and slaugtered this weekend was still drinking milk from her mom, and the meat was so soft my nails went through it when i held it to cut it. most people prefer foal meat, but horse meat is alot cheaper... the horse meat is darker than foal, and we mostly salt and/or smoke it. exept for the best steaks.... horse fat/meat is very healthy because the fat does not "get stuck" in our blood veins, in other words it does not create high colesterol!!! in taste it is somwhere between bull and game... as a result of this attitude towards slaughter and meat, the icelandic blood line is considered to be one of the best in the world (including all breeds) because all horses who are not "perfect" go to the slaughter. this includes kickers and rearers, conformation faults, weak gaits, and to some extent color (foals with good/special color are preferred over more "plain" ones if it is a choice between two foals...the blolines are also kept pure bu the total ban on all import of horses... i belive that the home slaughter here, is a good way for the horse to die. they do not need to be transported in a truck, no stress because of new and strange places and smells, and they basically have no idea of what is coming. but i also know that our slaughterhouses and transport regulations are much better than they are in the states. i recomen you to take a look at my thread "baby fever, all my iceys!!!" at the gaited horses board... it has pictures of our herd and more information that i have probarbly forgotten right now.... thank you for showing interest!!! it was a pleasure to inform you, and please ask more if you wonder about anything!!!!! ------------ Her screen name at the Horsecity.com bulletin boards is Skjotta, if you would like to learn more. -Sharon L. Quoting Mary Ann Spencer <maryann.spencer@xxxxxxxxxxx>: Where can this be found? Sort of frustrating for someone to say look it up but no further info for looking it up is given........................... ----- Original Message ----- From: Sharon Levasseur To: Mary Ann Spencer Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 6:07 AM Subject: Re: [RC] Horse Slaughter - the International view. Sorry, no. I heard about it from an acquaintance who is an Icelandic Horse breeder in Iceland. Very reliable source, but not published! -Sharon L. Quoting Mary Ann Spencer <maryann.spencer@xxxxxxxxxxx>: > do u have a website??? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Sharon Levasseur > To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 7:46 AM > Subject: [RC] Horse Slaughter - the International view. > > > I'm coming late to the party, sorry! I'll throw this out there for > anyone who would like to do a little reading on their own. > > Check into horse slaughter practices in Iceland! The way they handle > it over there is simply fascinating, and worth researching if you've > got the time. > > -Sharon L. in Maine > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. > Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp > Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp > > Ride Long and Ride Safe!! > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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