Consumption of horse meat is an accepted and even appreciated practice in some countries, while in others it is refused, considered taboo or even prohibited by law. In the USA or UK it is forbidden to eat equine meat for the emotional and symbolic role of the horse, considered a pet, a taboo strengthened by ancient Christian prohibitions. In other states, such as Italy, France or Japan, it is part of the culinary tradition and appreciated for values associated with force and health. Perception varies with the cultural memory of every society. This diversity reflects deeply rooted cultural, religious and symbolic systems.
A cultural construction: the horse as “non-food”
In many Western countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland and Australia, it is considered unacceptable to feed on horse meat. This perception is based on a very specific cultural classification: the horse does not fall among the animals intended for food consumption, but is associated with other symbolic and emotional roles. It is present in the collective imagination as a friend of man, protagonist of stories, historical battles or recreational activities.
Therefore, in the symbolic system of these companies, the horse occupies an ambiguous position: it is not a pet as the dog or the cat, nor an income animal such as pig or cow. This ambiguity, as the anthropologist Mary Douglas pointed out, generates “exclusion”: what does not have a clear location in the cultural order is often perceived as “impure” or “not appropriate” to consumption, even if there is no explicit ban.
The religious roots of the taboo on horse meat
Monotheistic religions have contributed significantly to defining what can and what cannot be eaten. In the case of horse meat, Christianity played a decisive role in the spread of taboo in Europe: in 732, Pope Gregory III issued an explicit prohibition against the consumption of equine meat, with the aim of interrupting the pagan religious practices that provided for horses sacrifices, in particular among the Germanic populations. This prohibition therefore had a value not only food, but identity: it served to mark the separation between the new Christians and the ancient beliefs. Although over time this prohibition came, the cultural echo of the prohibition remained. In many areas of Europe, the consumption of horse meat no longer recovered, consolidating itself as a socially unacceptable practice.
In the Islamic field, however, horse meat is not prohibited from a religious point of view, but is often avoided for cultural reasons. In many Muslim companies, in fact, the horse is seen as a noble animal, by war and transport, and therefore not intended for nutrition.
The symbolic value of the horse in history
Throughout history, the horse represented much more than an economic resource. It was in fact a symbol of strength, speed, nobility and freedom. It was the animal of the warrior, the king, of the farmer who plows the earth. It was an integral part of daily life, but also of mythical and religious narratives. In many pre -industrial societies, the horse was a precious asset, difficult to breed, expensive to maintain too useful to be slaughtered.
His social and symbolic centrality made it a “charismatic animal”, difficult to reduce to the raw materials. In some European rural contexts, for example, killing a horse to eat it was considered a morally reprehensible act, similar to a betrayal.
Legislations and public opinion: between law and sensitivity
Today, in different western countries, it is not only culture that discourages the consumption of equine meat, but also the law. In the United States, for example, the slaughter of horses for food purposes is prohibited in many states, and in others it is strongly regulated. This derives largely from the pressure of animalistic movements and from public campaigns that have strengthened the identification of the horse as a “emotional animal”.
In addition, sensitivity to animal welfare has assumed an growing role in defining what is ethically acceptable in the food field. If the horse is perceived as a sentient being, with which an emotional bond can be established, his killing appears unjustified. This process of “humanization” of animals has contributed to strengthening the cultural refusal of equine meat in many contemporary societies.
Where do you still eat horse meat?
In the face of these prohibitions or reticence, however there are numerous contexts in which horse meat is consumed regularly. In France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, for example, it is considered a traditional food, often associated with positive cultural values such as physical strength, health or hospitality.
In fact, in Italy, although with strong regional differences, the consumption of horse meat is still widespread in some areas of the North and South, including Veneto, Puglia or Sicily, where it is prepared in traditional recipes such as the Pastisada Veronese, Equina meat at the Bari or the Catania meatballs. In these cases, the horse is seen as a food resource like other breeding animals, and its consumption does not involve moral or emotional implications.
