In numerous cultures around the world, horse meat is considered a culinary staple, enjoyed similarly to beef, pork, and lamb. Various national dishes highlight horse meat as a key ingredient, such as Japan's basashi (raw horse meat), Italy's polpette di cavallo, Kazakhstan's manti, Uzbekistan's kazy sausage, and Canada’s horse tartar.
Conversely, certain countries, including the UK, USA, Greece, and Australia, have cultural taboos against consuming horse meat. In these regions, horses are viewed more as companions than livestock, making the idea of slaughtering and eating them morally objectionable.
Despite ongoing debates regarding its consumption, the reality remains unchanged: as long as there is a market demand for horse meat globally, slaughterhouses will continue to operate, resulting in the slaughter of horses.
In 2023, major exporters of horse meat included Belgium, Poland, Uruguay, Spain, and Argentina. Notably, Canada contributes nearly 4% of the global horse meat exports, primarily shipping to Japan.
Canada: The Leading Exporter of Horse Meat
Canada stands as the largest exporter of horse meat in the world. Specific breeds, such as Clydesdales and Percherons, are cultivated in Canada for the purpose of human consumption. Annually, around 120,000 horses are processed for meat in the country, with over 85% of this production destined for export, predominantly to Japan. Interestingly, horse meat is also a familiar food source for Canadians, particularly in French-speaking regions like Quebec, where it is available in supermarkets and on restaurant menus.
Horse Meat Production Facilities
In Canada, two main slaughterhouses operate: Viande Richelieu located in Massueville, Quebec, and Bouvry Exports Ltd situated in southern Alberta. These facilities are surrounded by feedlots where horses are fattened before being processed.
Overview of Meat Exports
As reported by the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Canada was ranked among the top nine horse meat exporters globally in 2022, with exports valued at $18.5 million. The primary destinations for Canadian horse meat included Japan ($13.3 million), the United States ($2.28 million), Switzerland ($2.3 million), France ($487,000), and Luxembourg ($96,400). In 2024, however, there was a slight decline in exports, as Japan reduced its purchases and began sourcing from alternative suppliers.
Export of Live Horses
In addition to horse meat, Canada exports thousands of live horses for slaughter each year. Between 2,000 and 3,000 horses are flown from Alberta and Manitoba to Japan, where stringent food quality standards lead to a preference for live animals. Upon arrival, these horses are placed in feedlots for approximately three months before being slaughtered, primarily for the delicacy basashi, which starts at $45 per kilogram.
Canadian law permits the transport of live horses for up to 28 consecutive hours, a timeframe believed to be manageable for horses in confined spaces without food or water. However, animal rights advocates from Animal Justice argue that this duration should also account for any waiting time prior to departure, which could exacerbate the animals' distress. The organisation is actively pushing for legislation to ban the export of live horses for slaughter, following similar prohibitions in the United States and Great Britain, although progress has been slow.
Currently, live horses endure significant stress during their journeys from Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg to Japan, often crammed into makeshift cages in airplane cargo holds. Each shipment can yield approximately $9,000 per horse in Japan. Over a decade, from 2013 to 2023, around 45,000 horses were exported from Canada for meat.
Horses for Death
Beneath the glamorous surface of horse racing—where thrilling races, impressive victories, and significant investments capture public attention—lies a troubling reality that often goes unnoticed. While some racehorses are fortunate enough to retire in peace in Canada and in the US, the majority, particularly those deemed less successful or "undesirable," face a grim fate: slaughter.
Overproduction of Horses
In the racing industry, financial gain dictates the rules. The demand for fast, winning horses leads to relentless breeding of champion stallions with broodmares, increasing the likelihood of producing a lucrative foal. However, this overproduction raises an uncomfortable question: what happens to the many horses that do not possess racing talent? With a growing number of ageing horses and no place for them, the situation worsens. Although horse slaughter has been banned in the United States since 2007, the export of live horses for slaughter remains legal. According to Forbes, over 10,000 thoroughbreds are sent to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico annually, with projections suggesting that nearly half of the 20,000 foals born each year will ultimately be killed for meat. When including quarter horses, Appaloosas, donkeys, mules, and other breeds, the total rises to approximately 100,000 horses slaughtered each year, many of which have spent their lives in rodeos and races.
The Fate of the Outsiders
In 2011, HBO captured the story of a thoroughbred filly named No Day Off using hidden cameras. After failing to perform at Mountaineer Racetrack in West Virginia, she was shipped to a Canadian slaughterhouse. A similar fate awaited another horse, Deputy Broad, who came in last in a race and was sent to slaughter just a day later. The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition reported that in July and August 2017 alone, over 2,800 horses were transported from the U.S. to Canada for slaughter, with a significant number arriving at facilities known for processing horse meat. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the practice of sending slow horses to slaughter occurs not only at American tracks but also at Canadian ones, where buyers for meat are often seen waiting after race days.
Champions Are Not Exempt
The tragedy extends even to celebrated champions. Ferdinand, the Kentucky Derby winner who earned millions, was sent to slaughter at the age of 19 after losing his fertility. Similarly, the stallion Exceller, who had brought in $1.6 million for his owners, was also sent to slaughter in 1997, despite later being honoured in the Saratoga Springs Hall of Fame. In 2011, PETA discovered a thoroughbred named Coming Home at a cattle auction, sold for just $200 for meat, while Royal With Speed, a grandson of the famous Secretariat, was found awaiting slaughter in Iowa. PETA tracked a trailer transporting horses for slaughter, revealing the inhumane conditions they endured over a 36-hour journey without food or water. Disturbingly, many horses do not die instantly during slaughter; approximately 40% remain alive for prolonged periods, suffering immensely before finally being killed.
This disturbing aspect of the racing industry is often overlooked by those who focus solely on the excitement of the sport. For many spectators and bettors, horses become mere statistics, detached from their reality. The media tends to highlight the thrill of betting and the glory of winning, while the plight of the slower or ageing horses is shrouded in secrecy, often occurring out of sight and in the dark of night to spare the public discomfort.
The issue isn't about whether horse meat should be consumed; it's about the ethical treatment of these intelligent, sentient beings. Using horses solely as profit-generating entities and discarding them when they're no longer profitable is a practice steeped in cruelty and shame.