We are used to eating beef, pork, lamb, chicken. But horse meat or sausage from it is rarely found even just on sale. Why? Isn't this the same meat as any other? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems …
Panacea for nomads
In Central Asia, for example, horse meat has been eaten since ancient times. This custom was introduced by nomadic tribes. Firstly, horses were always at hand, and secondly, their meat is quickly digested and has a warming effect. Doctors say that horse meat is the most environmentally friendly meat, it has the highest protein content with an ideal balance of amino acids. It lowers the amount of cholesterol in the blood, regulates the metabolism in the body and even neutralizes the effects of radiation. In addition, it contains a lot of useful vitamins and minerals. In short, horse meat is quite capable of replacing a full-fledged diet. And yet - it is hypoallergenic and it is quite possible to give it to children.
Who eats horse meat and who doesn't?
But, besides Asians, not all peoples are ready to eat horse meat. In some countries of Western Europe, horse meat is considered disgusting in taste. According to historians, this myth is associated with Napoleon's invasion of Russia. During the retreat of the French troops, the starving soldiers were forced to eat horse carrion using gunpowder instead of spices. Many of them were poisoned … Although in our days in France and Germany, horse meat is added to sausages. In Spain, it can be found on sale in all major supermarkets. Some horse meat dishes are prepared in Belgium, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, and Japan. In Hungary, horses are specially bred for meat. In some Catholic countries, since the Middle Ages, there has been a ban on the use of horse meat, introduced by the German Archbishop Boniface and Pope Gregory III for missionaries. The thing is,that in Ancient Scandinavia the use of horse meat was part of the pagan worship of the god Odin. In 1000 the church fathers managed to "lure" Iceland into the fold of Christianity only by promising not to introduce a ban on eating horse meat - the Icelanders loved it very much! Actually, it was the basis of their nutrition. True, the ban was subsequently introduced anyway. However, he never survived to this day, and now horse meat is very popular in Iceland. Jews also do not eat horse meat for religious reasons: they can only eat meat from ruminants and cloven-hoofed animals, such as goats, cows and sheep. In England and the United States, it is forbidden to eat the meat of "sports" animals. In addition, many Europeans are afraid to eat horse meat, as they believe that it contains harmful substances - drugs that are administered to horses. In Australia and New Zealand, horse meat is not included in the food standards code.defining the concept of "meat". Gypsies, as well as residents of India and Brazil, refuse to eat horses, as they consider them their "smaller brothers".
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Horse meat is not in Russian?
What prevents us Russians from enjoying horse meat? First of all, the same religious traditions. The Orthodox canon directly states that “everything that is unclean is allowed to be eaten during famine (need). And at normal times it is not recommended to eat meat of unreleased blood (dead), horse meat, crayfish, crabs, fish without scales; fried blood (birds and animals), hares, rabbits. " But it's not just about Christian prohibitions. From time immemorial, horses have been used by Russians as assistants - a draft and a means of driving. After all, a cow or a pig cannot be harnessed to a cart or sleigh! Therefore, horses were treated like dogs and cats: the former guard the house, the latter catch mice … It was simply not accepted to eat them. But still, in times of famine, for example, during the Civil War, during the famine of the 30s in the Volga region or during the Great Patriotic War,horse meat was eaten - but where to go! But in normal times they tried not to do this. There is another objective reason that prevents us from having horse meat on our table: for mass breeding of horses, very large pastures are required. They cannot be kept in stalls longer than 15-20 days (fattening period), otherwise the taste of the meat will deteriorate. Today the main suppliers of horse meat are Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh horse meat is considered the most delicious. "Meat" horses are also bred in Russia, for example, in Bashkiria, Altai, and Yakutia. Basically, no one will blame you if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …There is another objective reason that prevents us from having horse meat on our table: for mass breeding of horses, very large pastures are required. They cannot be kept in stalls longer than 15-20 days (fattening period), otherwise the taste of the meat will deteriorate. Today the main suppliers of horse meat are Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh horse meat is considered the most delicious. "Meat" horses are also bred in Russia, for example, in Bashkiria, Altai, and Yakutia. Basically, no one will blame you if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …There is another objective reason that prevents us from having horse meat on our table: for mass breeding of horses, very large pastures are required. They cannot be kept in stalls longer than 15-20 days (fattening period), otherwise the taste of the meat will deteriorate. Today the main suppliers of horse meat are Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh horse meat is considered the most delicious. "Meat" horses are also bred in Russia, for example, in Bashkiria, Altai, and Yakutia. Basically, no one will blame you if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …They cannot be kept in stalls longer than 15-20 days (fattening period), otherwise the taste of the meat will deteriorate. Today the main suppliers of horse meat are Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh horse meat is considered the most delicious. "Meat" horses are also bred in Russia, for example, in Bashkiria, Altai, and Yakutia. Basically, no one will blame you if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …They cannot be kept in stalls longer than 15-20 days (fattening period), otherwise the taste of the meat will deteriorate. Today the main suppliers of horse meat are Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh horse meat is considered the most delicious. "Meat" horses are also bred in Russia, for example, in Bashkiria, Altai, and Yakutia. Basically, no one will blame you if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …if you want to feast on relatively rare and scarce horse meat as a delicacy. But it is unlikely that most Russians are ready to eat it regularly, unless there are lovers …