I don’t think the debate in this country will ever end over the slaughter of horses for human consumption; it’s just too emotional an issue. The closing of the last equine slaughter plants was done through local and state lawmakers and, ultimately, by the federal government stopping the funding of meat inspectors at U.S. equine slaughter facilities. Contrary to what some people believe, the federal government has not passed any legislation that says the slaughter of horses for meat in the United States is illegal. Now the downturn in the economy and the issue of states’ rights versus federal rights have brought horse slaughter facilities back to the forefront of industry discussions (see Update on State Slaughter Resolutions; Idaho Joins Debate), and we remain a country divided.

People in some states have a more agrarian outlook on horses; they see horses as livestock. This doesn’t mean horses aren’t appreciated or loved. The horse as livestock rather than “companion animal” is a reality to many in the United States.

The current battle lines, however, are being drawn not over the moral issues of horse slaughter, but over states’ rights versus federal rights to have international commerce, i.e., equine slaughter facilities that export horsemeat.

Could Canadian meat inspectors come across the border to inspect horsemeat, or could the meat be shipped to Canada for inspection? That remains to be seen