If a person who eats horse meat is concerned about toxic drug residues potentially harmful to human health, then the Thoroughbred racehorse is one breed they would definitely steer clear of. The amount of drugs racehorses are routinely given during their careers are littered with banned medications eliminating them from entry into the human food chain for life.
The Daily Racing Form, reporting on the rejection of US Thoroughbreds for slaughter by Canadian slaughterhouse Viande Richlieu, states:
Some drugs commonly administered to race and sport horses are considered safe in food animals, once certain withdrawal times have passed. These include ivermectin, furoseminde (Salix or Lasix), flunixin (Banamine), and altrenogest (Regu-mate). But others – including clenbuterol (Ventipulmin), boldenone (Equipoise), phenylbutazone (Butazolidin), and nitrofurazone (Fura-Zone or Furacin) – are not permitted at all in horses slaughtered for food.
There is much more to the DRF report than that, and not the only reason Viande Richlieu is turning away Thoroughbreds.
It is also a story about determination and the redemption life in the case of Thoroughbreds Canuki and Cactus Cafe, rescued from slaughter. Read full story >>
Tuesday's Horse 
I’m glad to see that thoroughbreds will be left out of the human consumption food chain. Just a word on “regular” horses. My wonderful horse is just a beloved companion. However, every year he has the following immunizations….all of them will not be listed. A few of them are:
Potomac Fever
Rhino Flu Virus
West Nile Virus
Rabies
He takes a supplement to prevent colic and a supplement for the beginning of arthritis. He has a Coggins test every year. Takes pain reliever when needed and has taken anti-biotics as needed.
This is a regular horse – getting the usual injjections and tests. It’s not just throughbreds that are given supplements and immunizations.
Don’t these people realize that many of these horses they eat are not raised or planned to be part of the food chain?
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