Mostly I would say that the horse has been more romanticized film and TV than the cow or pig.
Horses have certainly been made pets more than cows or pigs.
Also up until the mid 20th century the horse was much more valuable than the cow or pig because of the need for its ability to pull wagons and plows.
The French do eat horse but I believe that it is a more expensive meat. There is no health reason that I know of related to eating horse meat so really do not see the need for all of the fuss except for the meat not being as advertized.
Nothing inherently unhealthy with horse meat alone, but certain veterinary drugs that are used on horses are not allowed in the human food chain for various reasons...........
One of the veterinary drugs is what we now know as ‘Rogaine’, that we use for hair re-growth.
So, if your tongue starts getting hairy...........
“There is no health reason that I know of related to eating horse meat so really do not see the need for all of the fuss except for the meat not being as advertized.”
I’m one of the few that can’t eat it or so I’m told. When I was 16 I got hit by a pretty big rattler and after a weeklong series of Antivenom shots I had a severe reaction that put me back in the hospital for another week. Extreme hi fever, hallucinations and severe kidney problems. They said it was the fact that they use horses or did at that time to make the serumm and that was what I was allergic to. They said that if i was were to ingest it I could have the same reaction.