I can't see how this is a Conservative stance on this issue.
Horses are no different than any other animal if you're hungry.
We don't eat them because we have other animals which our culture accepts.
It's not the issue that is conservative. Her politics are conservative. And it's not the eating of a horse that is the problem. It's the way they are treated that is so reprehensible. A "killer" will buy a horse at an auction that has been around people their entire life. They will pack them into an overcrowded trailer and drive for days without food or water to the slaughter house. They are very frightened and are aware of the impending and brutal slaughter because they can see and hear the horses in front of them. These are intelligent animals that have served humans and they don't deserve to be treaded this way. This is very different front cattle.
"Horses are no different than any other animal if you're hungry."
How do you feel about people? I wouldn't want to get near you when you have a good appetite up.
We're not tlaking about starving humanity here. These are people who ELECT to have horse on the menu.
Horses, Dogs and Cats, because of their close, long, and special connection with people are animals apart from all others.
You are correct, we don't breed and raise horses for food. We breed and raise cattle for that purpose. Americans, OTOH, breed and raise horses for utility, sport or enjoyment. If the French and the Japanese want to eat horse meat, LET THEM RAISE AND SLAUGHTER HORSES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, and not encourage excess breeding in the US by providing a market for surplus horses.
As for the town needing the 40 jobs that being horse killers will provide, let them learn to make saddles and tack to put on horses that they don't slaughter.
It is a cultural thing, and I have no problem banning some things if the culture believes we should not be slaughtering the animals, such as dogs.
If it goes too far though, I would be concerned we would start to encroach on the right to hunt....