Horse Slaughter Legal States 2025

It is a little-known fact even among Americans that horse meat is fully legal to eat in most US states. The sale of horse meat is illegal, and the last legal horse slaughterhouses closed in 2007. However, most states allow an owner to kill his or her own horse for the purpose of consumption.

Is it legal to slaughter horses for food in the United States?

As of 2023, there is no federal ban on the private slaughtering of horses for human consumption. It is also legal in all but a handful of individual states.

The states that have made horse slaughter illegal are California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Additionally, in Arizona, a license is required to slaughter horses. In all other states, it is not illegal to slaughter horses.

There is a proposed bill in Colorado that would prevent horse slaughter for human consumption. Bills like this could be introduced in other states so it is important to look for the most up-to-date information if you are interested in slaughtering horses.