When I read this article, I got angry because of what I perceive to be hypocrisy.

As I understand it, in France, you can buy horse meat in the supermarket. In the US if a trainer or an owner is caught selling a horse to slaughter, that owner or trainer can no longer get a license to race. In France, I assume it is normal commerce. Why is it worse if a horse dies training or racing versus at the hands of a butcher?

Also, what kind of statistics can they get in Europe? If most horses are trained in backyards or farms, how do they even have fatality statistics that are in any way comparable?

What about hurdles and jumps? Maybe the fatalities are less, but the overall races are less too. How can one measure? Are hurdles and jumps safer in one country than another?