History of Hills Horse Meat

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So this is one brand that we don’t want to see back on the shelves. Back then, pet food was sold both for dogs and cats.

While we’re not sure Horse Meat would sell (and its apparently not legal in the U.S.) the dual use pet food might be interesting.

Hill’s was based in Topeka and the meat was sold in cans, as well as frozen.

Author

  • Garland Pollard

    J. Garland Pollard IV is editor/publisher of BrandlandUSA. Since 2006, the website BrandlandUSA.com has chronicled the history and business of America’s great brands.

9 Comments

  1. In the early 50’s our .mother would buy the frozen meat at the A&P. We’d stack in our big chest freezer and thaw it to feed our ever large herd of cats. At one moment in time we hsd at least twenty; some were house cats, some basement cats and some were both. I don’t remember any one us eating ourselves.

  2. My dad used Hills Horsemeat to cook garlic spiced delicacy’s for our miniature poodle circa 1967. It smelled terrific and on more than one occasion a visiter helped themselves to a bowel with no ill-effects. It did cause our poodle, Cuche, flatulence. When he passed gas the room turned purple and everyone had to leave!

  3. My mom bought frozen Hill’s for the dog who loved it and lived a healthy life. It should also be considered as a valuable resource for feeding carnivores in captivity at zoos. The overrun areas in the western US would benefit by herd reduction programs. I’m sure there is a good market for hides as well.

  4. In the 1950’s we often fed our dog frozen Hills horse meat, and probably canned as well. That dog lived for 17 years and had finally to be put down; so who knows how much longer he would have lived. No kibble for him. No cancer. I would like to see plain, unprocessed horse meat back on the market for pets.

  5. In the 50’s a friend of mine fed this to his dog. We would eat it right out of the can. It was delicious, chinks of meat in a thin gravy.
    In the early 70’s a store opened up that sold only horse meat. About 1/2 the price of beef and just as good. Brings new meaning to “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”.

  6. We grew up in Florida and my mom bought Hills horse meat, the frozen kind, for our dog. My brother and I used to fight over whos turn it was to feed the dog, as we wanted to eat it too. My mom cooked it just like you do with hamburg and it was darn delicious. They still eat it in France, I ate it there too. Its lower in fat than beef and seems a bit more tender or sweet from what I can remember.

  7. in 1944 1946 during WWII my mom bought Hill frozen horse meat for my boxer.
    I will never forget the smell for it cooking on the stove.

  8. this was the best dog food on the market all my dogs loved it.i for one want it back on the market so i can feed my dogs a good nutriousmeal and not one full of fillers.

  9. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER 1964-67 I WORKED IN A GROCERY STORE THAT SOLD HILL’S HORSEMEAT. PEOPLE WOULD BUY IT AS IT WAS CHEAPER THAN DOG FOOD LIKE ALPO AND CALO.

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