Horse Milk Is Growing In Popularity

Some people drink horse milk instead of cow’s milk for its health benefits.

It’s said to be similar to human milk; it’s a translucent white color and sweeter than cow’s milk. The milk comes from mares or female horses. It’s low in fat and protein and high in lactose. Some have said the milk can help with skin problems.

Some people in Russia and Asia have been drinking mare’s milk for more than 2,500 years. They turn it into a drink called kumis, or fermented mare’s milk. Kumis started off as a drink to help heal many health problems, like digestive issues and tuberculosis, and is said to taste sour, sweet, and bitter.  

Interest in mare’s milk is growing in Western Europe and the U.S. because children and adults who are allergic to cow’s milk might be able to drink it.

However, the milk is hard to harvest, as a mare’s baby needs to be by her side in order for her to lactate. After the baby is fed, there isn’t a lot of extra milk to collect. This makes mare’s milk expensive. Also, the EU won’t let mare’s milk producers advertise the health benefits of the drink, because the claims haven’t been confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority.