The 7 Shocking Truths About Whether Glue Is Still Made From Horses In 2025

The persistent myth that glue is primarily made from horses is one of the most enduring pieces of industrial folklore, but the reality in 2025 is far more complex and chemically advanced. While the connection between horses and glue is rooted in historical fact—specifically the rendering of collagen-rich animal parts—the vast majority of adhesives used globally today are entirely synthetic, plant-based, or derived from other animal sources like cattle and pigs.

To truly understand this topic, we must separate the historical truth from modern industrial practice. Today, commercial giants like Elmer's and Titebond rely on petroleum-derived polymers, not the knacker's yard. However, the traditional methods still exist, serving niche markets that require the unique, reversible properties of true animal glue. This deep dive explores the surprising shift from the organic past to the synthetic present.

The Shocking History: When Horses *Did* Become Glue

The saying "is glue made from horses" stems from a very real, albeit grim, historical process known as rendering. Animal glue is essentially a crude form of gelatin, which itself is derived from the protein collagen.

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Historically, when an animal—be it a horse, cow, pig, or rabbit—died or was euthanized, its carcass was often sent to a rendering plant (sometimes historically called a knacker's yard).

The process involved boiling the collagen-rich parts: the hides, bones, hooves, sinews, and connective tissues. This boiling process extracted the soluble collagen, which, when cooled, formed a jelly-like substance. This substance was then dried, ground into pellets or flakes, and sold as animal glue.

The Role of Collagen and Gelatin

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It is crucial to understand that the active ingredient is not the horse itself, but the collagen contained within its tissues. This same protein is the basis for gelatin, which is used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The difference between edible gelatin and industrial glue lies primarily in the purity and refinement of the extraction process. Glue is the less refined, industrial-grade product.

Animal glue was the primary adhesive for millennia, dating back to the ancient Egyptians who used it for furniture and artwork. It was the backbone of woodworking and bookbinding until the mid-20th century. The reason horses were so often associated with glue was their size and the common practice of sending old or injured working horses to the renderer.

The Modern Reality: What Your Glue Is *Really* Made Of Today

The shift away from animal-based adhesives began in earnest after World War II with the rise of the petrochemical industry. Today, the vast majority of commercial and household glues are synthetic polymers, offering superior strength, water resistance, and consistency at a lower cost.

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The Dominance of Synthetic Adhesives

When you pick up a bottle of white craft glue, wood glue, or super glue, you are almost certainly holding a product derived from petroleum, not a farm animal. The primary modern adhesives include:

• PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate): This is the white glue found in schools and hardware stores (like Elmer's or Titebond). It is a synthetic polymer that cures by water evaporation.
• Cyanoacrylate: This is the chemical compound that forms "super glue." It bonds almost instantly by reacting with trace amounts of water vapor on the surfaces being joined.
• Epoxy: A two-part system (resin and hardener) that creates a thermosetting polymer, known for its incredibly strong, permanent, and often waterproof bond.
• Polyurethane: Used in construction and heavy-duty woodworking, this adhesive is known for expanding slightly as it cures.

These synthetic alternatives have largely rendered the large-scale production of horse-derived glue obsolete for general use. The manufacturing process is cheaper, faster, and does not rely on the fluctuating supply of rendering plants.

The Niche Market for Traditional Animal Glue

While horses are rarely processed for glue today, animal glue production has not vanished entirely. It survives as a highly specialized, niche product. It is preferred in specific crafts because of its unique properties:

• Reversibility: Animal glue (specifically high-quality hide glue) can be easily reactivated and softened with heat and moisture. This is vital for luthiers (makers of stringed instruments like violins and guitars) and antique furniture restorers. The reversibility allows future repairs without damaging the original wood.
• Crystallization: Unlike synthetic glues, animal glue does not create a rubbery layer. It dries hard and brittle, which is acoustically superior for musical instruments.
• Bookbinding: Traditional bookbinders still use animal glue because it remains flexible and allows the spine to move naturally.

The small amount of animal glue produced today typically comes from the hides and bones of cattle and pigs that are already being processed for the meat industry, making the dedicated processing of horses for glue an extreme rarity.

7 Entities That Prove The Horse-Glue Myth Is Mostly History

To gain topical authority on the modern adhesive landscape, it's essential to recognize the key materials and processes that have replaced the reliance on animal carcasses. The following entities demonstrate the massive shift in industrial practice:

1. PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate): The petroleum-derived polymer that forms the basis of nearly all household white and yellow wood glues. Its low cost and strong bond make it the modern standard.
2. Cyanoacrylate: The quick-curing acrylic resin that revolutionized fast-bonding adhesives, eliminating the need for long clamping times associated with animal glue.
3. Rendering Plants: While these facilities still process animal by-products, the primary focus is now on producing tallow (fats), protein meals for feed, and high-purity gelatin, with industrial glue being a minor output, often sourced from cattle and pig hides.
4. Dextrin and Starch: These plant-based carbohydrates are used to create many eco-friendly and inexpensive glues, particularly for paper products like envelopes and stamps, proving that organic adhesives aren't limited to animal sources.
5. Formaldehyde: This chemical is often used in the manufacturing of synthetic resins (like urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde) that are key components in engineered wood products (plywood, MDF), far stronger than any traditional animal glue.
6. Hide Glue vs. Bone Glue: Even within the traditional animal glue world, there are quality distinctions. Hide glue (from skin, historically including horses) is considered the premium, reversible product, while bone glue is generally lower quality and less flexible, often sourced from cattle bones.
7. Luthiers and Restorers: These are the only major consumer groups keeping the animal glue industry alive. Their specialized need for a reversible adhesive is the primary factor preventing the complete extinction of this ancient product.

In summary, the horse-to-glue narrative is a fascinating historical footnote. While the process of turning animal collagen into glue is real, the industrial scale of modern adhesive production has moved on. Your everyday glue is a product of chemistry and petroleum, not a barnyard animal. The old saying survives as a powerful piece of cultural memory, but it no longer reflects the reality of the 21st-century adhesive market.