[Steppes] Horse Blood Used For Dye?

[Ashia Yother]

Hello everyone,

Out of curiosity for those with interest in dyes, or knowledge of
dyes.  Do you know anything about the following?  In up coming days it
will be Prevent Horse Slaughter Day in which we are to wear a purple
ribbon.  While I was scanning the website, I noted they had a link as
to 'why wear purple?' which gave me the below reason:

"One of the organic ingredients often used to make purple dye in the
middle ages was the blood of horses (congealed, dried, and made into a
powder). Congealed blood from horses dries to a dark reddish purple
color. Purple was by far the most expensive of the color dyes to
produce, and cloth made from the dye was only within the reach of the
very rich and powerful. The legacy of abusing horses unfortunately is
a long and varied one. In France, the horses were often taken from the
Royal Stables to provide the coveted purple dyes for the Royal Court
of France. The French aristocrats considered the horse to be royal in
nature. Throughout Europe, the royals associated the color with power
and wealth, the common folk associated it with tragedy and death.
Purple vestments are usually donned when giving a dying person their
last rights."

They did not give me any information on where they found this.  I was
curious about it.  Anyone ever heard of this?  If so was it just
horses or was it all animals?

-- 
Lady Allessandra di Giovanni
Steppes Equestrian Marhsall

MKA: Ashia Yother