A Wyoming man says he and his two horses are no longer welcome at a local McDonald’s after he pulled up to the drive-thru in a wagon.
Allen Hatch told Cowboy State Daily that he took his horses, Coal and Onyx, out for a walk before deciding to swing through the drive-thru in Powell. According to Hatch, the employee at the first window was thrilled.
“The young lady at the first window was very excited to see horses in the drive–thru,” he said. However, excitement quickly turned into concern. The store manager reportedly informed Hatch that farm animals are not permitted in the drive-thru. If one of the horses decided to relieve itself in the lane, someone would have to clean it up.
Why the McDonald’s Manager Said No
The location in question is a branch of McDonald’s in Powell, Wyoming. The manager allegedly told Hatch that company policy does not allow livestock in drive-thru lanes due to safety and liability concerns. Hatch says the visit was partially a test run to see how his horses handled traffic.
“It’s about making sure they’re traffic safe,” he explained. “The McDonald’s trip was ancillary to wondering how they’d do, and they did really well.”
Banned From the Drive-Thru?
Hatch claims that since the visit, he and his horses have been banned from returning to the restaurant.
As a result, Hatch says he plans to limit future horse-and-wagon outings to people closest to him.