Wyoming Man Banned from McDonald's After Horse-Drawn Drive-Thru Incident
A Wyoming man has claimed he was permanently banned from a local McDonald's restaurant after attempting to use the drive-thru lane with a wagon pulled by two horses. Allen Hatch, 53, from Powell, Wyoming, said he rode into town to collect horse feed and decided to treat himself to a cheeseburger and fries during the outing.
Unusual Drive-Thru Experience Sparks Managerial Intervention
Hatch explained to the Cowboy State Daily that he took his horses, named Coal and Onyx, on what he described as a "spur of the moment" trip to McDonald's. The horses, aged 12 and 13, pulled a road-legal wagon equipped with a "Slow Moving Vehicle" sign. Hatch noted that the employees at both drive-thru windows initially seemed delighted by the unconventional sight.
"The young lady at the first window was very excited to see horses in the drive-thru," Hatch recounted. "The young lady that was handing me my food at the second window thought it was great."
However, the restaurant manager quickly intervened, informing Hatch that farm animals were strictly prohibited in the drive-thru area. The manager expressed particular concern about potential messes, questioning what would happen if the horses defecated in the lane with no one available to clean it immediately.
McDonald's Policy and Aftermath
Hatch stated he was explicitly told that McDonald's company policy forbids "having livestock in the Drive Thru for purposes of liability." Following this exchange, Hatch declared that he and his horses had been "86ed from McDonald's"—a restaurant industry term meaning permanently banned.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, a worker at the Powell McDonald's location confirmed the incident had occurred, though the specific manager involved was not on duty that day. The employee mentioned the restaurant had received numerous calls about the situation throughout the day.
"To my knowledge, we just ask that horses don't come through the Drive Thru," the worker stated anonymously, adding simply, "We live in Wyoming" as explanation for the unusual occurrence.
Training Purpose and Future Plans
Hatch revealed that the McDonald's visit was actually part of a training exercise for his relatively new horses, which he purchased from a farm near Chattanooga, Tennessee, last year. The wagon they pull can accommodate up to 18 passengers, though Hatch emphasized he has no commercial intentions.
"It's about making sure they're traffic safe," Hatch explained. "The McDonald's trip was ancillary to wondering how they'd do, and they did really well."
Despite the successful training aspect, Hatch said he has no plans to return to that McDonald's location. "After that experience, I won't be blessing them with my presence again," he declared.
Looking forward, Hatch plans to use the horses primarily for personal transportation with family and friends, and for training mule colts by having them follow behind the wagon to acclimate to urban noises and movements.
The Daily Mail has reached out to McDonald's USA for an official statement regarding their livestock policy and this specific incident.
