A girl takes pony into a McD. Pony shits on the floor. Mom blames McD.

[Syt]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10196869/Ive-taken-her-for-a-McFlurry-loads-of-times-says-horse-rider-who-took-pony-into-McDonalds.html

'I've taken her for a McFlurry loads of times,' says horse-rider who took pony into McDonald's

A mother who was fined after taking her daughter's pony into McDonald's, where it defecated on the floor, has defended her actions, claiming: "'I've taken her for a McFlurry loads of times".

Christine McGrail and her daughter Olivia were told to tie up their horses after trying to use the drive-through service at the fast-food restaurant in Whitefield.

Managers at the franchise told Ms McGrail, 33, who was riding stallion Dancer, and her nine-year-old girl, on pony Minnie, they weren't allowed to queue with waiting cars.

The mother said she took managers "literally" when they suggested the pair dismount and enter the store - letting Olivia lead her six-year-old pony into the restaurant to the amazement of customers.

Ms McGrail - who remained outside with Dancer, 24 - admits she acted "rashly" after the pony opened its bowels in front of stunned diners but claimed the treatment of horse riders was inconsistent.

She said: "People have the idea that we had a race galloping around in there. Minnie is the most good-natured animal, she loves people and she loves children.

"I didn't see anyone in there who was terrified. Everyone saw the funny side.

"I think over the last couple of years, we've been to that McDonald's at least half a dozen times on the horses.

"Minnie likes McFlurry's. Whenever we've got them, we've ended up having to get two spoons - one for her and one for Emily.

"We've genuinely been served several times before and I didn't think using he drive-through would be a problem.

"The manager said there was a health and safety risk because there were cars all around us but horses are classed as carriages under the Highway Code and we obviously travelled on the roads quite legally to get there.

"When she said: 'You can't go through the drive through but you can come into the store', I thought 'okay, we will'."

Minnie stood in the queue with Olivia for several minutes during the Saturday evening incident. But police were called when the animal relieved itself on the floor.

An officer issued Christine with a £90 fine for causing "alarm and distress" to customers and managers have also banned the mum from returning.

But the keen horse rider, who lives less than a mile away in Whitefield, insists that customers only saw the funny side.

She said: "We were standing in the queue for ages without them saying anything. "It was only when she did the poop, that things kicked off.

"The policeman was just doing his job but he was talking as if it was a large animal, rather than a little, friendly pony.

"I'm not sure if the manager thought we did it on purpose but we can't control when she poops. We have no way of knowing when she will.

"I guess it was a bit rash but I did feel angry because their policy was inconsistent and we've never had a problem before."

Minnie, who Ms McGrail has on long-term loan from its owner Charlotte Groat, is stabled at Pule Farm, in Whitefield.

But other horse riders living in the area claimed they, too, had been served at the drive through.

One rider said: "I've been through loads of times. There are quite a few riding schools and stables nearby. The staff have always served me."

A spokesman for McDonald's said horse riders were not allowed to use the drive-through in the saddle due to health and safety reasons.

[The Brain]

Fast food places do have crap security, and this is a real problem.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Whataburger would have just served them on their horses at the drive-thru. :texas: 

[Valmy]

Whataburger would have just served them on their horses at the drive-thru. :texas: 

Just one of the many ways Whataburger > McDonalds.

[merithyn]

I gotta' agree with the mom that that store seems inconsistent in how they do things. They can't say yes one day and then turn around and say no the next without expecting some kind of pushback.

That being said, I hope the police made the mom clean up the shit.

[fhdz]

"when she did the poop". SMH

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

That being said, I hope the police made the mom clean up the shit.

If you poop, you must scoop.

[mongers]

I wonder if she'll have to pony up for the cleaning bill ?

[The Brain]

They don't have bills.

[alfred russel]

That being said, I hope the police made the mom clean up the shit.

Having been in some McDonald's bathrooms, I really doubt that would make the top 10 of worst messes the staff had to clean up, if it came to that.

[Tonitrus]

They don't have bills.

Don't try and duck the issue.

[Richard Hakluyt]

A "McFlurry" always sounds like an unpleasant toilet event to me anyway 

[mongers]

A "McFlurry" always is an unpleasant toilet event to me anyway 

FYP 

[KRonn]

Heh, those horses are going to wind up in the burgers, just like all the other mystery meat.

[Caliga]

I still haven't tried horesemat.