A farmer in Wyoming who briefly went viral after being banned from a fast-food drive-through with his horse-drawn wagon has now been welcomed back.
The Unusual Drive-Thru Visit
The incident involved Allen Hatch, a 53-year-old farmer who rode up to a McDonald’s drive-through with his two horses, Coal and Onyx.
Hatch said the stop was a spontaneous moment while he was training the horses. He hoped to grab a cheeseburger and fries while testing how the animals handled traffic and unfamiliar environments.
However, the situation quickly became controversial when a manager reportedly refused to serve him and told him he could not return with livestock in the drive-through.
The concern, according to Hatch, was the possibility that the horses could create a mess in the lane and that employees would have to clean it.
Company Responds After Public Attention
After the story began circulating online and in local news, the operator responsible for several regional restaurants, Yellowstone McDonald’s, contacted Hatch directly.
He later said he received a personal apology and was told the ban had been lifted.
According to Hatch, the company also offered his family a free meal and said employees would be reminded that any legal form of transportation could technically use the drive-through.
A Training Exercise for the Horses
Hatch explained that the visit to McDonald’s was actually part of training his horses.
Coal and Onyx, aged 12 and 13, were purchased from a farm near Chattanooga the previous year. He has been working with them to pull a wagon he calls a “people hauler.”
The wagon can carry up to 18 passengers and is equipped with a “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign, making it legal to operate on public roads.
According to Hatch, bringing the horses through town helps ensure they remain calm in busy environments.
Community Reaction
The story sparked strong reactions from people across Wyoming, where horse-drawn transportation is not an unusual sight in rural areas.
Hatch said he received widespread support from residents across the state after the story spread online.
Many local businesses also reportedly reached out to welcome him and his horses.
Will He Return?
Even though the ban was lifted, Hatch said he does not plan to return to that particular restaurant anytime soon.
While he appreciated the apology, he said the experience left him disappointed.
Still, the incident sparked a broader conversation about what counts as transportation at drive-through restaurants — especially in places where horses and wagons remain part of everyday life.
And in a state like Wyoming, as one restaurant worker reportedly put it, unusual sights sometimes come with the territory: “We live in Wyoming.”