McDonald's refused to serve a woman because she went to their drive-thru on horseback

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The McDonald's branch in Malvern, England.

• A British woman tried to go through her local McDonald's drive-thru on horseback, but was turned away.
• The restaurant in Malvern, England, declined, citing its policy that only motor vehicles can use drive-thru lanes.
• She was offered the chance to dismount and eat inside the restaurant, but wasn't interested.
• Videos online show that customers in the US have been able to place orders while riding.

A British woman tried to place an order at her local McDonald's while on horseback, but was turned away.

Louise Carter, who lives in Powick, England, made the three-and-a-half-mile journey to nearby Malvern last month, but was rejected by staff citing a strict drive-thru policy.

Here's a photo of her outside the restaurant on her horse:

According to McDonald's UK, drive-thru lanes are reserved solely for motor vehicles, meaning that horses are out. Bicycles are also prohibited.

Carter described her experience to the Malvern Gazette local newspaper, saying: "They said 'I can't serve you, you are not a car'. I never thought I'd have some jobsworth saying that. I know I'm not a vehicle."

In March 2018 other would-be customers also tried to purchase their meal on horseback in Suffolk, England. 

However, some US customers have been more successful in their attempts to get meals while in the saddle, as seen in the video below. 

McDonald's trialled bicycle-friendly "cycle-thru" lanes in Denmark in 2015, but didn't roll out the policy more widely once the trial ended. 

In a statement to Business Insider, McDonald's said: "Our drive-thru lanes are specifically designed for roadworthy motor vehicles only and are therefore not suitable for horses.

"Our crew advised the customer of this policy and invited them inside the restaurant."