It was one of the only fast-food corporations to avoid the taint of the horsemeat scandal, but now McDonalds is caught up in a very different, and even more bizarre, horse saga.
A woman who sauntered through a McDonald's drive-through on her horse, and then dragged the animal inside the restaurant to let it defecate on the floor after she was refused service, has been fined.
Staff refused to hand over fast-food while the woman in the saddle in the drive-through lane of the branch in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.
The mess that was left inside the McDonald's restaurant in Manchester
She then led the animal inside, where it soiled the floor, and police were called.
A spokeswoman for the company said: "On 20 July a woman allowed her pony to enter our restaurant in Whitefield after being refused service in the drive-thru lane.
"The incident caused distress to customers and disruption for the restaurant, and the police issued the woman with a fixed penalty notice."
She added: "The health and safety of our customers and staff is our top priority, and for this reason we are unable to serve pedestrians, bicycle riders or customers on horseback through the drive-thru."
The unidentified woman with the horses waiting outside McDonald's
A statement posted on the Facebook page of Greater Manchester Police's Whitefield Division read: "The staff refused to serve the women due to company policy. The woman then took the horse into the restaurant, who ended up doing his business on the floor.
"The sight and smell of this caused obvious distress and upset to customers trying to eat, as well as staff members.
"Officers arrived at the location and woman was issued a fixed penalty notice for causing alarm and distress to other customers and staff."