Mini Horse Meanders Aisles At Woodbridge Wegmans

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Woodbridge Police confirmed that yes, someone really has been bringing a miniature horse into the Woodbridge Wegmans, and the animal is allowed to remain in the store because it is a service animal.

The owner of the mini horse is a Woodbridge man who said he has the horse as a registered service animal.

The man, who requested Patch not publish his name, said he has a mobility issue and he needs to lean against the horse when he is out shopping. The man said he often brings the mini horse into Woodbridge stores with him, including Wegmans, the Woodbridge ShopRite and Lowe's hardware store.

In fact, he brought the horse to the Wegmans just this week, on Thursday, he said.

"I really don't like the attention I am receiving, and I am trying to get (a video circulating on social media) down," he said Friday. "People have been commenting they are going to steal the horse. I am going to have to take legal action."

The man said the only time Woodbridge Police questioned him about the horse was this summer at Lowe's, when he said officers spoke with him and he told them the horse is a registered service animal.

"It is a miniature horse and by Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, they can be service animals," said Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner. "ADA regulations from the Department of Justice state that dogs are the only species permitted to be service animals, with the single possible exception of miniature horses. As with their canine counterparts, miniature horses must be individually trained to perform a specific task for a person with a disability."

The owner of the horse was not identified by police, as no charges or citations were filed.

There are prior social media reports of people seeing the horse meandering the aisles of Woodbridge grocery stores.

"If you want to see a service horse, go to Wegmans now," one man posted to Facebook on Oct. 19.

He said he was unable to take photos as the supermarket was crowded, but "it was one of those miniature horses. But the animal is still kinda large for a supermarket."