WATCH: Man rides horse into shop to pick up groceries

Shopping on the trot took on a whole new meaning in Jeffreys Bay when a man riding a horse popped into a local supermarket to do some grocery shopping.

Surprised shoppers at Jeffreys Bay’s SUPERSPAR in Da Gama Road could certainly be forgiven for thinking they were in a one-horse town when farrier and horse trainer Rick Erasmus rode his new horse Warrior into the store shortly before 1.30pm and headed straight for the deli section.

The horseback shopping spree was shortlived as Erasmus was forced to leave the store empty-handed after being gently hoofed out by the supermarket manager.

Erasmus told the Herald that the supermarket was their third stop, with the pair having spent some time at a nearby pub and then at a liquor store before “popping in to get some meat”.

“I did it for kicks. People were looking for some sensation‚ so I gave it to them and warmed them up‚” Erasmus told HeraldLIVE.

He recently made headlines after the SPCA took him to task over the poor state of “rescued” horses at his horse ranch‚ Featherfoot Farm.

Erasmus‚ who said he was the victim of a personal vendetta and unjust treatment by the SPCA‚ said he had taken his new horse “for some beer” and to show him off to friends at the Grand Prix bar‚ before he decided to go to a liquor store – where he was not that warmly received – before going on into the supermarket.

Residents of the small coastal town recognised him from the cellphone footage filmed by other shoppers - and were not complimentary about the exploit.

Suzanne Kruger‚ who works at Animals in Need according to her Facebook page‚ shared the video and commented: "I have no idea what this guy was thinking (John Wanye's brother i think).... these tiles are sooo slippery and to ride with a horse in Spar.... lucky it turned out alright...."

Elmien Geldenhuys agreed‚ saying: "...That horse could slip! And looks scared!!!"

"This man should NOT have horses‚ or dogs or anything that breathes. .......eish!"

The locals were clearly aware of the SPCA action‚ with several commenting on the farm and one posting: "Well‚ I guess Featherfoot doesn't need any more bad publicity‚ they're doing a good job all by themselves??".

Erasmus has no regrets about the incident‚ he told HeraldLIVE.

“At least he had manners and he did not mess in the store.”

He won an endorsement from shopper Lisa Sipika.

“The incident really made my day – in fact‚ it has already made my year‚" she said.

“Who would ever have thought they would see a horse in a shop? It was a fun experience.”

This story originally appeared on HeraldLIVE