A stapler? Sure, that will be in office supplies. Go past kitchen appliances and men’s work shoes, and turn left at the four guys riding horses.
Shoppers at a Walmart in the town of Baker, La., on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, were startled last week — and we’re talking “Oh, hell no” startled — when they saw four gentlemen casually rambling through the aisles on horseback.
A video of the equine incursion shows the saddled and mounted horses calmly walking through the store, seemingly unperturbed by blue-shirted employees, bargain-hunters and reasonably priced goods.
Four people accused of being the riders now face charges including disturbing the peace.
One of the accused, Brendon Bridgewater, said of his group of horsemen, “We do certain things, and everyone’s watching.” Noting the attention that the stunts and videos receive, he said, “You’ve got to be able to put yourself out there.”
“A lot of people are talking about it,” he added.
Unfortunately for the group, a 2024 Louisiana law forbids a person involved in a crime to post an image or video of the crime “for the purpose of gaining notoriety, publicity or the attention of the public.”
The four suspects were charged with unlawful posting of criminal activity, as well as entering and remaining after being forbidden and disturbing the peace, Carl Dunn, chief of the Baker Police Department, told The Advocate of Baton Rouge.
Mr. Bridgewater said that his horse was a registered emotional support animal.
“It was fun. We’re famous. That’s all,” another suspect, Mason Webb, told WBRZ. “We didn’t want to hurt nobody or nothing.”
He said the visit to Walmart was unplanned. “We just went in there and rode,” he said. “We always ride to Baker. We just wanted to do it that day.”
Mr. Webb referred to his group as the Cutthroat Cowboys.
This being 2025, videos of the incident have racked up plenty of views. One video includes a woman who has spotted the horses saying, “Oh, hell no.” But other shoppers are heard laughing, and there does not seem to be any fear or panic.
Comments on the videos ranged from ones cheering on the riders to others concerned for the animals’ welfare. Few seemed to think the fate of the Republic was at stake.
There are about 5,000 Walmart stores in the United States. So when strange and disturbing things happen in big retail stores, they often happen at Walmart. Those with long — or even short — memories will recall mass shootings at locations of the store, in 2019 and 2022. In contrast, a nonviolent visit by horses seems fairly benign.
Various Walmarts have also been the sites of a birth, a nude man stealing socks and a man in a cow suit stealing 26 gallons of milk.
“We’re appreciative of the Baker Police Department’s swift response to what appears to be a senseless prank that took place in our store,” a Walmart spokesperson said by email.
The Baker Police did not respond to a request for more information.
The others accused of being Cutthroat Cowboys also could not be reached. Possibly they were heading into the sunset. Or to the Waffle House around the corner.
Susan Beachy contributed research.
Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news.
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