By SHANE DiMAIO

and IRENE SPEZZAMONTE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The "Outerbridge Cowboy" won't be riding off into the sunset as smoothly as planned.

Tod L. Mishler, the 80-year-old known as "Doc" who caused a stir when he rode across the Outerbridge Crossing on horseback on Monday, is fighting Wednesday morning to get his horses back.

Officials from the NYPD and the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon who wanted to check on the animals' wellbeing met with Mishler Tuesday evening, and he agreed to sign a consent for treatment allowing the horses to be examined by a veterinarian, a D.A. spokesman said.

Officials from the city Parks Department have temporarily taken in the animals at the Ocean Breeze Indoor Horse Riding Arena, and an ASPCA spokeswoman said the agency is providing veterinary assistance as part of the investigation.

Once the horses are deemed healthy, they will be returned to Mishler, a spokesman for McMahon said.

Mishler, of Ulster Park, N.Y., told the Advance authorities came to him Tuesday evening at the West Shore Motel in Charleston, where he had been staying since his ride, to investigate whether they had been properly cared for.

"I'm in the room and I'm resting up and I get a knock on the door and one of the tenants says 'they're taking your horses!' Mishler said.

"I said, 'what do you mean they're taking my horses?'" he continued. "I put my pants on and run out there, I got my boots on, didn't even have my socks on!"

As of Wednesday afternoon, Mishler said the horses had not been returned to his care.

He arrived at the Ocean Breeze facility Wednesday with about a dozen supporters -- many of whom were wearing cowboys hats -- demanding the return of his animals.

Officials from the NYPD and city Parks Police showed up shortly thereafter.

'Outerbridge Cowboy' fights to get horses 11 Gallery: 'Outerbridge Cowboy' fights to get horses

Mishler caused a stir on Monday when he brought traffic to a crawl on the Outerbridge Crossing when he rode across on horseback, leading a second horse behind him.

He was given two criminal court summonses for the ride, a Port Authority spokesman said.

He had been staying at the West Shore motel since, and said he was in the process of arranging to have his horses transported over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge via trailer on Thursday.

Mishler says he rides across country on horseback to raise awareness of child hunger in the country.

He's garnered many supporters for his endeavors.

But he's also had his critics as well.

In 2011, he was arrested in Madison, Wis., amid allegations his horses appeared dehydrated and underfed, according to a report by the Wisconsin State Journal. Those charges were dropped and he was reunited with his horses, the publication reported.

On Sunday night, a Facebook group called "Stop Doc Mishler" was created by animal advocates concerned about the horses' wellbeing.



By Wednesday, there were 203 people in the group.