Unconventional drive through transportation had eyebrows raised at McDonalds in Orewa.

A horse is a horse, of course, but unfortunately it's not a car - and two enterprising Auckland women who rode horseback into a McDonald's drive-thru were refused service.

Orewa local Aspen Bruce said she was stunned to see the pair ride their horses into the drive-thru of the McDonald's on Florence Ave in the north Auckland township on Friday.

Bruce just happened to look out of her office window in time to capture the moment, she said.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF McDonalds was unfortunately not on the menu for the two riders, who were turned away.

"It was crack up!"

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She said at least six cars were stuck in the queue behind the horses as they sauntered up to the first window.

Bruce said it was a shame that the girls weren't served.

"I'm not sure why they wouldn't get served seeing as horses were the main mode of transport less than a century ago."

But McDonald's would not serve them for health and safety reasons, deeming two horses in a queue of cars to be dangerous.

McDonald's also refuses to serve pedestrians at drive-thrus for the same reasons.

And other enterprising individuals who have tried their luck with unconventional modes of travel - such as a supermarket shopping trolley - have also met with rebuffs.

However, it is not a blanket ban on horse power - Kaiapoi's Emma Mcleod managed to ride her horse Bear through the local drive-thru three years ago.

Horses for courses perhaps.

McCarrots anyone?