A Michigan woman is hitting headlines for taking her miniature service horse on a series of first class flights across the country.

Ronica Froese and her equine companion, Fred, flew from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Ontario, California on February 7, before taking a return flight on February 16.

Froese says she paid 'an arm and a leg' for tickets with bulkhead seating so that there was ample room for she and Fred to fly in style.

'This was our first trip via an airplane. Fred has traveled several thousands of miles in my vehicle but this was the first time in the air,' Froese told WXMI on Monday.

'I spent a year of my life training this horse extensively, and I was totally prepared for everything,' she added.

Ronica Froese is hitting headlines for bringing her miniature service horse, Fred, on board a series of first class flights across the country. The pair are pictured en route from Michigan to California on February 7

Froese said paid 'an arm and a leg' for tickets with bulkhead seating so that she and her service horse, Fred, could both travel in style

Froese told WXMI that 'everyone was sweet as pie' to both her and Fred during their travels.

'TSA was amazing. The experience was way better than I actually anticipated,' she cooed to WXMI.

Guidelines provided by the federal government, which were published on August 15 last year, allow passengers to bring the miniature horses on board American aircraft so long as they are designated as service animals.

In a statement at the time, the US Department of Transport told CBS 62: 'With respect to animal species, we indicated that we would focus our enforcement efforts on ensuring that the most commonly used service animals (dogs, cats, and miniature horses) are accepted for transport'.

However, after recent backlash, the DOT is considering revoking the rules, so that only canines could accompany their owners on board.

Giddy up! A nervous looking Froese and Fred are seen in the departures lounge ahead of their first class flight

Froese told WXMI that 'everyone was sweet as pie' to both her and Fred during their travels.

Froese said that she's disappointed at the prospect, stating: 'It's definitely an abused system, but the sad part is what the DOT is looking at doing, they are looking at excluding me as a handler from taking my horse on the plan.'

Last year, another mini service horse owner hit headlines are she was spotted taking to the skies with her equine companion.

Abrea Hensley and her 136-pound mare, Flirty, squeezed into economy for a flight from Chicago to Omaha.

The incident divided travelers, with one outraged customer blasting on Twitter: 'What a time to be alive. GTHO (get the hell out) with this. Where does this pony fit on the plane? Does she get her own row because anyone sitting in hers, it's going to be tight!!!'

Abrea Hensley and her 136-pound mare, Flirty, squeezed into economy for a flight from Chicago to Omaha last September

Hensley and Flirty divided airline travelers with one outraged customer blasting: 'What a time to be alive. GTHO (get the hell out) with this. Where does this pony fit on the plane? Does she get her own row because anyone sitting in hers, it's going to be tight!!!'

BIZARRE PETS PASSENGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BRING ON PLANES - Emotional Support Pig In 2014, a woman was booted off a from Connecticut to Washington state because her large pet pig was being 'disruptive'. A fellow passenger told CNN the pig weighed between 70 and 80 pounds, and began dropping things in the aisle and squealing - Emotional Support Squirrel A female traveler was left livid after Frontier Airlines barred her pet squirrel, Daisy, from accompanying her on a flight from Orlando to Cleveland. The passenger appeared on numerous TV programs blasting the company, claiming she had a letter from her doctor saying that the squirrel helped with her anxiety disorder - Emotional Support Hamster Last year, a woman admitted to flushing her emotional support hamster down an airport toilet after Spirit Airlines stopped her from bringing the rodent with her on the plane Advertisement

The American Disabilities Act differentiates between service animals and emotional support animals - which are commonly used to help calm the nerves of anxious travelers.

Unlike emotional support animals, service animals must have special training to assist their disabled owners with specific tasks.

The ADA Training Association website states: 'Even though some states have laws defining therapy animals, these animals are not limited to working with people with disabilities and therefore are not covered by federal laws protecting the use of service animals'.

Back in 2016, a turkey was allowed a seat on a United flight because it classified as a service animal for its disabled owner.

However, in recent years, airlines have often blocked passengers from travelling with pets dubbed 'emotional support animals'.

In January 2018 , United Airlines famously stopped a female passenger from bringing her 'emotional support peacock' aboard a flight out of Newark Liberty Airport.

The company claimed that the peacock - named Dexter - surpassed weight and size restrictions.

Back in 2016, a turkey was allowed a seat on a United flight because it classified as a service animal for its disabled owner

In January 2018, United Airlines famously stopped a female passenger from bringing her 'emotional support peacock' aboard a flight

Elsewhere, squirrels and hamsters have also been booted off planes, while American Airlines last year banned insects, goats, and hedgehogs from travelling with their owners.

However, other fliers have been more successful in bringing aboard their support pets.

In 2015, a snap of a flight attendant cradling a kangaroo on board an American plane went viral.

And, on a 2016 flight from Charlotte to Asheville, North Carolina, commuters were left stunned when a passenger brought his pet duck, Daniel, onto the plane.

A woman and her large pet pig were booted off a flight from Connecticut to Washington state in 2014

An emotional support kangaroo is pictured on a plane back in 2015