At a Glance
- Stephen Harmon filmed himself riding a horse inside a Texas Target store
- The horse defecated multiple times on the store floor during the stunt
- Video drew millions of views and sparked debate about worker treatment
- Why it matters: The incident raises questions about viral stunts creating messes for minimum-wage workers to clean up
A Texas man has sparked nationwide debate after filming himself riding a horse through a Target store, with the animal defecating multiple times on the floor as employees scrambled to intervene.
The video, posted by Stephen Harmon who goes by @cowboyatheart82 on social media, shows the full-sized horse navigating store aisles while shoppers react with shock and amusement.
The Stunt
Harmon shared the footage on Instagram earlier this month with the simple caption: “Taking A Horse Inside Target.” The clip captures him casually riding through the retail giant as his companion records the chaos unfolding.
Store employees quickly attempted to stop the stunt. One worker shouted, “What are you doing?” while another demanded Harmon leave immediately. Despite their efforts, Harmon continued riding through the store before eventually exiting.
The horse defecated on the floor multiple times during the incident. The person filming reacted audibly to each occurrence, highlighting the escalating mess being created in the store.
Public Reaction Divided
The video spread rapidly across social media platforms, generating millions of views and thousands of comments. Public opinion split between finding humor in the absurdity and expressing outrage over the cleanup burden placed on workers.
One commenter wrote: “Love this video. Just next time you go in a facility, put something back there to catch the poop. That’s so rude and disrespectful to leave for someone else to have to clean.”
The question of who would handle the cleanup dominated discussion threads. “Now who cleaned up the horse? Not going to lie, I’d be really upset about that,” another viewer commented.
Some tried balancing amusement with concern for workers. “I do think the video was funny but I don’t think it was cool that the horse pooped in the store,” one person wrote, adding that employees “shouldn’t have to clean up the poo.”
Pattern of Behavior
This wasn’t Harmon’s first time bringing a horse into retail spaces. His social media reveals a previous video showing him riding the same horse into a Tractor Supply location.
During that incident, a manager identified the stunt as a liability issue and asked Harmon to leave the premises immediately.
Impact on Workers
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between viral content creators seeking views and the working conditions of retail employees. Target workers, typically earning minimum wage or slightly above, faced the prospect of cleaning animal waste from store floors.
The video shows employees attempting to intervene while maintaining professional composure despite the bizarre circumstances. One worker could be heard stating the obvious: a horse doesn’t belong inside a retail store.
Social Media Response
Comment sections filled with debates about appropriate boundaries for pranks and stunts. Many users expressed solidarity with retail workers who regularly deal with difficult customers and messy situations.
The incident also raised questions about store security protocols and how a full-sized horse gained access to the shopping area without immediate intervention.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Harmon filmed himself riding a horse through Target, creating a biohazard situation
- The video generated millions of views but sparked criticism over worker treatment
- This represents part of a pattern, with Harmon previously bringing horses into other retail locations
- The cleanup burden fell on Target employees, prompting widespread debate about viral stunt ethics
