The annals of country music sure do have their share of wild moments. One of them occurred on this day, June 3, in 2000. That is when two of the genre's superstars, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, had a run-in with some police in New York because of a police horse. This unlikely equine mishap took place when both men were in their thirties, per syracuse.com. In a nutshell, Chesney took off astride a deputy's horse. McGraw, along with his manager, Mark Russo, allegedly attacked the deputies who were attempting to halt Chesney. The bizarre "horse incident" hit the headlines nationwide.
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Kenny Chesney Seemingly Felt That The Incident Was Just A Misunderstanding
Per the outlet via press archives, Chesney supposedly said that the daughter of a police captain allowed Chesney to get on her dad's steed. He explained at the time, "Unfortunately, what was meant to be a totally innocent and fun gesture, was blown way out of proportion. Tim McGraw and I have been friends for a very long time. When he saw me in danger of being harmed, he simply came over to help out his friend."
Chesney's and McGraw's Horse Encounter Led To Charges Against Them
It must have been a pleasantly lively day of music before the chaos between the two country stars and the police went down. Per the outlet, they performed at the George Strait Country Music Festival at Orchard Park, N.Y. Others who also graced the stage included Lee Ann Womack, Strait himself, and Martina McBride.
But after things went awry with the horse, Russo, McGraw, and Chesney had their hands full. They "were arrested, arraigned, and released on bail," according to the outlet. McGraw was charged with a felony; he allegedly assaulted a police officer. Chesney faced a disorderly conduct charge.
How Their Situation Got Resolved
Fortunately, things turned out quite well for these three men. It took a while, but a year down the road, they were all found not guilty. They were understandably elated to be done with this messy predicament. Chesney and McGraw embraced when the verdict was announced in the courtroom. Faith Hill, McGraw's wife, was reportedly weepy-eyed with relief.
