A Florida man's lack of horse sense landed him behind bars -- after he hauled off and slugged a police horse on a busy street in downtown Gainesville.

Olawale Agbede smacked Rusty the stallion across the flank at least four times around closing time on Saturday night, but the steed did not respond, moving away each time a blow landed. Agbede told police that he was afraid the horse was about to knock him over and insists he only struck the critter twice.

He faces charges of interfering with a police animal -- a charge that we're sure prosecutors can make hay out of.

Source: Gainesville Sun