Police in St Louis are investigating a bizarre incident, in which a man hijacked a horse-drawn carriage, but was foiled when the horse, named “Harry,” instinctively ran back to its barn.

On Wednesday, police said they had arrested Johnny Medina, 40, on one count each of second-degree robbery, third-degree assault and animal abuse. He is being held on a cash-only $30,000 bail at the St. Louis Justice Center.

Authorities say Medina assaulted the driver with his cane, and later punched and kicked Harry. Witnesses subdued the suspect, and a veterinarian checked out the horse, who did not appear to be seriously hurt.

The St. Louis Carriage Company driver Larry Turner says Medina rushed the carriage and tried to jump on. Turner said he slapped Harry into a gallop but the man caught up and climbed aboard.

“As soon as he got in there, in the calmest voice possible, he said, ‘Don’t look at me, just drive the carriage,'” Turner told The St Louis Post-Dispatch.

A taxi driver who saw what was happening shouted if he should call police, and when Turner said yes, the man stood up and struck him in the head with his cane.

“It was cheap wood and it broke immediately,” Turner said.

Turner was not seriously hurt and was able to jump off the carriage. Henry the horse then high-tailed it back to his barn.

Police and Holzum said a barn worker freed the horse from the carriage, but the suspect got off and started punching and kicking the horse. The man also kicked the barn worker a couple times in the hip, Holzum said. The horse was not hurt.

Turner said the two men who helped him subdued the man with a “choke hold,” knocking him unconscious until police arrived.

Harry, the 10-year-old black Percheron draft horse, got the day off to rest.