What is the story behind Kentucky’s state law that forbids carrying an ice cream cone in your back pocket?

It may sound like the kind of rule concocted during a particularly wild town meeting, but Kentucky's law forbidding people from carrying an ice cream cone in their back pocket actually has a surprisingly clever (if not slightly mischievous) origin. The law dates back to the 19th century when horse theft was a serious issue, and some unscrupulous individuals came up with an ingenious yet absurd way to "steal" horses without technically breaking the law. Here's how it worked: horses, being naturally curious animals, were often lured away from their owners by the tantalizing smell of a strategically placed ice cream cone in someone’s back pocket. Since the thief wasn’t actively leading the horse away but merely walking with a dessert in tow, they could claim that the horse followed them voluntarily.

This creative method of theft caused enough trouble that legislators felt compelled to intervene, passing a law to eliminate the loophole. Though the days of ice cream-related horse theft are long gone, the law remains on the books—a quirky reminder of Kentucky’s rural past and the boundless ingenuity of those looking to bend the rules. It’s a fun fact that often pops up in lists of odd American laws, and it leaves one wondering how many other strange statutes were born out of similarly unusual circumstances. So, next time you visit Kentucky, keep your ice cream in hand—your cone and the local horses will thank you.