Boss Done Horsing Around

Sprinsteen ponies up reported $200,000 to settle horse-trading flap

By Marcus Errico Jan 10, 2008 8:38 PMTags

Bruce Springsteen apparently wasn't born to run to court.

The rocker has ponied up $200,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by an Olympic equestrian to settle a horse-trading flap, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Springsteen reportedly reached the out-of-court deal with Todd Minikus, who sued the Springsteen clan back in February.

Per the suit, filed in Palm Beach, Florida, Springsteen agreed to pay $650,000 and hand over one of his horses, Scarlett, in exchange for Minikus' equine Pavarotti, who was going to be a gift for their teenage daughter Jessica.

Instead, Minikus claims, the rocker and wife Patti Scialfa "got cold feet."

"The defendants conveyed to plaintiff through their agents…that Mrs. Springsteen wanted to back out of the deal, fearing that Pavarotti might not be right for her daughter," the suit states.

There was no immediate comment from lawyers for either party. The terms of the settlement were supposed to be confidential.

Springsteen and Scialfa should have no problems covering the costs. They and the rest of the E Street Band are set to kick off the next leg of the phenomenally successful Magic tour in Hartford, Connecticut, on Feb. 28.

The band's 2007 road show banked nearly $40 million.