Horse Drawn Streetcar, October 1971
There are fans of the Main Street Vehicles (like me) - I just like knowing that they are there. And if you like the vehicles, such as the Horse Drawn Streetcar, you probably like the wonderful horses that pull the Streetcars! I mean, who doesn't like a nice horse? (Horses that bite, different story!).
Here's a magnificent Belgian Draft Horse, I always thought horses were bottled, but I guess they are on tap too. Oh man, I'm hilarious! Send me money. This fellow is huge, and (from what I understand), plenty strong enough to pull the vehicle without much trouble. I'm not sure if it is ever OK for guests to interact with the horses - it's best to ask the driver, at least, but it often occurs to me that many young people (and even a lot of older folks) have never seen a live horse up close before.
I want to give him a carrot, or maybe a sugar cube (my understanding is that horses would not appreciate my Thermos full of Beef-a-roni - you learn something every day!). I recall a Disney News article decades ago that gave details about how pampered these animals are, and it made me glad to know it.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Our friend Bu emailed a recent photo from the Firehouse at Disneyland, in relation to yesterday's post. I got home too late to share it then, but I wanted you to see it, so you can take a look and compare it to the vintage photo from the other day. Here's what he said: …interesting how they covered up the buttons…they must still be there underneath that frame. I like the buttons better. Also interesting that they took out the sconce to the left: and just covered it up. There’s other interesting forensics here: I’m glad to see most of the firehouse still intact! THANKS, BU!
17 comments:
Major-
"Beef-a-roni" - oh, how out-of-it can you be-! It's Rice-a-Roni for those fine horses - or in a pinch - Stove Top Stuffing-!
@ Bu-
Thanks for the updated image. My, how things have changed.
Thanks, Major.
Last time I was there in 2018 I spent a good 15 minutes at the Fire Station, and was glad to see that it was still 'intact', just like the Main Street Cinema..
"On tap"... Hmm, I guess Belgian Draft horses run on Belgian Draft beer?... unleaded of course... none of that cheap stuff. This IS a nice-looking horse. The passengers aboard the Streetcar don't seem too pleased about having their picture taken.
The horse in the second shot looks especially sturdy and stocky. I bet he hits the gym at least two or three times a week.
On the left we can see a band member (or two). Did Disneyland band members ever have uniforms that were that brightly colored?
Thanks for the Firehouse photo, Bu. I guess that item with the glass front is a ticker tape machine of some sort? Instead of stock prices, I guess the location of a fire was sent to this device.
Thanks for the picturesque views of the Horse Drawn Streetcar, Major.
JB, that instrument is similar to a seismograph. However, this one alerts security to any movement within the cryogenic lab, deep beneath the park.
Those are handsome animals to be sure. Amazing that they can get so muscular on a diet of hay instead of keto protein supplements, much less Beef-A-Roni.
Major, I’m sure you are right about most guests never having seen horses IRL, much less up close. Our Scout Troop often camped on a private cattle ranch (with permission of course) and I was often amused by our city boys’ reactions to the beef cows wandering about.
Is that a band member in the far left of photo 2?
Thank you, Bu for the Fire House photo addendum. It looks like the Fire House is subject to the same “streamlining” we see elsewhere in the Park. I don’t blame WDI entirely, as guests have become less respectful and more like to do silly things than in the past, and laws have changed too.. Things sticking out, or tempting to “fiddle with” have been polished away in many locations. Remember when you could stand right by the water next to Monstro, and now there is a big planter AND a fence holding you off. The light sconce removal was probably an ADA revision since there are now rules about protruding objects dimensions, etc. hazards to the blind. Sign.
Thanks for these pics today Major, much appreciated.
JG
That’s supposed to be “sigh”.
JG
OK. Belgian horses. I'm in for the comments today. Considering my current situation, I ask myself why I never walked over to the Circle D back when I worked there. Of course, I was a city dweller and never considered a horse until I met my wife. But that's another story. That said, the Disney horses have to be docile and it's generally the nature of a draft to be so. But don't be fooled. Last night my big guy decided to cut loose in the arena which is there for that purpose. No matter how much I work with him, and my other, it's a huge reminder of just how much power they have. It's a humbling experience. And I am forever thankful that they switch to 'gentile' once I am connected to them with only a lead rope. Out on Main Street, having them hitched to a street car doesn't hurt just in case something goes amiss. A rare situation can make things go wrong in a hurry. And I see that they now have a couple CMs walking along with them as a precautionary measure. Most theme parks would have eliminated the experience by now. Good on Disney management for continuing the magic on this. KS
Nanook, I think you underestimate the appeal of that mushy pasta and tinny tomato sauce. Horses love it!
walterworld, 15 minutes?? That’s 15 minutes you could have spent waiting in line to complain at City Hall (my favorite activity)!
JB, I’ll bet horses wouldn’t mind a bucket full of nice malty beer. Or pour it over some oats, a taste treat that can’t be beat. Horses don’t like me, probably because I am loud and obnoxious. I also like to make “sudden moves”. Sure, the Disneyland Band had red uniforms, as well as their white uniforms - I am not sure how they decided which to wear on what days. Or is it what to where on which days? I was wondering about that ticker tape machine, did old firehouses use something like that?
TokyoMagic!, “He’s alive! HE’S ALIIIIIIIVE!!”.
JG, those horses get a thorough workout at Gold’s Gym, including an hour at “Booty Camp”. You don’t look that good without a little effort! I do occasionally still see horses around, but it’s rare, and I live in an area where there are hills for horse owners to ride. City kids, or even suburban kids would likely have very few opportunities to see live horses these days. I remember that behind my grandma’s house, there was a “canyon” - actually a grassy little gully that we called “the canyon” - if you walked along it for about 200 feet, you’d find somebody’s backyard, with a friendly horse who appreciate the handfuls of grass that we’d give it. Once in a while my grandma would give us a carrot to share, which I would assume was really a treat. I’m sure you’re entirely right about all those changes in the Firehouse, and yet, it is a real shame that “we can’t have nice things” anymore.
JG, ah, I was wondering, I have to admit!
KS, I figured you’d like these! Interesting that you only became a horse fan after you met your wife. I admire horses and think that they are beautiful animals, but am not comfortable around them. Probably due to several years of riding on trails up in the Sierras… I’d always get the horse that had a mind of its own. “You guys go that way, I’m going over HERE!”. The guide would have to charge after us as we headed up some random hillside. I even took riding lessons briefly (VERY briefly), my mom had a horse when she was a girl and thought that I would love the experience. It just wasn’t that fun for me.
Major....Oh I have had a couple instances myself with injuries but I'm still standing! I see I used "gentile" in my above comment. Actually, I never have asked them their religion. LOL KS
JB, that machine is the fire telegraph printer. When towns had those "pull in case of fire" boxes mounted on telephone poles, it would trigger an alarm at the firehouse and print out the station number on that telegraph printer. My town removed them about 20 years ago, but the firehouse still has the telegraph printer and a big board on the wall with the locations of all of the call boxes.
Along with most visitors not seeing horses up close except at Disneyland, someone noted to me that WDW's buses are the only time most visitors have regularly been on a bus since graduating high school. It sounds crazy, but seems likely when I think about it.
The horsies look smaller in these photos that they do in "real life". They truly are massive beasts, and super gentle, except when they are not. When guests mess about with them: they don't really dig it: and I totally get it. I've seen them in melt down mode walking down the street if something odd sets them off: and usually it comes out of nowhere: someone wearing something, or some funny noise that they can hear but we can''t. They get yelled at by the guy at the reins who has to get them "back to one"...which they do. Despite what guests think, the horses love to work, as it's in their DNA...their day is relatively short....and if it's feeding time, or "shift change" you will know if because they become little excited puppies, wiggling and squirming about: making little noises. I don't know how often the horses are out there anymore, but I'm also glad they are still around: it would be a sad day for them to be retired completely. They used to have other jobs in parades and such, along with other horses that were not Percheron's. It was always nice to see real animals in the parades: like the dogs with Goofy as dog catcher: running all around like crazy: but totally in control. Or tiny horses pulling Cinderellas carriage. It's very old timey to hear the clipity clop of horses...and always a fascinating thing to see in the middle of Manhattan, on the street with the rest of us. Not sure how many cities still have "mounties". Hope everyone enjoyed the firehouse photo: Disneyland has WDW beat in the "authentic feel" where it actually looks like an old firehouse: with worn walls and such. Well worth a trip during your visit to the house of mouse. Thanks Major.
Major, during an earlier 15 minute excursion back in Summer 1998, I signed the official guestbook next to the King of Belgium or whoever, over at Town Hall while the missus and the kiddos stood in the outrageously long line for annual passes at the Bank, back before it became the Disney Gallery. Got the picks to prove it :D
Thanks Major!
I love all the info shared here on these Disneyland horses. Beautiful animals.
I recall reading an article, a while back, that mentioned where the DL horses are now kept (a number of miles away??) and that they're transported?? I'm not sure if they are still on property anymore. Maybe KS or Mike knows.
Though I didn't find the article, I did fall down a rabbit hole....
Per Disneyland's website information regarding Service Animals, "miniature horse service animals" are allowed in the parks, but they cannot ride the following rides:
Big Thunder Mountain RR
Chip 'n' Dale's Gadget Coaster
Indiana Jones Adventure
Matterhorn Bobsleds [every horse's dream]
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
Space Mountain
Star Tours
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
(Note, per the Disney Food Blog, in WDW you may take your miniature horse ON a horse on the Carrousel.)
For what it's worth, also noted on DL's site is where your animal can relieve itself: (Am serious)
Critter Country: planter near entrance of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Hungry Bear Restaurant;
Fantasyland: planter across from IASW;
Main Street: planter in front of First Aid near Plaza Inn;
Mickey's Toontown: planter between the Toontown Post Offie and the Fire Station.
Bu and Major, thank you for adding that photo from the Firehouse. How cool that you, Bu, even thought to take that shot.
Walterworld, I hope you share those pictures with us. Am looking forward to seeing them.
Sue: I think you may be remembering a post response here I did regarding the history of all the horse drawn vehicles that Disneyland had at one time. And yes the big Disney horse stables and ranch are in NorCal … and there are smaller staging stables in Orange County … but are no longer on property - Galaxy's Edge Displaced the stables , the staff shop, sign shop , cycle shop, paint shop , the mill and many other services once on property - services Walt felt was important to have on property to maintain his magic kingdom .
Thanks, Mike, for the info. That’s sad….not only can’t the horses ride the Matterhorn, but now they can’t even stay overnight. They have to commute.
I believe Mike meant to say Norco. NorCal is a much longer commute. Whoa!! KS
Yes! NORCO ( thanks Ken!)
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