A Percheron and streetcar waiting for passengers at the Magic Kingdom

Every day, guests in the Disney parks travel up and down Main Street on horse-drawn streetcars, but most of those guests probably don't know much about the magnificent horses that pull the streetcars. Perhaps it is because Laura and I have horses at home, but I always notice these large horses as they pass by. While not a high-profile attraction, the streetcars add greatly to the turn of the century atmosphere of Main Street. The clip-clop of the horses' feet and the ringing of the bell are an important part of the sounds of Main Street. It is especially fun to ride down Main Street on a streetcar while the Dapper Dans stand on the back of the trolley, singing as you go along.

A Belgian pulling a streetcar at the Magic Kingdom

Disney uses draft horses to pull the streetcars. Draft horses are much larger than average horses. Because of their large size, they are much better suited to pull heavy loads. Draft horses stand around 17 to 18 hands, or 68 to 72 inches, and usually weigh over 2,000 pounds. As you may know, a horse's height is measured to the base of the back of its neck. At home, we have Tennessee Walking Horses, which I condsider to be average size horses. They stand between 15 and 16 hands, or 60 to 64 inches, and usuall weigh around 1,000 pounds. It is interesting to me to compare the size of their feet; draft horse feet to me seem huge compared to other horses' feet. Although draft horses are mainly used for pulling things, they can be ridden. See for example Widowmaker, Pecos Bill's horse in Disney's Tall Tale from 1995.

Laura visiting with a Belgian near Cinderella Castle. Each horse has his name on his bridle, and this is Jim.

Walt Disney World uses two draft horse breeds for the Main Street Streetcars - Belgians and Percherons. The easiest way to tell these horses apart is by their color. Belgians are always brown, while Percherons are black or dapple-gray. The two breeds are very close to the same size, and are slightly smaller than Clydesdales. Disneyland mainly uses Belgians. The official web site of Disneyland Paris states that their streetcars are pulled by Percherons. I don't believe that Tokyo Disneyland has horse-drawn streetcars.

Laura visiting with a Percheron. Note the old Walt Disney World logo on the blinders.

Walt Disney World's draft horses live at the Tri-Circle D Ranch, which is located at the Fort Wilderness Campground. Guests can visit the horses at the barn when they aren't working. At the barn, there is also a display of pictures of different horses in Disney movies, as well as several pictures of Walt with horses. Walt loved horses, and he was an avid polo player in the 1930s. Guests may also get to see the farrier working on the horses' shoes. The horses wear special shoes that are easier on their feet as they walk on the street surface at the Magic Kingdom. While they are in the Magic Kingdom but not pulling streetcars, the horses stay in stalls at the back of the Car Barn on Main Street.

Laura visiting at the Tri-Circle D Ranch with Luke, a Belgian, who for some reason is sticking his tongue out.

If you are interested in learning more about the horses, just ask the streetcar conductors. They can tell you all about the different personalities of the horses. As with people or any other type of animal, each horse has a distinct personality, and although it may not be apparent to casual observers, if you spend any time with the horses, you get to know their different characters. If you do want to talk to the conductors, the best idea is to ride the streetcar in the morning from the castle back to Town Square. Since most guests are going the opposite direction, the streetcars going back toward the entrance are almost never crowded, and you have a better chance of sitting at the front by the conductor.

Steve with Bob, a Belgian. Each horse has a sign over his stall with his name, breed and weight. Bob weighs 2,000 pounds.

The horses themselves are quite gentle, which is one of the job requirements since they spend so much time around so many people. They never seem to mind if you stop to have your picture made with them.

So the next time you are walking down Main Street at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Disneyland Paris, be sure to notice the large, gentle, hard-working horses, as they do their job in the happiest places on earth.

- Story and Photos by Steve Burns
Posted

Steve is a three-time Disney Store National Trivia finalist and webmaster of BurnsLand, home of Steve's Disney Railroad Adventures.

E-mail Steve at steve@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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