The Solvang Trolley, also known as The Honen (“The Hen” in Danish), was introduced in 1964 when Axel Nielsen hired Chris Kleebo to build a motorized, Danish-style Streetcar. The streetcar was used to shuttle shoppers between the Bethania Lutheran Home and Nielsen’s Market (a general store at the time, now replaced by the Valley Fresh Market). It was also used to deliver groceries around the Santa Ynez Valley.
Eventually, the trolley broke down and in 1973, Hans Rasmussen converted the trolley to be drawn by two quarter horses, Gringo and Snowflake. He made it available to Solvang visitors, giving guided tours of the town. Rasmussen ran the trolley for about a year and passed it on to Gerald Gim (Gerry) Harris. When Gerry won the lottery in 1989, he passed the trolley on to his 2nd cousin, David Esdaile from England. In 2004, the Trolley passed to Leonard Prowse and, in 2006, to Jim Begg.
Around this time, Sal Orona Sr. was working as a veterinary technician when he saw an ad offering a business was great for people who love horses. Sal Sr. not only loves horses, he has worked with them since he was six years old and has traveled all over the United States working with horse shows. When Sal Sr. answered the ad, he discovered that Jim Begg was selling the Solvang Trolley and two draft horses, Rita and Claire. It took a great deal of time, effort, and savings to rebuild the aging trolley and to retrain Rita and Claire to behave properly on the Solvang streets.
The Orona family eventually acquired carriages for special events and two motorized trolleys for hot days and extended tours and adopted additional horses from owners who were unable to keep them. When the horses are no longer able to work, the Oronas provide them a forever home where they can live out their days in comfort and care.
Source: Interview with Clau Orona on the SYV Stories Podcast by Tamara Rowles. Listen to the full interview here.