Carts

ThorArb · 11-04-2009, 11:25 AM

I need help learning about carts. Im looking into teaching my horses to drive, mainly Dezirae. But I have some questions about the carts themselves.

I notice that there are obviously different sized carts. Ive come across a good deal on 2 different carts. One is horse/cob sized, no measurements given. The other I was told has 60in shafts and 26in wheels. I was told if I bought the second cart that I could buy longer shafts and put them on there.

My question is, what size cart do I need anyhow? Dezirae isnt a "wide" horse, she's more dainty but she is also still growing height wise. I expect her to finish around 15.3 (she's about 15.1 right now). Togan is a wide horse, he's about 15.1. Im wondering what measurements on the cart would be necessary for these two? Whats the normal shaft length for horses of this size? Tires?

Anyways, thanks for any info you can share. Ive driven horses before but this will be a first as far as training and everything goes.

Brittany

SilverLexi · 11-04-2009, 11:30 AM

I would be very interest in hear the answers to these questions also.

Slim Pikkens · 11-04-2009, 11:42 AM

You need to measure from the point of the shoulder to several feet behind her rump. If you're talking about the Easy Entry style cart the cob/horse should work. The front of the shafts should not go past the point of the shoulder. With the Easy Entry style of cart, guess what you'll be staring at?

singing tree · 11-04-2009, 01:38 PM

Welcome to the world of driving! It is a good way to let people who don't want to ride participate with your horse.

Another important measurement is where the shaft falls on your horses sides. When the shafts goes through the holders they should be level. If the cart is too small, the shafts will tilt up, and make the cart unbalanced. The opposite would also be true of course. Imagine a small horse pulling a draft cart! To measure, you would hold those shafts level without the horse being hitched. Measure to the ground. Then with the harness on the horse, but horse is not hitched, measure to the ground from the shaft holders.
Of course the other way would be to go ahead and hitch the horse and just see if the shafts are level. The only exception to this would be the combined driving carts, which have a totally different shaft system, or of course the harness racing sulkies, which hook on differently as well.
You can adjust the holders a bit on most harnesses, to accommodate
different horses who are somewhat close in size.
Let us know how it goes!

I drive with an Amish made horse sized cart. My driving horses are from 14 hands to 15 hands. My only issue was that I finally cut the ends of of the shafts because they were too long. I was putting extensions of the harness, etc. to compensate. It would be great if someone in your area could help you with seeing if either cart work.

country-mare · 11-04-2009, 02:28 PM

Try this link, it has a great chart on it.

http://www.horsecart.com/sizecharts.html

recklesshoundog · 11-04-2009, 03:22 PM

60 inch shafts are for ponies. A cob cart is 72, reg horses will need a 84 or 90 depending on height. Wheel height is another consideration too.

horsecrazygal · 11-04-2009, 03:39 PM

Oh... I have a question about carts too!

I was given a free jog cart from a friend of mine and I have no idea how to hitch it up? It is a jog cart from jerald and looks just like this:

https://jeraldsulky.com/cart/agora.c...xm=on&ppinc=1a

I have taken driving lessons in the past, but I think it is time that I get a refresher course...

Since I got sick everything has been on hold for the last 9 months. My 3 horses are just sitting. Maybe I should teach them to drive? That way they aren't sitting and I will have something to work on with them... hmm...

singing tree · 11-04-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsecrazygal

Oh... I have a question about carts too!

I was given a free jog cart from a friend of mine and I have no idea how to hitch it up? It is a jog cart from jerald and looks just like this:

https://jeraldsulky.com/cart/agora.c...xm=on&ppinc=1a

I have taken driving lessons in the past, but I think it is time that I get a refresher course...

Since I got sick everything has been on hold for the last 9 months. My 3 horses are just sitting. Maybe I should teach them to drive? That way they aren't sitting and I will have something to work on with them... hmm...

I think this cart is to train for harness racing - at least that's what I think, so it would need a different harness than a pleasure cart.

ThorArb · 11-04-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recklesshoundog

60 inch shafts are for ponies. A cob cart is 72, reg horses will need a 84 or 90 depending on height. Wheel height is another consideration too.

Right, the lady with the carts said that I could buy horse length shafts. I had no idea what that length is though!

Im going to measure my horses tomorrow. Togan is bigger than Dezi for sure though.

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11-04-2009, 11:25 AM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,965	Carts I need help learning about carts. Im looking into teaching my horses to drive, mainly Dezirae. But I have some questions about the carts themselves. I notice that there are obviously different sized carts. Ive come across a good deal on 2 different carts. One is horse/cob sized, no measurements given. The other I was told has 60in shafts and 26in wheels. I was told if I bought the second cart that I could buy longer shafts and put them on there. My question is, what size cart do I need anyhow? Dezirae isnt a "wide" horse, she's more dainty but she is also still growing height wise. I expect her to finish around 15.3 (she's about 15.1 right now). Togan is a wide horse, he's about 15.1. Im wondering what measurements on the cart would be necessary for these two? Whats the normal shaft length for horses of this size? Tires? Anyways, thanks for any info you can share. Ive driven horses before but this will be a first as far as training and everything goes. Brittany __________________ Proud owner of Dixie (04 QH mare), Dezi (06 App filly), Togan (88 QH gelding)

11-04-2009, 11:30 AM
SilverLexi Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manitoba Posts: 326	I would be very interest in hear the answers to these questions also. __________________ Why is it when we age our hearts get softer, our butts get softer but that dang ground just keeps just getting harder and harder????

11-04-2009, 11:42 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	You need to measure from the point of the shoulder to several feet behind her rump. If you're talking about the Easy Entry style cart the cob/horse should work. The front of the shafts should not go past the point of the shoulder. With the Easy Entry style of cart, guess what you'll be staring at?

11-04-2009, 01:38 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,025	Welcome to the world of driving! It is a good way to let people who don't want to ride participate with your horse. Another important measurement is where the shaft falls on your horses sides. When the shafts goes through the holders they should be level. If the cart is too small, the shafts will tilt up, and make the cart unbalanced. The opposite would also be true of course. Imagine a small horse pulling a draft cart! To measure, you would hold those shafts level without the horse being hitched. Measure to the ground. Then with the harness on the horse, but horse is not hitched, measure to the ground from the shaft holders. Of course the other way would be to go ahead and hitch the horse and just see if the shafts are level. The only exception to this would be the combined driving carts, which have a totally different shaft system, or of course the harness racing sulkies, which hook on differently as well. You can adjust the holders a bit on most harnesses, to accommodate different horses who are somewhat close in size. Let us know how it goes! I drive with an Amish made horse sized cart. My driving horses are from 14 hands to 15 hands. My only issue was that I finally cut the ends of of the shafts because they were too long. I was putting extensions of the harness, etc. to compensate. It would be great if someone in your area could help you with seeing if either cart work. Last edited by singing tree : 11-04-2009 at 01:58 PM.

11-04-2009, 02:28 PM
country-mare Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fred, Texas Posts: 2,102	Try this link, it has a great chart on it. http://www.horsecart.com/sizecharts.html __________________

11-04-2009, 03:22 PM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,163	60 inch shafts are for ponies. A cob cart is 72, reg horses will need a 84 or 90 depending on height. Wheel height is another consideration too.

11-04-2009, 03:39 PM
horsecrazygal Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FL Posts: 29	Oh... I have a question about carts too! I was given a free jog cart from a friend of mine and I have no idea how to hitch it up? It is a jog cart from jerald and looks just like this: https://jeraldsulky.com/cart/agora.c...xm=on&ppinc=1a I have taken driving lessons in the past, but I think it is time that I get a refresher course... Since I got sick everything has been on hold for the last 9 months. My 3 horses are just sitting. Maybe I should teach them to drive? That way they aren't sitting and I will have something to work on with them... hmm...