Beginner cart for 12.3hh pony

[Satin_Filly]

Hi all! Please excuse my complete ignorance on the subject. I’ve been asked by a friend to help her look for a cart for their pony. The cart is for a 12.3hh pony. Their friend is going to teach the pony to drive, so driver and pony are both newbies. Would need to fit 2 adults, driving would be on grass or dirt, maybe occasionally on the road, but mostly on the farm’s property.

What do you look for in a cart? What are good brands, etc?

I found this on Ebay, what do you think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Amish-Handcrafted-Pony-Horse-Cob-Jog-Cart-Wood-Wheels-Custom-Made-Free-Ship-/140734826678?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c47308b6

Thanks so much, and again…I don’t know a thing! Just helping a friend find a great deal.

[Chewbacca]

I believe you will hear the following in several of the responses:

Are they going to be working with a trainer who is qualified to teach?

There is a quite lovely posting on a driving list just from a few days ago about a “trainer” who took on teaching a pony to drive for a client. This person assumed that since the pony was calm and easy going, it was ready to be fully hitched to a cart within a few days. A wreck ensued and the pony will simply never drive again.

I cannot over emphasize the necessity to work with a truly qualified trainer, as training a horse to drive properly takes months before that first hitching.

To your question about the vehicle, I think it’s best to figure out what the people want to do in the long run… pleasure? show? Definitely a 2 wheel is the place to start, and I do like the cart you linked to, however, for the same price range, you can get a full-out meadowbrook vehicle, which would be more showy, if that’s a goal. On the cart you linked to, the EZ entry feature is great to have, and the wood wheels are perfect, and would be a good starter cart, too. Pneumatic wheels (air filled “bicycle tires”) can bend, burst and leak air.

I wonder if this would come unassembled? That could be difficult to put together! But it’s possible they would ship the whole thing ready to drive, or you could pick up. I got an EZ entry cart on ebay for a mini (metal) and it came unassembled - had to put the whole thing together.

Good luck to your friend with the pony! I hope it goes well.

www.kshai1715.wordpress.com

[Remudamom]

I’d go with something like this.

http://miniexpress.com/carts-and-wagons/easy-entry-cart-metal/prod_85.html

My first driving pony I trained myself. I was lucky. She was born to drive. I had no experience but we both made it. My second pony had to do three weeks at the Amish before I could drive her. It’s dangerous if you don’t have qualified help.

[2DogsFarm]

I’m a Driving Newb too - with a grand total of 6 lessons in my history

From what I see that cart has very little in the way of suspension for the seat. That would make for a pretty rough ride if not on a paved road.

The link Remudamom provided has a better selection.

But DITTO what Chewy & Remudamom both say about getting a trainer!
I am presently working with a pony who had 20 or so drives under his belt then crashed and (experienced) owner gave him to me advising he might not be safe to hitch ever again.
2 years later we are ground driving,in an indoor arena, but I am lightyears away from even thinking of putting him to a cart.
Please tell your friend to find a trainer long before she buys a cart.

[paohatch]

Please tell your friend to find a trainer long before she buys a cart.

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LOL… like the folks who buy a harness or saddle before they buy the horse???:lol: