First Carriage and Barn Advice

[DressageLusitano]

I have a horse who has been driving one of the little carts used by breed people and we are looking to start driving a carriage. I’ve been looking at a few kutzmanns in our area and have heard mixed reviews. Any recommendations on top brands and ballpark estimates of what I should pay for a phaeton or marathon carriage in good used condition?
Also, we are at a riding barn and it’s rather difficult to harness him and go for a drive without someone’s horse thinking the cart of death is coming for them. Any tips for managing this? We leave the barn to drive but I’m not comfortable hooking him out on the street so I kinda have to do it on the property.

Thanks in advance

[DMK]

I’m not that long in this sport, but I love my kutzmann muchly (I have a Fox II). As for marathon vehicle prices it’s a lot like buying cars. Are you buying a mercedes? (Kuhnle, Bennington), a nice ford (kutzmann, WCC), or going budget? (ECC) … so a huge variety in prices depending on your needs. I would join the various fb sales group so you can see what’s out there, what’s selling for how much and get a feel for pricing.

Or you could just go to Driving Essentials and check out the prices of new Benningtons and give yourself heart failure. ;D

[RMJacobs]

I had my driving ponies at home, but had the issue of riding horses being afraid of the cart when we were out and about in the neighborhood. I offered to work with the riders/horses to desensitize their horses to the cart. Every one of them took me up on it, and we had a lot of fun doing it. We ended up with a lot of bombproof horses in the neighborhood.

For some, I drove around near where they were eating until they got bored with the cart. For others, I had them chase me. Horses are much braver when they are chasing “away” the scary object.

Rebecca

[Trakehner]

How big is your horse?
What’s your driving terrain like?
How much experience do you have driving?
How much experience does your horse have driving?
Why do you want a 4 vs. 2 wheeler?
Budget?
Do you want to compete?

I’ve had Kuhnle and Bennington marathon carriages…loved both of them. Have a Bennington FunBug now for my Fjord pony…nice but expensive.

Had one of the WCC Chinese lines…Bad, Bad, Bad…poor quality welds and HEAVY.

Also, Carriage Machine Shop Meadowbrook and Village Cart…wood and nice vehicles.

[DMK]

I believe he has re-branded the Chinese WCCs as “ECC”. The current WCCs are from Poland and look comparable to Kutzmanns.

[Brown_Derby]

@RMJacobs

For some, I drove around near where they were eating until they got bored with the cart. For others, I had them chase me. Horses are much braver when they are chasing “away” the scary object.

Rebecca

This. Invite your fellow boarders, perhaps individually, and allow them to follow the cart from a distance and gradually closer. As long as the cart is moving, the horse is in charge. This also works for cattle & goats, wheelchairs, noisy rolling ice chests, etc.

[Trakehner]

@DMK

I believe he has re-branded the Chinese WCCs as “ECC”. The current WCCs are from Poland and look comparable to Kutzmanns.

I believe they’re made by the same factory…some of the Kuhnle’s too.