Mini Drivers; Building Your Own Hyperbike Style Cart?

[RoyalRain42]

Hello all!!

I am new to driving minis (not driving in general, just minis)

I have started my new mini mare Fancy over the past two months. We did our first official hitch to a cart last week, she is doing fantastic! She is a brave little thing than genuinely wants to get out on the road. It’s been a blast working with her.

Here is the thing, she is a small mini. She is 5yo, measures 30 and a quarter inches tall. She is NOT pony built. She is a refined creature, like someone left a TB in the dryer too long lol

Currently training in a wood easy entry. I am mainly driving her down rural county roads and canal roads as of right now. However, I am a trail driver, I like to go explore new places. This cart is not going to work well for this, just due to weight and bulk in my eyes. It’s a training cart.

Iv been researching a lot on lighter carts and Hyperbikes have come up ALOT. I’ve watched many videos on them at this point, and I do think they would be a good potential cart for Fancy down the line (like next spring)

But they don’t make them anymore, and it seems that used ones are hard to come buy and a lot higher in price tag.

My husband and stepfather are both builders, and they both thing they could make something very similar to it.

My question is I guess, is has anyone else done this? What were your steps? Things you wish you had known or done differently? Any blogs/videos on this would be appreciated.
Thanks all!

[cayuse]

Go to the Miniature Horse Forums and search hyperbikes. Someone there made one about 2 years ago IIRC and posted pics.

[Bluey]

Didn’t know what a hyper bike was, found this, doesn’t sound like that good an idea, very unsteady balance?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb3HYTflQoA

[usernameTaken]

No help with building one, but there is a vanderveencarts.com that sells something similar, they have a similar owners facebook page like the hyperbikes. If nothing else, gives you some additional views/ideas on how it could be done.

I’ve always wanted to drive a hyperbike, was sad when I heard they are no longer making them.

Good luck and I hope you figure something out! Please report back if you do.

[Ergots]

I’ve driven a mini in a hyperbike and it is very unbalanced, the seats are the bulk of the weight too and naturally want to tip backwards. Would not recommend.

[DMK]

Except when the shafts break where they meet the seat area. Then they most definitely don’t tip backwards!

[2DogsFarm]

Consider a Graber-type cart - like the ones Roadster Ponies are put to.
I always thought they’d be uncomfortable & tricky to get in & out of.
Until my neighbor let me drive his (52") Hackney Pony put to his wood Training cart.
Even my crippledy knees were fine getting in & driving. Getting out was a bit harder, but with practice probably not a problem.
There’s no back support, but that could be modified by a carriagemaker.
Example:
I had this seat replace the standard bench on my wire Easy Entry.

Another option could be an aluminum Easy Entry to save on weight. There’s a s harness shop not far from me in Topeka, IN that carries them.
I’ll edit to add a link.

ETA:
This is similar to what Eastside has for sale.
My 34" mini takes a 52" shaft, so this size could be adapted for your smaller mare.

[goodhors]

2DogsFarm It’s always about the cupholders! Crucial detail left out on most cart planning!! Thanks for reminding us. Ha ha

[RMJacobs]

DH put a water bottle cage (same as on my bikes) and whip holder on both my carts. I don’t understand why they came without a whip holder!

Rebecca

[cayuse]

I had my heart set on that aluminum cart a few years back. Never could reach anyone about it. It looks comfortable.

[2DogsFarm]

& armrests!

@RMJacobs I got one of the cage holders, but it never stayed put on the dash. I had to wedge it on to the padded backrest & then it was awkward reaching for it

@cayuse Eastside Harness in Topeka, IN doesn’t make them, but could probably tell you who they order from.

[RMJacobs]

Mine were wired into the metal mesh at the front of the cart. You can see it in this photo if you look closely.

Rebecca

[DMK]

Cup holders tend to fit nicely around whip stocks. But the key to a good cup holder is to visit a high-end cycling shop, they tend to have a really nice variety of really good cup holders. I have one that’s reinforced canvas that velcros around the whip stock, and it holds a coffee cup perfectly. I can run obstacles and my yeti comes home safely

[RMJacobs]

I have two that I got on Amazon, one on my bike and one on my mobility scooter. They both velcro on and are insulated. My consideration for buying these is to get ones in which my ice won’t melt while I’m out in the heat. In the summer, if I get home and still have ice cubes in my water bottle, I consider it a win. I hate drinking warm water! I also need my water not to freeze solid in the winter. I ride my bike in some pretty cold temperatures. Plus neither my bike nor my scooter have braize ons for a water bottle cage.

Rebecca

[goodhors]

We have been freezing the water bottles, which seems to last quite a while to keep water cold. We have the cycling holders DMK mentions, kept on the seat side. I added a velcro strap because he was bouncing bottles out on rough ground!

Have to stay hydrated to be able to chirp, cluck, whistle the commands to your equine!

[RMJacobs]

I just got new water bottles and tried freezing one. It wasn’t such a great idea, because it’s the type of bottle you squeeze to drink from it. Tough to squeeze when it’s frozen solid! I’m back to putting ice cubes in it.

Rebecca

[goodhors]

We put the frozen plastic (store) bottle in the holder, harness, hitch horse to vehicle. By then bottle ice has started melting a bit in summer heat. So there is melted water which allows squeezing to prevent ice lump blocking the screw top. Water flows out around the ice lump. Ice can last quite awhile, depending on temps. Just an idea for you.

Putting cube into bottles usually makes a mess for me.

[Bluey]

Try freezing half full or what works best for you water bottles on their side, tilted enough so the opening is clear.
When going to use them fill empty space with regular water and it helps melt it to drink, but still stays cool long time.

[RMJacobs]

What I like about these bottles is that they have a wide mouth (just like me, ha ha). I can scoop up ice and just pour it in without it going everywhere. It’s a huge improvement on my last bottle, where you had to add ice one cube at a time.

Rebecca

[RMJacobs]

Tilting it is a good idea. But I think I’ll stick to ice cubes. Planning ahead isn’t my forte.

Rebecca