SAFE! Makeshift singletree for a tire drag?

[sascha]

It’s time for my dressage horse to build some more muscle by adding to her ground driving skills by dragging a tire around in the sand. I have access to all manner of used STBD jog carts that I have been given permission to take apart if necessary, but I don’t really think that’s going to help. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll put her to a cart so I may as well leave the carts intact if possible :yes:

Anyway, the one thing not available is a singletree Does anyone have an idea of a way to create one cheaply. It will be used only for a pick up truck tire, not multiple tires or anything fancy but I need it to be as safe as the real deal.

Thanks in advance for any ideas

[Stonewall]

http://www.mydrafthorse.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=548

[house]

I would buy a couple of eyelets and a 2x4, assuming you have a drill and some snaps you could make a single tree that can pull a tire for about 10 bucks.

[Foxglove]

I’m a draft horse owner. Stonewall has given you a link to a single tree that’s less than $30. I’d buy one --metal is best for us as I’ve had wooden ones break under the stress of a load --even reinforced wooden ones will break. Even just pulling a tire, safety could be an issue using wood --if the single tree breaks, the tugs will fly forward and wack your horse in the butt --or you in the head/eye if you are driving from the side as we do sometimes when ground driving and pulling logs. Remember that stress can be cumulative --pulling lots of light loads adds up stress as much as pulling one heavy load. JMHO --buy metal.

Foxglove

[goodhors]

Also use some kind of trace extensions, so they are longer than what is used for pulling a carriage to keep your new single tree FAR away from her heels when pulling or standing. I also recomend use of trace carriers over her hips to keep traces up and away from her legs while working. Just is a safer way to do things.

I agree using a lighter tire over a (example) small tractor tire is better exercise and muscle builder than the much heavier tire. She will have plenty of drag with a lesser tire (not a tiny spare tire size) because of all the sidewall on the ground surface.

[Doctracy]

I just used a chain wrapped around the tire,a loop or snap at about two feet,than made into a “y” , with a snap for each trace. You can use baling twine tied to each trace to snap onto. That way it can break or be cut in emergency.
I used a horse trailer tire for my large pony,14.1 hands and it was about right.

[Doctracy]

I just used a chain wrapped around the tire,a loop or snap at about two feet,than made into a “y” , with a snap for each trace.

[house]

[QUOTE=Foxglove;8366255]
I’m a draft horse owner. Stonewall has given you a link to a single tree that’s less than $30. I’d buy one --metal is best for us as I’ve had wooden ones break under the stress of a load --even reinforced wooden ones will break. Even just pulling a tire, safety could be an issue using wood --if the single tree breaks, the tugs will fly forward and wack your horse in the butt --or you in the head/eye if you are driving from the side as we do sometimes when ground driving and pulling logs. Remember that stress can be cumulative --pulling lots of light loads adds up stress as much as pulling one heavy load. JMHO --buy metal.

Foxglove[/QUOTE]

I actually own that very same single tree the issue is that it is pretty much useless for anything shy of farming, and that the shipping of it will cost as much as the single tree. I agree metal would be better but unless you are pulling a tractor tire I think a 2x4 is more than enough.

That said i would make sure you use something rather than just a long piece of chain, and wrapping it around the tire as doctracy suggested, because it increases the chance of a horse getting a leg over the tug. which is about the worst thing that you can have happen imho.

[sascha]

Thanks all

Got busy with other opportunities so I’m just getting back to this project. I absolutely will use a singletree! Although she’s been trained to cope with a skier’s line on the wrong side of a leg (skijoring), the skier can always let go if things go south. Not so much with an inanimate object attached. I would expect her to cope, but I certainly wouldn’t wager a large sum of money that in the crunch she’d not go a bit daft. Whatever I can do to keep everything as safe as possible will be done.

Yes also to longish tugs.

And yes also to a normal truck/horse trailer tire. I did this years and years ago with another dressage horse and that was plenty of weight once it got a little sand inside it. I want to build muscle, change things up, give her brain a new project, not kill her

[gothedistance]

[QUOTE=Doctracy;8366836]
I just used a chain wrapped around the tire,a loop or snap at about two feet,than made into a “y” , with a snap for each trace. You can use baling twine tied to each trace to snap onto. That way it can break or be cut in emergency.
I used a horse trailer tire for my large pony,14.1 hands and it was about right.[/QUOTE]
Ditto. Except I use a couple pieces of baling twine twisted and braided together. Very tough, yet can be cut with a knife or sissors quick enough if necessary.