Selecting a carriage/cart

[Hoofpick]

I’m shopping for my first carriage and am weighing the pros and cons of 2 wheel vs 4 wheel, but I have a very general question…
Regardless of which I go with, how important is it to sit in a cart/try it before buying it? Is it like saddle fit where the fit can be very different, or does anyone ever buy a cart just based on style/measurements, etc without trying it first?
Many carts I’m looking at are far away and I don’t have a lot of time to be travelling to shop…

I’d love perspective/opinions on this.

[2DogsFarm]

2 wheels = Cart
4 wheels = Carriage

If you are new to driving a cart is probably the better option.
And the cart should fit the horse, not the other way around.
Here’s a good article explaining things:

http://equine.uber.matchbin.com/prin…iendly/2483767

From my experience:
DO sit in the cart.
My wire cart - standard metal EZ Entry - was comfy from the GetGo, but when I ordered my semi-custom wood show cart, even though I DID sit in it, I neglected to sit for more than a couple seconds.
Result is I could use about 4-6" more legroom, or standing waiting to go in a class or in a lineup becomes very uncomfortable.
I would never last on a long drive in this cart, even though for my mini it pulls fine.
But then, I am old with wonky knees, YMMV.

For comparison:
6mi in this was fun for us both:
We look great (she says modestly) but, Oh, my aching knees!

[goodhors]

Great job on the brass 2 Dogs!

[SLW]

I have never been able to sit in any of the carts I have owned before I purchased them. Some carts allow for adjustments to the seat, others do not. You can add a foot rest if the seat cannot not be moved forward and your legs are too stretched out in front of you. Know the measurement of the seat you will be sitting on because it should not be too narrow. Not so much an issue with the larger cart makers who seem to build for the average person.

The cart really must fit the horse/pony first. The size of the wheels will affect the height where the shafts lay alongside the horse. My most recent cart was a touch to low so had to order riser blocks to raise everything 6" to achieve the height needed.

Good luck in your search! It is a fun and educational time.

[2DogsFarm]

@goodhors

Great job on the brass 2 Dogs!

:tickled_pink: Coming from you, @goodhors that means a Lot!
I had a Plain Vanilla wood cart pimped with the hubcaps, shaft tips, rein rail & whip socket.
All done to match my El cheapo harness that came with brass.
Did you notice I braided his trolldoll forelock with gold ribbon?

And in case you have not discovered it yet, the Absolute BEST stuff for brass is this:
(courtesy of my 3rd Generation Hackney-driving friends)

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/si…kaAkMuEALw_wcB

[DMK]

Years ago when I got my meadowbrook, they asked me if I wanted a brass rein board. I said “oooooh, WANT” (followed by all the other brass thingamabobs). My last memory was sitting there with a dremel polisher and cleaner, trying to clean out all the little curliques and grooves.

It’s official, I am over any and all things brass (but am suitably in awe of how shiny yours is).

[goodhors]

I don’t do brass, but willing to admire the finished product and appreciate the work behind it!! I thought his forelock ribbon was cute. Any chance you could move the seat further back so your knee will like the ride better in that cart?

I use Wenol metal polish when I need to shine things up in silver trim saddles, other stainless steel trim on harness. I found it at Williams and Sonoma, the cooking utinsal place. We actually painted some brass things on an antique carriage, to prevent needing to polish them. Also lets us use the stainless trimmed harness with it.

[2DogsFarm]

@DMK Try the Simichrome, I promise you will never look back!
You just wipe a teeny bit on, then towel off & brass glows like brandnew!
Trust me, I am La-Zee, if it required more effort I’d switch to stainless 1st!
And admittedly, this pic is from the cart’s 1st outing EVER.
I may feel differently after I take the cover off this year.
But honestly, I’ve seen the Simichrome work wonders on older carts/carriages w/brass fittings.

@goodhors I might try a teeny wedge to see if changing the angle helps.
Don’t know if the seat can be moved, but I will call the guy who made it for me. He used a stock “blank” & may be able to modify it for me as the spindle seat was also an add-on, so might be movable.

[DMK]

too late, all stainless today, but if I ever get talented enough to justify a presentation vehicle (talk about getting way ahead of myself), I will definitely remember the magical simichrome

[2DogsFarm]

@DMK
Talent, Shmalent, pic is from the County Fair :winkgrin:
Just fun to dress-up to play so close to home <so close I could literally drive the mini there…

& your Gaw-Juss Fjord deserves russet leather with brass.
I have spoken. :nonchalance:

[2DogsFarm]

@Hoofpick Apologies for the Hijack of your thread.
Did you get any info you can use from the link or other posts?

[Hoofpick]

Yes! Thanks so much! That link is very helpful and ill try to sit in as many as i can but nice to know some have bought without driving in it first.
gonna try a 2 wheel this weekend. To date ive only driven in a 4 wheel.

[China_Doll]

I have bought a total of 7 carts/carriages. Many were bought online and shipped so they were all done by measurements. I think I have bought 3 that I could see before I bought.

Many people do not measure as accurately as I would. When I sell a cart I put a level on the shafts to get an accurate dash/seat/ shaft height. Out of the 7 I have bought 1 rode terribly. I took it to an auction to sell so I wouldn’t have contact with a buyer. I felt he condition also was misrepresented to me and I took a big hit on it.
So out of the 7 I have bought I had 1 bad experience.

[DMK]

I want to give 2dogs a solid shout out on the simichrome recommendation. (No, no brass yet)

Last week I went up to Country Carriages to shop on a rainy day and lo and behold I found this beautiful antique liverpool bit. It’s that old german silver type bit (lovely craftmanship) and it needed some cleaning. I had some Never Dull so I worked with that while I waited for Amazon to do it’s thing and bring me some simichrome. The Never Dull helped, but not really… The simichrome is amazing. See before/after pic below!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/24594726@N04/77Q6Z6

[goodhors]

Interesting bit DMK. Let me know when you don’t want it anymore! Difference in shine is visible, good brag for simichrome.

[DMK]

I’m a stone cold bit hoarder so that is unlikely! Also Xan really likes it so far… but she happened to have a mullen mouth version as well, so give her a call and you too can have one (5.5")

[goodhors]

Darn, too small! I thought you with a Fjord, it would be a 6 inch mouth. I don’t have anything that could use a smaller bit. Thanks anyway.