Shaft height, how to measure

[Pely]

I will be in the market for a new cart this spring, and would love some advice about how to measure shaft height in relation to pony height.

I know that the shafts need to be level or very close to level, and the shaft tip needs to be at or near the point of the shoulder. Is there a spot (point of shoulder ?) on the pony where I can measure distance to the ground so when I go shopping I can be very close to having level shafts when hitched ?

Did that make any sense at all ?? LOL

Thanks !

[Trakehner]

Go by the pony’s height to gauge the shaft height you’ll need. Your saddle will have adjustable tug straps anyway.

[Pely]

Is there a chart somewhere ? She is 12.1 1/2 and quite leggy. My friends pony is the same height, yet her shaft level is 32", mine is 36". That is hitched, and I am not sure if that same measurement would apply to the shaft unhitched. Or can I use that as a rough guide ??

clear as mud ? I am having a hard time explaining myself

[DiamondJubilee]

I found this on the ADS website. I remember looking at this a few years ago and it helped me out when we had a carriage built for a 13.2h large boned cob…
http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/DB_shaft_table.asp

[Chewbacca]

That chart on the ADS site is a good reference.

I have a 50" pony (12.2h) and he uses a wooden meadowbrook cart with 36" wheels. When level, the shafts sit at 38". The shaft loops do of course adjust on your harness saddle, like stirrups on a riding saddle, but there’s only a few holes, and if your wheels on the cart are too short/tall, your shafts will still most likely end up tipping up or down, and it won’t be balanced.

For the length of the shafts, a general (but I’ve found to be very accurate) gauge of how long the shafts need to be is the same measurement as the horse’s blanket size. I’m not quite sure I understand why that works, but it does.

All of my horses have the exact same length shafts (from tip to singletree) as their blanket size, mini, pony, and horse included. And they have plenty of space between their tail and the single tree. I think somewhere around 10- 12", never actually had to measure, but if I had to guess. Maybe next time I get them hitched, I’ll measure that distance

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Life in 2012

[Pely]

Thank you very much !!!