Shetland Pony and Donkey?

[moonlitoaksranch]

Three questions, if anyone is available…

1. Is it possible to get a two wheel safety cart that will fit both a pony and a donkey? The pony is 10 hands and the donkey will likely top out just under 12 hands. The cart I’m looking at is a road and trail cart. The Shetland is more round than the donkey, obviously. Is that an issue?

2. How much weight can a 10 hand, 400 pound Shetland Pony can pull?

3. Could they also share the harness? Do they come in standard sizes, or do they have to be custom made for each equine? I’m looking at the nylon ones because our humidity is brutal on leather. Not trying to be a cheapskate…well, maybe I am, lol. Anyway, I will be measuring both today.

I’ll get help from a trainer and work with the pony first (I believe she had training in the past). We have good, private dirt roads to practice on.

[moonlitoaksranch]

I’m sorry, one more question…would you choose the bright green ‘safety’ colored cart over the standard black, if you were not showing?

[2DogsFarm]

Your post sounds like you are new to Driving.
Best would be for someone experienced to go with you to check out the cart.
And to purchase harness.
Assume your trainer has that experience.

From my 6yr experience driving my mini I can tell you the following:

By “safety” I assume you mean Easy Entry cart.
Cart might fit both.
”‹”‹”‹You need to measure shaft length & wheel size.
Shafts should not go past pony or donkey’s point of shoulder when hitched & there should be at least a foot between their back end & the swingletree (movable bar the traces attach to).
Wheel size will determine if the cart will sit level when you are hitched & sitting in it.

I am stodgy, so I’d go with black.
You need the bright orange Slow Moving Vehicle triangle sign attached to the back of the cart.
A friend uses one of those bright yellow vests TSC sells draped over the seat back, highly visible.

I would not get nylon harness.
Instead of leather, look at well-made biothane.
If it costs less than $300 it is NOT well-made.
My show harness is biothane & it does double duty on trail drives that routinely go 12-15mi RT.

Your pony & donkey might be able to share the harness, but you need to measure both.
You can Google Harness Fit & find charts that will tell you where/what to measure.
Even if they could share, it is kind of a PITA to have to adjust things every time you drive.
Harness is sold in standard Mini/Pony/Horse size sets, but generally needs adjustments for your specific animal.
If you have an Amish community nearby, they are an excellent source of good roadworthy harness.

And… Now we need pics of your driving animals

[moonlitoaksranch]

Thank you for all the info. I am new to driving and will be getting help.

Let me see if I can find a good picture of the victims…

[DMK]

^ best ears pic ever

[2DogsFarm]

:love-struck: Maggie is a doll.
And sounds like she will take right to Driving 🤞

:lol: Love those donk ears!
What’s Rosie’s backstory?

[RMJacobs]

@Moonlitoaks, those are great pictures! All the posts about donkeys lately are making me wish I could go back to driving, and try a donkey instead of the ponies I had.

The last place I boarded my elderly driving pony had a donkey. He’d been abused by a trespasser, and the BO told me not to feel bad if he wouldn’t have anything to do with me. He was my pony’s pasturemate for a while, and I’d be out there hanging out with my pony, and find a donkey nose exploring my clothes and hair. I loved scratching those long ears.

Rebecca

[moonlitoaksranch]

Thanks, 2DogsFarm!

Rosie is our third donkey and first jenny. I love working with donkeys. Our first one was severely abused and neglected. The owner actually did get busted (yay). He was a 4 month old and almost didn’t make it. He had a great life with us, but we lost him due to internal damage from a hernia that trapped a loop of intestine (we had it fixed when he was castrated, but our vet didn’t know about the internal tears). We rushed him to the university hospital for what we thought was a serious colic. He was saddle trained and pack saddle trained.

Our next donkey came from auction and had some serious issues. We trained him and he ended up in a great home.

Rosie is our first jenny. She came from a well-meaning but inexperienced lady as a six month old. Of course, she was barely handled. She is best friends with our goats now. It is fun training her, but she is more emotional and sensitive than the boys were.