Hi!
We are teaching a small shetland pony, about 9 hands tall, to drive. Nite-Nite is doing amazingly well ground driving and we are looking for a driving bridle for her.
Any suggestions on where to find a synthetic small shetland pony bridle?
And:
How do we figure out the measurements for a cart that would fit her well? We have an older metal cart, but I am almost sure the shafts are too long for her.
Thank you!
I would say, Camptown Harness, or Country Carriages, or most any of the synthetic vendors, however some may be better than others. I have a country carriages harness, actually 2 of them and they fit my minis, I have a small pony size and a mini size. Both are nice and the bridles fit well.
If your cart is anything like most of the metal carts out there the cart body is probably the right height for your pony. You can get the shafts cut shorter and bent in to fit your pony.
http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/DB_shaft_table.asp
Just got a small pony biothane harness yesterday for $199, free shipping from Valley Vet. Not the best but good enough for what I do.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=b96a140d-9c9d-417c-a245-1fcb3481fe8a
The saddle and breastcollar look a bit too narrow on this harness. I’m also very opposed to the overcheck on the bridle.
For $200 you can get a very nice everyday synthetic harness from almost any of the Amish harness makers. We bought one at the Dixie Draft Horse Sale in Troutman NC for that price and it included saddle and breastcollar pads, and bit.
Let me know how you like that harness
[QUOTE=092556;4131775]
Just got a small pony biothane harness yesterday for $199, free shipping from Valley Vet. Not the best but good enough for what I do.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=b96a140d-9c9d-417c-a245-1fcb3481fe8a[/QUOTE]
$199 w/ free shipping is CHEAP!!! Let me know how you like it. We are just starting our search for a used “starter” harness and cart to train/start our Shetland (41" pony)
Question - would a pad be sufficient to “help” the thin breastcollar? Ponys’ comfort is #1 priority
[QUOTE=DebbieB;4085642]
If your cart is anything like most of the metal carts out there the cart body is probably the right height for your pony. You can get the shafts cut shorter and bent in to fit your pony.
http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/DB_shaft_table.asp[/QUOTE]So if your pony is 12.2-12.3 do you size up or down according to this table?
[QUOTE=nightmoves;4242036]
So if your pony is 12.2-12.3 do you size up or down according to this table?[/QUOTE]
I’d like to know the answer to this question, too. Bump Bump!
(we have a pony that is 10.1 1/2…so between the 10 - 11 hand columns. Do I go up or down?)
This is the harness on my wish list for my driving pony!
http://www.drivingessentials.com/harness_synth_zilco_SL.htm
Finding tack to fit my pony has been a year long challenge (bridle, saddle for kids). I am not going down that road when it comes to driving her. If this harness doesn’t fit I will get a custom made one. Just not as easy as outfitting a horse! :no:
You may want to see if that cheap harness fits properly while you can still return it.
Me too! Driving Essentials SL Sportz
[QUOTE=MSP;4244252]
This is the harness on my wish list for my driving pony!
http://www.drivingessentials.com/harness_synth_zilco_SL.htm
Finding tack to fit my pony has been a year long challenge (bridle, saddle for kids). I am not going down that road when it comes to driving her. If this harness doesn’t fit I will get a custom made one. Just not as easy as outfitting a horse! :no:
You may want to see if that cheap harness fits properly while you can still return it.[/QUOTE]
That one looks perfect for our Shetland! I like the “Empathy Breast Collar” for better comfort and ergonomics.
Will a pad fix a too narrow breastcollar or breeching? Not really. It may help a little - but I’d recommend a more solid pad not the fuzzies people use.
Think about youself. Ever carry a heavy bag with those thin little handles? Doable for a short distance, but not comfortable. Now think about adding those plastic tubes they put over the cord handle. Better, but getting to the car without pain in your hands is still a challenge. If the store had a bag with wider straps, or you’d brought your own shopping bag with wider straps it would have been much better. Same for the horse. Wider strap distributes the pressure further making it easier to push against the breast strap or breeching.
Solid pad versus Fuzzies pad?
[QUOTE=Drive NJ;4248846]
Will a pad fix a too narrow breastcollar or breeching? Not really. It may help a little - but I’d recommend a more solid pad not the fuzzies people use.
<snip>.[/QUOTE]
We ended up buying a used leather harness with the measurements that SHOULD fit our pony (from eBay) From what I can tell from pics, I may want to add a pad to the breastcollar. It has brass fittings, which I’m hoping won’t be harder to maintain than stainless or nickel-plated. Is brass good?
Can you clarify what you mean by the above? Where can I find a “solid pad” versus the “fuzzy pads people use”
I searched on eBay for pads and only see what I think may be the fuzzy ones?
Are you talking about this type being the “better, more solid pad”?
http://www.carriagedrivingessentials.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=1886
[QUOTE=Fancy That;4243957]
I’d like to know the answer to this question, too. Bump Bump!
(we have a pony that is 10.1 1/2…so between the 10 - 11 hand columns. Do I go up or down?)[/QUOTE]
I’ll hazard a guess and say go up, because it would be better to have a couple inches extra shaft length than to be too small. It’s also easier to cut the shaft again than to make them longer.
http://www.iowavalleycarriage.com/harness_pads.php
Look at the pictures on the iowa valley site
the top pads are fleece ove foam rubber
they can be a little help but the foam crushes to almost nothing under the harness while in use
further down on the list are fleece with vinyl
those really arent much different than the fleece except the vinyl holds up better over time than the fleece
even further down are gator pads
those are what I mean by more solid pads
the pad exterior material is thicker and more cushioned than flat vinyl and the interior padding is a dense extruded material
While they are cushy, they also are firm so they dont crush under the weight of harness under use
therefore you get the benefit of the full pad for actual weight distribution
many harness makers sell some version of a gator type pad
we got some breast collar pads (Vee but not super-vee style) from Pam Knisley at Carriage house in Florida
http://www.thecarriagehouse.com/products.html
call for info if she still has the pads - price was good and construction was excellent
we also got her quick release tugs as a gift for our BO/driver friend
they are a great price and very nice product
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