Getting ready to place an order for a Meadowbrook or road cart. Wondering how folks like their Silver Penny carts, if anybody has one.
Also, this may be a weird question but is it possible to find a fold-down top to shade me from the sun? Sort of like the tops on a doctor’s buggy?
I’m practically an albino and have had far too much sun exposure in my life. Even in my thirties I had to have laser resurfacing to remove precancerous areas of my face. I’ve found that even with sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat I sometimes get burned.
I don’t really plan to show but if I do, I assume I would need to remove the top to make the cart look proper so if I can find something like this I would want it to be removable. I guess I’m talking about a calash or shay?
I know I have seen tops like you are asking
not sure where to buy but that is a QUEST now
there is a driving club in Kansas or Indiana - not sure which - that does pleasure drives and has all sorts of comfy rigs WITH shade
What I looking for would be folding soft top, like a convertible car would have.
I think the folding top I know of was for a boat, added to a modern Kutzman pleasure carriage with the air tires. It folds up, above the seat out of the way, but opens to provide shade and rain shelter for their long drives.
I will see if I can ask her about her folding top again, since I have forgotten the details beyond how much she likes it.
I own a silver penny small-pony sized meadowbrook cart & would recommend them! I am the third owner on this little cart & it has wonderful suspension. It doesn’t hurt my back to drive this meadowbrook! It also has enough legroom for a real human being. I had to take it up to Morgan carriage works when I first bought it (about 2 years ago) to adjust a warped shaft, & John said it was a VERY nicely built cart. I would buy another one if I had the opportunity!
Their website is a little difficult to navigate,(Silver Penny Farms - http://www.ccfdriving.com/index.htm ), but their handiwork is a very well-built good driving vehicle.
Hope that helps you out a little bit.
J
Thanks,Goodhors! And Jingo-Ace, I’m so glad you mentioned comfort. That was one of my biggest concerns.
Thanks,Goodhors! And Jingo-Ace, I’m so glad you mentioned comfort. That was one of my biggest concerns.
Jingo-Ace, I’ve been drooling over that website for a week! Any idea what the beautiful dark colored cart is with the big, black horse? It’s my favorite but doesn’t have a label. I like the wood “box” covering the seat frame.
check out the specialty wagons near the bottomon the Silver Penny site
they have a Doctors Buggy with folding top that might be adapted??
I don’t think they actually HAVE that fancy gig they show with the big black horse - could not find it anywhere on their site
that looks like the Country Gig that Bird-in-Hand makes and I think Claudette wt Country carriages carries too
Doc Tracy- Something you have to remember when dealing with carriages is that you are no longer buying a mass produced item. Every single carriage is a hand made piece, and even if a manufacturer has some basic designs that they do over and over- each vehicle is still really built from scratch. Some aspects will be patterned and some shops will have jigs set up to ease production- but when you have one model that comes in mini to draft size- they are used to making adjustments! There is no reason why you can’t get the exact vehicle you want just because it hasn’t been built or advertised yet. There may be things that don’t work practically- that a builder may be able to tell you “that will really upset the balance” etc… but they should be willing to work with you.
A fold down top is made of just a few elements- hollow metal support bars- steam bent roof bows- and the vinyl roof and headliner. Those steam bent bows are made by a person with a steam box- they don’t come out of a catalog- so if your roof is two feet four inches wide or eight feet wide- the builder just has to ask for that. The metal parts of the roof are likely to be the same. So while it’s “custom” It’s not really any more custom than a roof that comes standard with a specific model.
Your question reminded me of this picture I took several years ago at a CAA meet at the KHP- I know this type of sunshade is not what you have in mind- (but it doesn’t clash too bad with this style of cart!) But it goes to show that just about anything is possible. One thing I like about this one is the openness to the sides- while some Dr’s buggy roofs can wind upfeeling a bit claustrophobic.
I also think it’s cute how this non-traditional turnout has a real “Beating the heat” theme with the fly sheet on the horse as well!
so glad for this timely thread as I’ve been considering a Silver Penney easy entry cart for my minis and I’m pleased to read all the positive feedback!
I had two Silver Penny carts for my miniature horses and they were lovely carts. One was the Easy Entry style and the other was the Show/Pleasure cart. Pam is meticulous about getting your correct measurements and her vendor produces excellent carts.
Those doctor’s buggy tops are similar to what I want although I couldn’t tell if they fold down. I’ll have to ask if something along those lines can be done on a road type cart for a cob.
I’ll have to ask my husband if he thinks a vintage car maker could make a top. Although I do remember that he said the tops are usually vintage and just the leather is replaced. He has a '64 Corvair with a convertible top.
Now I’m really thinking. I wonder how close the width on an old Triumph or Midget top would come to fitting?
I’m so glad to here these tops are custom made. Gives me hope that I can find somebody to make it without too much trouble.
Right now I’m in sticker shock over how much my barn will cost but I don’t really need a cart for at least 3-4 more months. I’m going to keep watching CraigsList and eBay for a “breaking” cart just in case I find a good deal for training but probably will just order from Silver Penny as soon as possible, after paying for the “Taj Mahal”.
