Wheelchair Accessible Carriages

[Ceylon_Star]

Other than Bennington, are there any other carriage companies that make (or are able to adapt ready-made) carriages/carts that are wheelchair/para-driver accessible?

Long story short, I attended a mini clinic/presentation with Sue Mott (from Ontario, Canada) last week about para driving and using driving as a therapeutic tool for people who aren’t necessarily able to participate in therapeutic riding. My vaulting coach (who also coaches a number of riders with various disabilities who finished their allotted time with a therapeutic program but were still wanting to/able to ride) is now looking into the possibility of offering therapeutic driving to some of her students/potential students since she has two horses (one she owns and one whose owner donated the use of) that are rock solid both under saddle and in harness and are already accustomed to the uniqueness of working with disabled equestrians. Unfortunately there is zero funding available for therapeutic driving, so a new Bennington is out of her grasp at this time.

I’m trying to hunt down another maker (ideally in North America) who can build one, or alter a pre-existing vehicle, to suit her needs so she can get a program started (I’ve already volunteered my time to help her with the process as it’s something I’d love to be involved in, potentially with my own pony if he turns out to be safe enough for the program), and then in the future add a second (and possibly third) vehicle to her collection.

I’m thinking of putting out a message to the CD-L as well, but any leads would be very much appreciated!

[HannahsMom7]

Hi, I am not sure of the status of this group but they are in CT
http://freewheelersrescue.webs.com/

good luck!

[goodhors]

Pacific I believe, made a wheelchair accessible cart. Husband assembled it for the Program that ordered it, and does maintenance on it yearly. However, I think Pacific has gone out of business with the retirement of the owner. Their site is still up,

http://www.pacificcarriage.com/

You can call and ask about such a vehicle. There might be some used ones around.

But asking on the CD-L, would get you a wider Driving audience, with folks who would know where the vehicles are, and if they are available. Ask about used Benningtons too, who know what might turn up with a request! It probably won’t be cheap wherever you find it, so know that going in.

A lot of fund-raising went into getting the one husband assembled, by the Theraputic Program folks. Maybe your friend could get some donations, do a bit of fund-raising, so she has something to spend on such a vehicle, when she finds it. Maybe a program that closed, would have one and make it available. You don’
t know until you start asking around. Best of luck finding one.

[buck22]

Perhaps see if you can contact this person, R Burke.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150290971233034&set=t.1031213085&type=3&theater

I don’t know him personally but through an acquaintance.

[Quelah]

Here’s one resource
http://usdfd.org

You might contact Diane Kastama, she’s a pretty well known para driver who has had several vehicles modified to accommodate her. My husband has been her navigator for I think 7 years now. He hasn’t built the seats for her but has worked on them time to time and has put hand brakes on two of her carriages. He also modified a seat for another para driver, everyone’s needs and comforts are a little different.

There’s a big difference between a vehicle that will accommodate a wheel chair, and a vehicle that will accommodate someone who is normally in a wheelchair. In the case of the latter, the driver’s degree of mobility will determine the needed modifications. Diane’s carriages have a swivel seat that goes up and down with a hydraulic lift so she can transfer in and out at ground/chair level. Another para driver, the one my husband did the seat for, is able to hoist herself with some wriggling up into the fixed seat on her carriage. Another new para driver out here who is a quad is picked up by her helper and placed in a fixed seat.

One thing in common for all is the need for a 5 point seat belt safety harness like race car drivers use, that must have a quick release, as well as being securely fixed to the vehicle.

I am really no expert though, when husband is gatoring for Diane I like to handle the horse care end of the competition, so I would recommend you talk directly to her. You can reach her through USDFD or I can PM you her contact info.

[Ceylon_Star]

Thanks so much for all the leads!!! When we had Sue Mott out, the only company she said she’s used is Bennington, and that her carriages are wheelchair-accomodating, but also have a seat that can be put in place of the wheelchair for drivers with better mobility.

We’re already starting to plan a major fundraising campaign to be launched in the early fall. While the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) and BC Therapeutic Riding Association do offer grants to some programs, there are no grants/no funding available for therapeutic driving, so we’re forced to come up with the funds ourselves. It’s a real shame because out of the 5 BC (lower mainland and islands [Van Isle and Saltspring]) programs represented at the presentation/clinic, 4 of them were already wanting to find something to offer to clients who aren’t eligible or able to ride, the other program was already looking for a driving horse and vehicle, and 3 of the 5 programs knew of at least one other program that would likely want to start their own therapeutic driving program! So all in all, having Sue Mott out was a HUGE success, not only because I personally logged a ton of time in the cart (and connected with a couple other local drivers willing to give me some pointers with their broke horses, so I’m better prepared for when my pony’s ready to be put to), but because a LOT of people who could benefit from a therapeutic driving program are going to (eventually) get the chance to! Just gotta find the vehicles (and horses, for some of the groups) and talk very nicely to our wonderful tack person and have him play with adapting some lines for us (he’s the master of rein adaptations. Between Manestream’s approximately dozen special needs riders, one of whom is a carded and highly competitive para-equestrian who brought home 3 bronze medals from last year’s BC summer games, he’s had a TON of practice creating the perfect reins for everyone’s unique needs!)

[Drive_NJ]

Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge NJ just bought a wheel chair accessible cart made in the Lancaster PA Amish area you could contact Margie Margentino at Lord Stirling mmargentino@scparks.org she would have the details they are starting to add driving to their therapeutic riding area

[Trakehner]

Here’s a video of a Bennington Fun Bug that’s wheelchair accessible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNX5JmlPacY

Neat carts/wagons/whatever they qualify as. I’ve got a regular one coming for my Fjord in a few weeks.

Nice, low and stable…what you want for a wheelchair carriage.

[betsyk]

We do driving at our therapeutic program but don’t have a wheelchair accessible cart. We have a full driving program with a waiting list, so there are many people who benefit from driving with the cart we have. I’m not directly involved with it and I don’t drive, so I can’t tell you exactly what it is or where we got it, but it’s a suitable size for our Fjord or Haflinger with two large adults in the cart. It has 2 wheels and has a little “give” to it, so the people need to be agile enough to step on a block and get themselves in. One bench seat accommodates people of various sizes. We drive in an indoor arena when necessary and outdoors on grass and sometimes sand. It’s not our dream vehicle, but in order to pull a cart that’s sturdy enough to carry a full sized adult in a wheelchair (possibly motorized) with an instructor on board as well, the horse needs to be larger than the horses we have – so we are slowly fund raising for another cart and another horse, but it’s a long range plan. What I’m trying to say: 1) setting up a driving program may take several years anyway, by the time you get your horses and staff sufficiently trained, and 2) you can do a lot without a wheelchair accessible cart.

[Trakehner]

Bennington all the way. A great design, the attendant/instructor is seated right next to the handicapped driver, there’s a wheel/support tube that comes down to keep the carriage level, and it’s set up for ramps a motorized wheelchair can utilize (it even comes with ramps that mount under the body…so they’re always available. Why look for a rigged up carriage when there’s one already in use and amazingly stable/safe.

http://www.benningtoncarriages.co.uk/carriages/rda/rda-fun-bug

http://www.benningtoncarriages.co.uk/carriages/rda

[IronwoodFarm]

I completely agree with Quelah. It is important to consider whether you need a cart that can accommodate a wheel chair versus a cart to accommodate someone normally in a wheel chair. My neighbor, a paraplegic, drove my Fjords in a Tidaholm carriage we adapted for him. Essentially we used a tractor seat which tilted him back a bit and a 5 point racing harness. We loaded and unloaded him manually. We had a special platform built for him at the farm so that he could wheel up next to the carriage and then we would manually lift him in. It took a header and two people lifting. We got rather good and fast at it and were able to make modified loading platforms off of flatbed trailers at shows. He went to a number of shows in a variety of venues. I think it all depends on how much you are willing to adapt or “repurpose” things. Also a big shout out to Diane Kastama. She was incredibly encouraging and helpful as we figured things out. The total cost of our adaptations was about $250 and the carriage seat could be swapped out when I wanted to use it without too much effort. My neighbor got into it enough that he has his own carriage and driving pony now.

[RL1]

We had a carriage adapted about 10 years ago here on the NH seacoast for one client in particular, though it later served many. Limited funds were raised to buy the vehicle for our therapeutic center so as is almost always the case, greater funds may have resulted in a more efficient vehicle. Ours was designed to carry a driver in their own chair with attendants – would accomodate “worst case scenario”, if you will. The biggest problems we encountered were the weight of the pistons and motor that lifted the ramp and the leverage a chair on the ramp placed on the vehicle. (Required several people to counterbalance while loading.) The total weight was restrictive for the animals and ruled out smaller horses and ponies.

For clients who could use a range of seats, we also used a hoyer lift and Pacific wagonette. The design allows for an attendant on the bench and easy access for attendants to hop on and off the rear and sit in a manner that allowed them to support the driver.

Seems like a lot of these issues may have been addressed in some of the options put forth in this thread. I have not used either of the Bennington models, but its great to see there are so many people on board with the cause (literally). Keep it going!

[River_Clipper]

Summitview Carriages in Ontario makes a “handicap” carriage. http://www.summitview.on.ca/handicapsurrey.html

I don’t know about pricing, but I’m guessing not cheap, it looks pretty fancy.