I have a chance to purchase at a good price a slightly used wooden easy entry mini cart with a few nice “bells and whistles” (spares box, extra padding on armrests). The thing is , it has wooden wheels. I know nothing about wooden wheels, can you guys educate me please? How are they in a sandy arena? Do they bog down? How about going over roughish ground? I usually drive in my field which is a bit bumpy and I may show in some pleasure driving classes where the arena is softish/sandy. Any advice on wooden wheels would be appreciated.
For reference, I currently am driving in an metal easy entry cart with motorcycle type tires and I love it, it is not the fanciest or prettiest, but gets the job done and it is lightweight. My minis are 34 and 33 inches, I do not want to get a cart that is too heavy so weight is also a consideration.
The cart is a Griffinbrook easy entry all wooden cart with arm rests (listed @ $950) at griffinbrook.com if anyone cares to look, I can’t provide a link right now, sorry!
TIA!
Wooden wheels are fine for what you want. Check for loose spokes or rot from sitting outside, though it shouldn’t be a problem on a newer vehicle. Most of my vehicles have wooden wheels and I take them over all kinds of terrain.
Think about what the roads were like when the only choice was wooden wheels.
I can’t comment on the weight, my smallest driving pony is 12h / 48" so weight isn’t a big issue.
Looks like a nice cart & the xtras are a good addition for the price.
My wood EZ-Entry was made by a Mennonite guy and he charged me $80 to add a Spares box
It came with wood wheels & my 3yo (33") had no problems pulling it except for a couple sand arenas that were Too.Darn.Deep in the middle.
If I kept him on the less-deep outside track he was fine.
On my property he had no problems with it on the road or on grass.
It is only fractionally heavier than my EZ-Entry wire cart - with pneumatic tires that I plan on changing to No-Flats.
Because I am La-Z & the less maintenance I have to do, the better 
Wood wheels are safer and stronger. If you ever want to show your minis, you can’t use wire wheels unless it’s at the very lowest unregistered show (safety is the reason, not snobbishness).
Looks like a workable cart.
@Trakehner ADS Rulebook allows wire-wheeled vehicles for Recreational Driving & in the Utility Class. Whether or not a rated show chooses to have these classes is up to show mgmt.
The very fancy Villa Louis Carriage Classic does include the Utility class.
I should have been clearer about the type of shows I go to. I won’t be showing ADS, I would be showing at smaller miniature and open pleasure shows in pleasure driving. So wire wheels would be fine and wooden OK too. I THINK I am leaning towards not getting that particular cart only because I am not a huge fan of natural wood. One of my minis is black and the other is bay. It would look nice with the bay, but not so much with the black mini. If it was black or another dark conservative color, I’d grab it in a second! On the other hand, it is an easy entry, which I need because of my arthritis and it is local. IDK!
Thanks for the advice!
You might check with the maker to see if they sell wire wheels so you could change back aND forth between them.
Personally, I think a black pony in a natural wood cart to be rather striking, certainly an eye catcher. Black pony, black cart, is just too much darkness for me out in a big ring. No details of contrast to set off pony movement or pretty body. Driver would be the only visible part of the turnout, maybe only a face if dressed in dark colors too.
Good idea about changing the wheels! I never thought of that possibility… And I see what you mean about too much black. I showed him one year in halter classes and wore a black outfit and it was a bit much. It was hard to see him against me in photos.
I think I will go see the cart in person and take it from there.
We have a family portrait with the dogs included. The German Shepherd looks lovely, but the black Bouvier is invisible beside me in my black slacks. Ha ha We had fun asking folks “How many dogs do you see?” No one ever saw her without us pointing her out.
Since then I have been very aware of contrasting my colors in animal photos. Going for the extra color to show up from a distance.
Good luck with the cart.
:yes: @goodhors is SOOOOO right about too much black.
I have a pic of me & my very dark bay mini at his 1st show (local 4H frundraiser) in my black wire cart, wearing a black shirt, apron & fedora.
We look like the Lollipop Hearse :dead:
Exhibit A:
If varnished/sealed correctly a natural wood cart is EZ-PZ to keep clean - just swipe off dust.
Black means you have to have an Eagle Eye to get off every last speck… at least before you enter the ring, at which time all bets are off 
Also agree black mini with wood shows off your pony.
My wood show cart is painted black, but pimped with brass rein rail, hubs, whip socket & shaft tips. Spares box has brass hinges & knob handle.
Upholstery is a golden brown tweed & that lightens the look as well.
I have a camel-colored jacket with black trim & wear a straw hat with pheasant (black & brown) feathers.
Alternately an olive green jacket & different straw hat with green ribbon that matches the jacket.
For night classes a moderately sparkly navy jacket & hat with navy sparkly ribbon & dark feather spray.
Going into an evening class:
