I am returning to driving after about 30 years.  I have a rising 3 yo Friesian mare that will be trained to harness this spring.  She is about 15h now and should finish at about 16h.

 

I am looking for a training cart.  It must be easy entry - nothing fancy just something to jog around in.  Greenhawk has an easy entry training cart that is reasonably priced and I was wondering what you think of it. Greenhawk Training Cart  Also if anyone has any suggestions, I would be interested.

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Disclaimer - I am a total newbie driver. :-)  However, I was strongly cautioned against those carts by more experienced drivers because they are so light and can flip.  No idea how true this is and presumably there are folks out there using them.  But I gather they are awfully light.

I will add that we are driving on tracks, and not over rough terian, so I cannot say how they would work on such going.

Hi Deb,  This would only be used on smooth terrain and in the arena.  I too am disabled and cannot climb due to arthritis.  I know that if I wanted to go on rough terrain I would need to get something else and probably need to get it custom, but for basic training and exercise I want something relatively inexpensive, small, and easy to keep.  Also, I currenlty don't have a building for storage so I need something that can be stored outside under a tarp.

I would be interested in finding out where your friend got his.  I am located near Kitchener Ontario.

Hi

 

I will ask him so as I see him, it is usually once a week, as he is quite unwell, and someone else is looking after his two year old filly for him.  His other colt is in training elsewhere.

 

I have only driven for a few years as a teenager as is the norm here (in the forum), I drove sleigh for a job for a few years in the winter, and some wagons for the same trail guide farm, so as to competitive driving I cannot say what is best and so on.  But I will add that we use jog carts on all our horses, on the track, and that I jogged my qu horse for a few years in our stb jogger when I had to keep him at a stb place that frowned on me ridding.. But in my 20 years of stbs, I have never (seen or had on smooth ground a jog cart flip, and although it could happen we break many, many stbs every year to cart and harness in such carts.  We do not have breaks on them, and while I can see the advantage of these, for simple breaking of a young horse on flat terrain I would think such a cart would work... but again I have not broke a horse for competitive driving.  My friend is very, very disabled and he is the one that had Tattoo first, and Tattoo while a nice mannered horse now (other than his runway day the other week) was horrible to work with when he had the little horse.  There was no misshaps. 

 

So I think you need to do what you feel saftest with, and good luck to you, I am in Ingersoll, and the farm I stable at is Cerro's in London Ontario, I am sure that Clarkey got the cart from a place not far from our area.  I will take a couple of pics of it... I think it cost him about a hundred and fifty brand new, but am not a hundred per cent on cost.  Take care and the best of luck to you.

 

deb 

Thanks, Jennifer.  While researching, I have gotten many recommendations on what to use - mostly conflicting, that is why I have turned hear.  Again, thank you.

Hi  I can say that a friend has one and likes it, he is disabled and this is the only way he can jogg his horses.  I have never ridden in it, but he seems to think it was fine.  Also another friend has a cart that is made locally I think and was quite cheap for the quality, I have ridden in it and it seemed fine to me.  I can ask him where he got it and how much it is if you like.  This person is also disabled (morbidly obese) and can only get into an easy entry cart.

 

take care deb

I, personally would urge you not to go into a "training cart" like this as I do not view this at all as a training cart - esp with a green driving Friesian.  These things are hardly any weight at all, can and will tip.  I strongly suggest you go into a training forecart - solid, good weight behind it, and extremely hard to tip.  Plus, you will be able to see over your horses rump, rather than straight on at her tail, or even lower. 

 

Not to discourage, and I leave this video up to you to view just how quickly these somewhat similar carts would react given a training moment crisis.  This is a video of a pleasure cart class at a high-level show. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YcT74h5Mg

 

A Pioneer forecart, or something similar is the only type cart I would train in.   I would much rather have a clear view

over the horse's rear and feel confidence in its sturdy base.  The weight of the cart is worth the safety factor.  This is a fairly hot Friesian who visited the farm and had no problem pulling the forecart, driver and trainer for miles.

 

Katrina Adams

www.firstdraughtfarm.com

 

Thanks, Katrina.  I looked at a forecart, but it only had an implement seat on it.  I have since checked out the pioneer Equipment site and see the options that are available.  I will talk to yhe harness maker to see if he can price out one with the bench option.  A couple of questions - does the one pictured have brakes and what size shafts did you use. Thanks.

There are a couple of different companies (one in green and not John Deere) so there may be less expensive alternatives, as well as please check the used market. 

 

Yes on brakes.

 

This one is horse sized shafts.  They also come in draft size -- but I don't know about smaller sizes.

The good thing is with the forecart, you can get implements to put that horse to work while you drive. You said something about arena work -- well drive the horse and drag that arena!

 

Also, go to a fabric store, get some thick foam to cut to fit the bench seat.  It will make you want to drive longer. . . .  Good Luck Leida! -kat

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