Awww, what a bummer

[hobbyhorse23]

I got my show cart, a used Houghton with wooden wheels, in November after much difficulty with shipping. It arrived in bad shape and I spent a good $120 just getting the cover and wheel covers repaired so I could store it safely over the winter until the weather improved enough to finally hitch up and see how it looked. I put Kody between the shafts briefly the day I got it and was a bit concerned by how narrow they were near his ribs.

Well, I was right. I finally got to drive him tonight for the first time since October (he was golden, by the way) and the shafts are way too tight. He can't bend his ribcage at all and that simply will not do for a cart I bought for dressage. So now I've got to sell it, eat the shipping and repair costs, and start all over again looking for a cart I can afford. :no:

: Waaahhhh!!!

On the plus side, Kody was so excited about having driving equipment put back on him that he nearly burst with the effort to be good so that maybe I'd hitch him up again tomorrow. :lol: I mean heck, it was getting dark so I didn't want to take the time to switch bits from his open bridle to the driving bridle so I just led him up to the arena, walked him around with the vehicle following him, then put it in the tugs and walked him some more, then hitched him up and went. His first time with a wooden-wheeled cart, first time with one as peripherally visible as this one is, first time hitched since October, and first time in an open bridle and he was like "...aaaand your point would be?" I love this horse.

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So while I'm bummed about the cart I'm excited that at least I got Kody out and I've still got my new harness coming hopefully some time this week from the Carriage House in Florida. Finally, one I can drive with in the winter and splash through creeks with in the summer without wincing and thinking about how long it takes to oil a harness! Joy and delight. I ordered the Super Deluxe with the rolled edges, firm tree, shaped saddle, extra padding, square chain browband, teardrop, everything. I already have a deep V collar from them so I ordered the straight collar with double straps and false martingale for dressage. Here's hoping it fits better than the cart did!

Leia

 

[MiLo Minis]

What about getting the shafts reshaped? They sometimes can be.

 

[CountryHaven]

I sure hope you can figure some way to make the cart work for you. Overall though I'd rather have a bum cart that I have to replace, than a horse that isn't enthused that I have to 'replace'... I'm so glad you have such a great little partner in driving.

 

[Margo_C-T]

Leia, that's too bad, for sure! I have no experience with Houghtons, but have to say, I don't recall that such would have been the case with my Jeralds, esp. the A(open wheeled)model. In fact, I used to keep one of those rubber tiedown things around the shafts at the tug loop position(their closest point to each other)all the time when it was not in use, because I felt(as did others, even the then-owner of Jerald, who suggested it!), they seemed too widely-spaced for my(around 34", medium build)horses! Never could see that it helped much, if any, though...

In any case, maybe you would consider a Jerald...do you know anyone going to the R Nationals, or AMHA World? Or even the AMHA Regional Western Championship? You might be able to arrange to purchase a cart at one of these shows, and get it a ride home with someone, saving LOTS on shipping-or perhaps, order it, have it brought to the show, get it a ride home to you with a friend/acquaintance, saving a good bit in shipping?...just a thought. Every time I have been to AMHA Nationals(now World), there have been used carts for sale there, too-thing is, you have to 'get there first' for the best buy...

I showed successfully for a couple of years with my wooden carts(first a Meadowbrook, then my Pequea Road Cart) in the AMHA showring(not in Single Pleasure, of course)after I sold my Jerald. So--in these(becoming slightly more enlightened!)times, you don't *have to* have that particular style of show cart(i.e., Jerald, Houghton, etc.), in the breed show ring, IMO-if you could find a reasonable shipper, a Pequea road cart would be a great choice, I think! (Let me know if you want a phone number for John, who makes them!) I don't think, esp. after you have fixed everything up, that you will have any trouble selling the Houghton, BTW. I have done LOTS of research on vehicles, so email me if I can be of any help.

Best wishes!

Margo