RhineStone
Well-Known Member
The single tree should be at least as wide as your horse's butt if not a bit wider. In this case, wider is better.
My crappy wood breaking cart has 50" shafts. I use that cart for all my young horses, 30"-38".
Footman's Loops can go anywhere on the shaft that they need to be. With your horse in place, wrap your breeching strap around the shaft with at least one whole wrap, and then mark the shaft where you want the loop.
I can't tell if you can add springs. If not, I would use a very stiff upholstery foam, so your butt doesn't go threw to the plywood. We use marine foam for boats. That way, it also doesn't matter if it gets wet. Consider making two seats, one vinyl (or naughahide) and one fabric. You will really appreciate that fabric seat in the shows, because your butt won't slide around. Avoid gaudy colors that scream, "I'm a big seat, look at me!" You want the judge to focus on your horse, not your butt. I made the mistake once of making an off-white seat. When I bought the fabric in the store, it looked more cream, but not in the sunlight. I got more comments that year about my big white seat. It's now a nice tan. Personally, I would stick with tan or black in vinyl. You can add color to your outfit, but keep the cart "neutral".
Your uncle is going to help you with the slats, right? I don't see where you have a lot of frame to attach slats to. Our slats are 2"-2 1/2" wide and at least 5/8" - 3/4" thick (actually that is a guess, as the carts are in the barn and it is raining right now. Yippee, goodbye snow!)
Stain can be any color you want. Get a sample of the wood you will use and hold it up next to your horses. Red stains look nicer with bays and grays. Walnuts with chocolates and some sorrels. I have a chestnut vehicle that seems to go well with most colors.
Good Luck,
Myrna
My crappy wood breaking cart has 50" shafts. I use that cart for all my young horses, 30"-38".
Footman's Loops can go anywhere on the shaft that they need to be. With your horse in place, wrap your breeching strap around the shaft with at least one whole wrap, and then mark the shaft where you want the loop.
I can't tell if you can add springs. If not, I would use a very stiff upholstery foam, so your butt doesn't go threw to the plywood. We use marine foam for boats. That way, it also doesn't matter if it gets wet. Consider making two seats, one vinyl (or naughahide) and one fabric. You will really appreciate that fabric seat in the shows, because your butt won't slide around. Avoid gaudy colors that scream, "I'm a big seat, look at me!" You want the judge to focus on your horse, not your butt. I made the mistake once of making an off-white seat. When I bought the fabric in the store, it looked more cream, but not in the sunlight. I got more comments that year about my big white seat. It's now a nice tan. Personally, I would stick with tan or black in vinyl. You can add color to your outfit, but keep the cart "neutral".
Your uncle is going to help you with the slats, right? I don't see where you have a lot of frame to attach slats to. Our slats are 2"-2 1/2" wide and at least 5/8" - 3/4" thick (actually that is a guess, as the carts are in the barn and it is raining right now. Yippee, goodbye snow!)
Stain can be any color you want. Get a sample of the wood you will use and hold it up next to your horses. Red stains look nicer with bays and grays. Walnuts with chocolates and some sorrels. I have a chestnut vehicle that seems to go well with most colors.
Good Luck,
Myrna