Fitting harness/cart to mini donk

[Bluehorsey]

I'm an adult volunteer working with a local 4-H group, and we're trying to break a mini donkey to drive for one of the girl's fair projects. I have my old mini harness and cart, plus there is a shetland/hackney cart at the barn the donkey is at. With some work, I think I can get the harness to fit (long back, short girth), but the cart is another story. The Shetland cart is too big (width of shafts and length of shafts), the mini cart is too small (width of shafts). The donkey is pretty portly and has mainly been a petting zoo animal, so her belly is...well...big and low and though the shafts don't indent her belly - there is zero room between her belly and the shaft. So the question is, would you rather have a too big cart where she is swimming or a too-small cart that could rub? I'm also hoping that with some exercise, she can trim down but being that her main "job" is petting zoo...I'm not sure how reasonable that is? Getting another cart isn't really an option - it's a volunteer/4-H barn/community farm.

 

[Willow Flats]

Is the smaller cart an easy entry cart? And the shafts are the only problem? If so, I have replaced shafts on two separate easy entry carts with the curved shafts from Kingston Saddlery. They are adjustable (in and out) to accomodate the girth size. If those are your two choices of carts I would replace those shafts which is super easy to do.

 

[Cayuse]

Can you post pictures of her and each cart so we can see the difference? I would be tempted to go with the bigger cart IF the shafts can be positioned so that they are not too high or low while still keeping the cart seat level and the balance of the cart ok. Longer shafts are ok especially with a greenie, it keeps you further away from their back end in case of any exciting "activity".

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Depends on how tight the shafts are on her plump sides. If it is just a little snug, I wouldn't worry about it. Some carts do have a little adjustment, so try that first. The biggest issue is good balance.