I've been driving and training to drive since '85--I have owned three Jeralds(the original closed wheel, bought before they even began offering the open-wheeled, or model "A"!-then sold it to get an "A" including the (originally offered, 16 spoke, 30")wooden wheels--sold it several years ago when I decided I wasn't interested in breed shows anymore. I also owned a Jerald 'obstacle cart'--a design I had to special order. Nice light little cart, but with certain drawbacks, so I sold it within the past year/year and a half or so. I also owned a mini Meadowbrook-very handsome and authentic in design, but was just too HEAVY-sold it--and an IteBte 'Missouri Flyer'--great cart; I got the single seat, and larger wheels--but, I wanted something appreciably LIGHTER in weight, and it ended up being almost exactly the same weight and 'application' as my Bennington (see below), so I sold it. Currently, I own:
A Smuckers "LITE" russet harness--first harness I bought when I got minis, and STILL my everyday harness after 25 years! Thankfully, I had good advice back then, got a sturdy-enough harness w/ breeching! (I bought another several years later, sold it last year.)
A Smuckers black leather 'Pleasure' harness, brass fittings.
A black leather w/patent accents, brass trim, 'show' pair harness, made by someone no longer building harness
A bio-beta Yonie-made harness w/ 'deep V' breast collar,white metal fittings (includes both stainless and chrome), from the Carriage House in FL...fits my B-sized driving horses.
A bio-beta pair harness,white metal fittings from the Carriage House.
A neck collar and hames from Chimicum Tack
I've also owned two Lutke harnesses--sold both for similar reasons to the sale of the Jeralds...no more breed ring showing, and wouldn't use them otherwise, so they went.
Vehicles--two wheeled:
A Frontier EE 'pipe' cart(my second in those 25 years; the first one is still in service w/ its second owner; was in good shape, but I wanted a different colored upholstery!)
A extra 'set' of longer shafts for the Frontier(54"), for my B's.
A Bennington miniature cart; made in the UK; their original design, which fits B horses best.
A Pequea Carriage Shop 'top end' country road cart w/ button-tufted cloth upholstery, brass fittings. This cart could be used even in the breed show ring, w/ my Smuckers Pleasure harness.
Four wheeled:
A back-to-back English trap, custom built for me by Jack Stewart of Golden Horse and Carriage of Golden, CO. A LOVELY vehicle--cut under, patent dash and fenders, Button-tufted upholstery. I really don't use it anymore, though,so will probably be parting with it-(and the patent-accented 'show' pair harness that was custom-ordered for use w/ this vehicle.)
An oak buckboard...what a FUN pair vehicle it is, too! I have a 'homesteader' outfit, and some accessories to look like the homesteader coming home from shopping in town, for parades...it's a HOOT!
A Glinkowski 'mini-mix' marathon vehicle. Another great pair vehicle--nearly sold it 'way cheap' in a weak moment several months ago; thankfully, it didn't happen, and I am looking forward to using it more this year and in future...after all, I have a great little bay pair!
I am the only driver here! Of my six minis, 5 drive--the most recent acquisition is still greenbroke, as he came(winter hasn't allowed much horse work!); others are all solid. The half of my pair that i bought(bred and raised the other) didn't get his training from me,but it was from someone knowledgable, and he is pretty solid, though still needs work on backing straight--I just haven't found the time for the individual work with him on that. I trained all the others.
Speaking for myself, one reason I have 'kept acquiring' vehicles is in a search for ever-better-suited single vehicles for minis! I am STILL on the hunt for a LIGHT-IN-WEIGHT two-wheeler that would be suitable for CDE, even above Training level(although I don't really expect to be able to be a serious CDE competitor, I do like the features of a CDE-type cart--that is, the metal wheels w/ rubber inserts, torsion bar suspension(or something equally as comfy), a COMFY seat, deep front-to-back(my Benny has a 17" seat, front-to-back, and I LOVE it!), along w/ other features)--BUT, weighing no more than a Frontier, at @ 76 lbs. I know of two currently--the Scotsman(which unfortunately, just increased a good bit in price, and doesn't have much of a seat, IMO...and Bennington's newest mini cart...but the exchange rate isn't favorable now--and the shipping would be a KILLER, in these times, I fear.) Bellcrown's 'Aerocrown' looks good, but the weight is still higher than what I seek, from what I've heard. I HAVE, in the Benny, an ideal cart for my B mini, but I STILL am seeking something similar for my A sized horses!
Margo
