Very general question about driving lesson barns.

[Yip]

No trainer chosen yet, so there could be flexibility in choice.

Do they generally have a selection of carts to fit different sized horses that can be borrowed during lessons?

I would like to take my own more than greenbroke horse and harness so lessons do double duty, since I will probably only have one lesson per month to begin. I don't have a cart yet, and am just getting ready to buy a trailer - but may not be able to buy one large enough to haul my own cart.

The other alternative is to buy a 2H for now to haul my horse, then upgrade to a bigger trailer later, if I see I need to transport a cart.

We have a full cab Ford F150, making the bed short. Will a full sized 2 wheel cart fit in a short bed truck? Will hub & I be able to lift it up there? Just put a 150# canoe on top last weekend and did NOT enjoy that - but it was on the roof.

Any input would be helpful.

[Drive NJ]

Cant answer about lesson barns
but . . .
you can easily get a fullsized 2wheel cart into a shortbed pickup
we have done it for years

You WILL want to invest in some ramps
we got ours online from Ramparts.com for about $125 a pair
sometimes Walmart has them for about $59 each

ours fold in half so the ramps are shorter and easier to store - ADN they are aluminum so wont rust or rot

Cart goes in shafts front and over the cab
we made a rack that sits in the slots in the rim of the PU bed to rest the shafts on - AND to tie the cart forward
Our tailgate will not close on the 48inch wheels but we can lift it and run a strap around to hold it up (Im working on a short chain arrangement between slots in the tail and the PU rear sides)

We've probably transported carts this way for a good 20 years with no problem

PM if you want more details

[Trakehner]

Truck and cart in the bed are a piece of cake...get some nice ramps and a winch. A nice electric Warn winch can be had for $124 or so and that'll make loading and unloading our cart a simple and safe effort.

[Yip]

Thanks! I was hoping to hear from people who actually know it works!

Hubby will be pleased to hear that. It will save us money on a trailer to start out with, and we won't have to haul a 16' for one horse.

He is aware of the ramps. We actually used to have a pair and still might. A winch would be a big help for me, and I know they sell them at the ATV dealership.

Wendy

[Thomas_1]

Do they generally have a selection of carts to fit different sized horses that can be borrowed during lessons? That really is an "it depends" question. Theoretically I have carriages to fit everything BUT not without having to do a heck of a lot of adjustments which take quite a bit of time and not necessarily for lesson use with other peoples horses.

You'll find the same over there.

I would like to take my own more than greenbroke horse and harness so lessons do double duty, since I will probably only have one lesson per month to begin. Again dependent on where you go and what you've done previously, you may find that the trainer's advice is that you first have lessons yourself with a horse that knows what it's doing and only once you are at a standard move to your novice horse. For sure I always say that you can't learn with a horse that doesn't know and it's not fair or wise to practice on a horse that is learning and doesn't know what you want. For novices I get them going and confident with a school master and ensure they're equipped with basic skills to cope and then drive the green horse myself first to see what it actually can and can't do first and then IF it's at a standard and safe only then do I give the owner lessons with it and get them put together. If the horse is REALLY green as in "hasn't got a clue and not done much at all" and the driver a novice that isn't likely to cope with giving the horse clear and correct instruction, then I'd always recommend getting the horse a little more schooling work before being put together.

We have a full cab Ford F150, making the bed short. Will a full sized 2 wheel cart fit in a short bed truck? Will hub & I be able to lift it up there? Ramps and an electric winch are essentials when you drive. You need to get a good winch up to the job so ensure you know its tensile strength and pulling capacity. Got to say that personally I wouldn't want to be hauling one up and down onto a flat bed too often or for too long. Sounds like too much hard work and effort to me.

[RidesAHaflinger]

I've been in this situation for years and my take on it is that hauling a cart in the bed of the truck is at best a PITA and if I had the option I would most definitely go with a trailer than can accomodate the cart. Back when I drove a single pony and a lightweight cart it was not so difficult, even though I did have to unhitch the trailer in order to load and offload the cart, which believe me, does add to the difficulty. But horses and carrriages multiply like bunnies and now I drive two ponies to a much bigger and heavier carriage. I have the power winch, ramps and the whole nine yards but the cumbersome loading-in-the-truck bed operation has become a COLOSSAL PITA and so we stay home. Get the trailer that will accomodate your carriage and use your truck bed for hauling hay, harness and everything else. You won't be sorry.

Truck and cart in the bed are a piece of cake...get some nice ramps and a winch. A nice electric Warn winch can be had for $124 or so and that'll make loading and unloading our cart a simple and safe effort.

[Trakehner]

I've been in this situation for years and my take on it is that hauling a cart in the bed of the truck is at best a PITA and if I had the option I would most definitely go with a trailer than can accomodate the cart. Back when I drove a single pony and a lightweight cart it was not so difficult, even though I did have to unhitch the trailer in order to load and offload the cart, which believe me, does add to the difficulty. But horses and carrriages multiply like bunnies and now I drive two ponies to a much bigger and heavier carriage. I have the power winch, ramps and the whole nine yards but the cumbersome loading-in-the-truck bed operation has become a COLOSSAL PITA and so we stay home. Get the trailer that will accomodate your carriage and use your truck bed for hauling hay, harness and everything else. You won't be sorry.

Unless you're using a little 2-wheeled cart, just about any carriage is going to be a PITA to get in and out of a trailer or a pick-up bed. A winch is your friend no matter what. A nice Warn winch with a lawn tractor battery makes the world a more civilized place. Do you really need a longer trailer? Harder to back and park...I had a 16' bumper pull stock trailer, I loved it. Horse in the front, shut the calf gate and put a big Kuhnle 4-wheel war wagon with an inch to spare...it worked great....until I needed to haul a surrey...nope, way too long. So, after doing one too many trips with friends hauling the carriage and me the horse...I broke down and got a 24' Eby with 20' in the horse area....just enough for the surrey (my longest carriage at 10') and a space behind it for the horse.

So, winch that puppy into the bed, hitch the trailer and you're off...it's not that much hassle to unhitch to take off the trailer...it's a hassle, but hauling carriages is a hassle no matter what.

[Yip]

Trak, do you ever have qualms about loading the horse first and the vehicle second?

In case of an accident, what is your plan to get the horse out?

I hadn't seeriously thought of doing it in that order just because in the event of an accident, etc, all I'll really care about is my horses.

Thomas, I know I'll have to take lots of lessons with a well-broke driving horse before trying to take Cookie. I was just thinking it would be easier to buy the *right* trailer the first time, and not have to worry about selling and re-doing in a couple years.

Thanks! You are all very helpful!

Wendy

[Trakehner]

Trak, do you ever have qualms about loading the horse first and the vehicle second?

In case of an accident, what is your plan to get the horse out?

Wendy

With my 16' stock trailer, the front escape door for people was large enough for my horse (18 hand Shire) to get out. I've now got a new and much larger combo stock trailer. We went on a road trip from the bar several weeks ago. I opened the side door to get a lead shank...my mule said, "Ok by me" and jumped in the trailer through the door (I love an easy loader!), and stood there with a look of "Let's go home, and then I'm fixin' waffles"

Seems like most of my guys like to travel butt-forward, and my Corn-Pro stock trailer had a round front end where he fit with extra room...plus, if you have a cart with non-removeable shafts, they fit out the back nicely.

Lots of opinions...that's what make it all fun.

[Yip]

my mule said, "Ok by me" and jumped in the trailer through the door (I love an easy loader!), and stood there with a look of "Let's go home, and then I'm fixin' waffles"

ROTFL!

[xsuzi]

The USDF Connections has an article this month on trailers, but here's my nickle (two cents plus inflation). Get as big a trailer as you can afford--it need not have all the ridiculous , motel--like arrangements.
I used to drive a 2H BP and put the 2 wheeled cart onto the truck bed--first a 150, then a 250. It always required help, because I am not large, not strong, and have other physical limitations. I had to jack-knife the rig to load and unload. I did this for too long of a time, I did go to shows and it was a major bummer to always have to ask for help.
Then I bought a big, not-very-pretty trailer that's plenty roomy for carriage and pony. It has taken me the better part of two years to get to payoff on financing, but I never rue the purchase. I do rue that it has rust, but I was not about to go into ten years of debt for what is--essentially--my devout avocarion.
It is not the biggest rig at a show, but I can easily load up my 2 wheel and pony. A 4 wheel cart requires a bit of warm language or a helping push.
The trailer has more than one horse door, so I can get to my precious one, if ever.
The way folks drive is the only bummer: they don't seem to realize that the seven thousand pounds they have just cut off requires a long stop distance and would explode their little , plastic cars.

[Cielo Azure]

I have big horses and BIG carts. I HATE loading a cart into a truck bed.

Ramps, winch...loading into truck bed is a PITA. It just is. Getting it to guide straight, not damaging the truck paint, wrapping the shafts and then putting load straps on, tying it down, etc. -it all takes time and really requires two people. I actually shudder at what a pain it all was. Lots of people do it but most look wistfully at those of us loading our carts into trailers that lucky enough to have that option. Then the cart is exposed to the elements when driving, unless you have a cover (which then flaps in the wind).

When I got a stock trailer that fit my cart, life became much easier but a larger trailer is much more expensive.

With a stud cart/meadowbrooke, I can easily load without a winch by myself into stock trailer. I just bump it over the step up and wheel it to the front of the trailer. I have pipe dividers, and place one directly behind the cart (no tying in necessary) and then load the horses.

As Thomas and others said:
The amount of money that people get for teaching driving, versus the insurance costs, versus the price of vehicles, and I will be surprised if you find anyone who has a selection of carts for you to chose from! Just like when you trailer in for lessons, you bring your own saddle. When you trailer in for driving lessons, you bring your own cart.

If you find someone who will let you use their carts, you are very much in luck but it is not the norm.

[Yip]

I guess I wondered if, over the years of dirving/teaching - people collected carts like we do saddles.

Can't sell this one because it's too good and no one would pay what it's worth - and *might* have a horse that fits it someday. You get my drift, hehe!