How to Measure Your Miniature Donkey for a Cart

The versatility, intelligence and endearing nature of the miniature donkey has made them a popular companion for people of all ages. Among their many uses, the miniature donkey can be trained to pull a cart. Measuring the miniature donkey for a cart is easiest by first taking measurements for the driving harness. The size of the cart is then determined by taking measurements of certain points on the harness.

Things You'll Need

  • Harness
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

  1. Harness Measurements

    • 1

      Measure the girth of the donkey by starting two inches behind the withers and encircling the barrel, or belly, of the horse with the tape measure. This is the area where the driving harness saddle will sit on the donkey. The shafts of the cart will slide through loops on each side of the driving harness saddle.

    • 2

      Measure from the top of the girth where the driving harness saddle will sit to the dock of the tail. The dock of the tail is the point where the tail attaches to the body of the donkey.

    • 3

      Harness the donkey with a properly fitted harness as determined by the measurements taken.

    Measure for the cart

    • 4

      Locate the shaft loops on each side of the driving harness saddle. The shaft loops rest several inches behind the shoulder blade and slightly below the point of the shoulder blade.

    • 5

      Measure from the center of the shaft loops to the ground. Take this measurement with the harness on the donkey. This measurement will determine the proper height of the cart for the miniature donkey.

    • 6

      Measure the cart from the shafts to the ground when the shafts are parallel to the ground. The measurement should be approximately the same distance as the measurement of the center of the shaft loops to the ground for the correct sized cart.

    • 7

      Slide the shafts of the cart through the shaft loops on the harnessed donkey. The shafts of a properly sized cart should be parallel with the ground or at a slight angle up. The shaft loops can be adjusted up or down as needed.