Types of Horse-Drawn Wagons

A horse-drawn wagon is also called a car, a buggy or a carriage, and they come with either two wheels or four. Beginners find handling a two-wheeled wagon easier and safer to drive. There is no concern of jackknifing the wagon. Many wagons don't have a back on the seat for support and riding in a wagon is bumpy. Always sit tall and relaxed. Your arms should be comfortably in front of you, but not outstretched when holding the reins. If your body is sore after being the handler on a wagon ride, you weren't in the right position.

  1. Winona High-Wheel Wagon

    • Care of the wagon wheel requires routine oiling of the axle and treating the wood.

      The Winona high-wheel wagon is a brand that many of us saw the Ingalls family use on television show "Little House on the Prairie." The wheels are high to prevent them from getting bogged down in mud holes and sand pits. Also, the Winona wagon can go through rivers and streams nearly as high as the wheel itself. The seat and brakes of the Winona wagon are high, allowing the driver to not get wet during river travel. Maintenance of the high wheel consists of simply oiling the axle housing and treating the wood to prevent it from rotting.

    Chuck Wagon

    • The chuck wagon traveled with the cowboy on cattle drives.

      The chuck wagon came about in the 1790s. After the Civil War, northern trading expanded west with the cattle industry. Charles Goodnight has credit for inventing the chuck wagon for a cattle drive from Texas to Colorado. A chuck wagon has a tailgate on the back that is used as a worktable for the cook. Inside the wagon there are shelves and drawers to hold utensils and food. The name chuck wagon came about because cowboys called food "chuck" and food traveled with the cowboy by wagon.

    Army Escort Wagon

    • The army escort wagon was designed with poles, pole chains, locks, toolboxes, shovel and axe carriers, a folding tailgate, lashing hooks, rings and rope cleats. The wagon was loaded with gear from front to back in an attempt to give the army whatever it may need out away from the fort. This wagon has a spring seat, the same as that of a Studebaker wagon.

    Spring Wagon

    • The spring wagon was the last horse-drawn vehicle in the United States. Studebaker made the spring wagon. It had two removable seats making it comfortable for rural and city driving. Spring wagons had accessories like canopy tops, shaves and poles. A shave is used when one horse is drawing the wagon and a pole is used when two horses draw. Other highlights of the spring wagon included a drop-down tailgate and the use of hard rubber tires instead of wooden spoke wheels.