How to Make Your Own Miniature Horse Show Cart

Miniature horses are popular in horse communities across the U.S. Featured at many horse shows such as ones at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center in Norco, California, these tiny horses typically measure only 34 inches tall. Driving is a popular discipline within this breed, where drivers can sit and guide their horses through their routines. Training carts and road carts are also used but show carts are intended for special arena or parade events and are typically a bit nicer. To make one, you'll need to get cart components and assemble them yourself. If you have the skills and resources to do so, you can build a cart from scratch.

Things You'll Need

  • Metal cart frame
  • 38 x 14 inch plywood, 2" thick
  • 2 x 2 inch lumber, 8' 4"
  • Saw and power tools
  • Metal shaft caps (optional)
  • Sand paper
  • Stain (optional)
  • Bolts
  • Paint or varnish
  • Foam rubber
  • Black upholstery fabric or vinyl
  • Staple gun
  • Wooden singletree
  • 20 inch wheels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start with the right size metal frame and work from there. Use sizing chart information and photos from horse show cart manufacturers such as Alpine Manufacturing to get an overview of what the finished product should look like and what the component parts are. Plan to make a cart for a 34 to 36 inch tall miniature horse or scale the dimensions down for your smaller horse.

    • 2

      Saw the 2-by-2 lumber in half to form the two shafts that connect to the horse's harness. Taper the wood toward the tips (the horse end of the shafts) for a length of about 2 feet. Attach decorative metal caps to the tips or just round them off. Round off the cart end of the shafts and use sandpaper to smooth the entire lengths of both shafts. Stain as desired to protect the wood from outdoor elements. Bolt each shaft onto the outermost part of the frame.

    • 3

      Cut plywood to make a seat base and floor boards. Allow for gaps between boards. Sand and varnish or paint the wood and then attach the floor boards to the frame with bolts.

    • 4

      Use the 38" long plywood plank to form a cart seat. Place the foam rubber padding on top and gently stretch it over the edges. Tack it down with a staple gun. Put the black fabric over the padding, fold it under all around and tack it down using staples. Follow the same procedure to upholster a backrest for the cart. Attach the seat to the cart.

    • 5

      Attach the wooden singletree piece to the top front of the cart frame with a bolt (it will be between the shafts). The harness traces attach to this piece when driving.

    • 6

      Attach wheels onto the metal frame using the accompanying packaged hardware.