Custom Carts For Mini Horses

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #1, Page #07

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Kelly Miller and Patty Kramps don’t sell any off-the-shelf miniature horse carts. Each one is custom made for the size of the horse and driver. In just a couple of years the Canadian entrepreneurs have created a successful business in a niche market.

    “When we did our research, according to U.S. agriculture statistics the largest growing segment was driving miniature horses,” Kramps says. “About 90 percent of our market is middle-aged women.”

    The couple owns 22 ponies, and their business, Patty’s Pony Place, targets carts for horses that are 34 in. or shorter. They first discovered the market when they imported carts from China and quickly sold out. With Miller’s experience building heavy horse vehicles and automotive suspension, they decided to build their own carts.

    “He is so particular about his design. He builds his own wheels and the suspension is lightweight,” Kramps says. A low center of gravity adds stability, and customers appreciate the comfortable ride in carts with suspension.

    “One of our biggest selling points is safety,” she adds. “The carts have inside wheel guards so feet can’t slide in the wheel spokes.”

    Miller builds several models in 2 and 4-wheel versions from $950 for the basic Grasshopper to $4,700 for a 4-wheel Mini B with all the bells and whistles for horses taller than 34 in.

    Kramps explains that the shafts on a 4-wheeler float, so there is no weight on the horse’s back. While some customers purchase carts for their own leisure or to take children for a ride, some use them in competition. The Cricket cart is full CDE (Combined Driving Event) ready and is the most lightweight on the market. It’s also quickly becoming very popular, Kramps says.

    Miller recently built an expandable, slide-out axle for a cart to meet 41-in. wide CDE requirements. By pulling pins and pushing the wheels in, the cart narrows to 36-in. wide to fit between pillars on the trail the customer uses for recreational driving.

    Other modifications have included foldable seats so the cart fits under a pickup canopy, groom packages, brakes, steel spoke wheels with solid rubber tires, and a variety of other options.

    Patty upholsters the sets with quality marine-grade vinyl and high-density foam. The business also sells harnesses. Patty provided measurements of miniature horses to a harness-maker in India to ensure the polypropylene webbing harnesses fit correctly.

    Patty’s Pony Place ships to Canada and the U.S. Check out the website for photos and videos of available models and options.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Patty Kramps and Kelly Miller, Patty’s Pony Place, Rt. 2, Pickardville, Alb., Canada T0G 1W0 (ph 780 961-2334 or 877 961-2334; pattysponyplace@hotmail.com; www.pattysponyplace.com).

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Custom Carts For Mini Horses LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Kelly Miller and Patty Kramps don’t sell any off-the-shelf miniature horse carts Each one is custom made for the size of the horse and driver In just a couple of years the Canadian entrepreneurs have created a successful business in a niche market
    “When we did our research according to U S agriculture statistics the largest growing segment was driving miniature horses ” Kramps says “About 90 percent of our market is middle-aged women ”
    The couple owns 22 ponies and their business Patty’s Pony Place targets carts for horses that are 34 in or shorter They first discovered the market when they imported carts from China and quickly sold out With Miller’s experience building heavy horse vehicles and automotive suspension they decided to build their own carts
    “He is so particular about his design He builds his own wheels and the suspension is lightweight ” Kramps says A low center of gravity adds stability and customers appreciate the comfortable ride in carts with suspension
    “One of our biggest selling points is safety ” she adds “The carts have inside wheel guards so feet can’t slide in the wheel spokes ”
    Miller builds several models in 2 and 4-wheel versions from $950 for the basic Grasshopper to $4 700 for a 4-wheel Mini B with all the bells and whistles for horses taller than 34 in
    Kramps explains that the shafts on a 4-wheeler float so there is no weight on the horse’s back While some customers purchase carts for their own leisure or to take children for a ride some use them in competition The Cricket cart is full CDE Combined Driving Event ready and is the most lightweight on the market It’s also quickly becoming very popular Kramps says
    Miller recently built an expandable slide-out axle for a cart to meet 41-in wide CDE requirements By pulling pins and pushing the wheels in the cart narrows to 36-in wide to fit between pillars on the trail the customer uses for recreational driving
    Other modifications have included foldable seats so the cart fits under a pickup canopy groom packages brakes steel spoke wheels with solid rubber tires and a variety of other options
    Patty upholsters the sets with quality marine-grade vinyl and high-density foam The business also sells harnesses Patty provided measurements of miniature horses to a harness-maker in India to ensure the polypropylene webbing harnesses fit correctly
    Patty’s Pony Place ships to Canada and the U S Check out the website for photos and videos of available models and options
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Patty Kramps and Kelly Miller Patty’s Pony Place Rt 2 Pickardville Alb Canada T0G 1W0 ph 780 961-2334 or 877 961-2334; pattysponyplace@hotmail com; www pattysponyplace com

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