Pack gear for large dogs, need recommendations.

[Arya]

But to use on a miniature horse!

I own a Shetland Pony that I really would like to use as a packhorse, and I am not interested in using the amount of money it takes to buy the gear intended for horses. It is crazy expensive, and the pony is to small to carry really heavy loads anyway, so I think it would be a waste of money to buy the "real stuff". I would rather use that money on proper pack gear for the bigger horses.
I heard about someone using equipment for large dogs on their Shetland, with success, so I´m thinking "What the heck! Let´s give it a go". I can modify the part that goes over the back of the horse, so it should be possible

Anyone´s got brands to recommend? Because horses have heavier necks than dogs, I will need one that is very open in the front and preferably quite wide across the back.
Maybe something like these:
http://www.zoosupply.no/product.php?productid=17664&cat=23&page=1
http://www.mamut.net/controls/shop/....asp?gid=20&subgid=0&wwwalias=nesslede&pid=91

It needs to survive a load of 20-30 kg!

If you´re not sure what a Shetland Pony is, it´s the tiny, red guy in the front here He is 1m + to his withers.

Gizmo by Lykketrollet, on Flickr

Thanks!

 

[Drain Bamaged]

Have you tried a search for 'traditional pack for Shetland Pony' there are various images and they may be a lot simpler and easier to make than you was/are expecting.

DB

 

[Arya]

Hm... Interesting! That wooden frame that came up when i Google it looks quite easy to make. Thank you for the tip!

 

[Drain Bamaged]

No problem, and I am guessing it is self adjusting to fit various size ponies, good luck.

DB

 

[Macaroon]

I've used various small ponies to carry stuff on the trail, and after many searches and trials I came to the conclusion that baskets on wide leather "arches" was the best solution. I got somebody I knew at the time to weave two baskets from Red Dogwood (Cornus) with a curve to the back to suit the pony's flank and attached them to the leather girth by hanging from the top across the back and fastening underneath like a belly band or anti-roll
band. The baskets were much more weatherproof than you'd think and were also very sturdy, they lasted us years and carried a lot more than the weight you have in mind; they were also very nice things in their own right.
You can pack your stuff into waterproof bags and then into the baskets to deal with wet weather.

The ones we made are still about somewhere, hanging in the roof of the barn I think, I'll be over there at the weekend and I'll see if I can get some pictures of them to post up here.

 

[Nice65]

No help at all, but that's a really nice picture Arya

 

[Macaroon]

This is the only image I can find that comes close to what we did.

http://thepeddlersdonky.blogspot.co.uk/2009_06_01_archive.html

 

[santaman2000]

Have you tried a search for 'traditional pack for Shetland Pony' there are various images and they may be a lot simpler and easier to make than you was/are expecting.

DB

Hm... Interesting! That wooden frame that came up when i Google it looks quite easy to make. Thank you for the tip!

I was thinking the traditional pack saddles for donkeys/burrows might be about the right size for shetlands.

 

[mrcharly]

I've never seen a horse that colour. Remarkable, it's like a cross between a chestnut and the roan patches on piebald horses.

Sounds an interesting project, although the energy saved by getting the pony to carry the weight might be overtaken by the energy expended in trying to get a Shetland pony to walk where *you* want to go.

 

[Arya]

This is the only image I can find that comes close to what we did.

http://thepeddlersdonky.blogspot.co.uk/2009_06_01_archive.html

I can't seem to find anything about pack horses in the link, but maybe it is because I'm on my cell phone right now. Some pages change a lot when viewed on the phone. I'll try on my computer later. Those baskets made me curious

 

[Arya]

I was thinking the traditional pack saddles for donkeys/burrows might be about the right size for shetlands.

It would be really nice to get one of those or something similar, but they are so expensive here in Norway, even second hand.

 

[Arya]

I've never seen a horse that colour. Remarkable, it's like a cross between a chestnut and the roan patches on piebald horses.

Sounds an interesting project, although the energy saved by getting the pony to carry the weight might be overtaken by the energy expended in trying to get a Shetland pony to walk where *you* want to go.

The color of the Shetland? He is a medium/dark chestnut, and looks very nice in his summer coat This color is very normal here.
The foal in the back left is going to be white, just like his mother. He was born almost black, and has become white very fast!

And I totally understand what you´re saying about the stubborn Shetlands
But this guy is very well mannered, and will be no problem I think.
I have several scars on my body from my childhood, being attacked by a Shetland on several occations. They can be very tough if not brought up properly

 

[Arya]

No help at all, but that's a really nice picture Arya

Thank you very much

 

[Toddy]

http://wovencommunities.org/catalogue/types/back-creel/

There is a long history of making back creels for ponies in Scotland. I know at least four basketmakers who have made or restored such 'panniers'.
Generally made either of willow or of the same oatstraw and rush rope that kishies (very lightweight, flexible and hard wearing back packs) are made from. On many of the islands willow only grows as dwarf scrub, so only when that could be brought over cheaply was it worthwhile for folks to use it. On the whole folks just used what they had.
Highland garrons (the hill ponies, used to carry everything from people to deer carcases, to pack trains for the tacks men) also had baskets made that were shaped to fit the sides of them.

I can find you the email addresses of Basketmakers here who are interested in this kind of thing if it would help to have a discussion ? I know they make their livings making baskets, but they are genuinely helpful and interesting people

cheers,
Mary

 

[Macaroon]

I can't seem to find anything about pack horses in the link, but maybe it is because I'm on my cell phone right now. Some pages change a lot when viewed on the phone. I'll try on my computer later. Those baskets made me curious

Scroll down about two thirds of the way, there's a picture of the old traditional Shetland women with the baskets on the ponies.

 

[Goatboy]

Have you looked up Iceland ponies? Sometimes also called ambling ponies. Wee things with an odd gait. Though small they were the main sort of horse for travel and carrying for most folk and could move at a pace with an odd walking style all day. A lot cheaper to keep than the big expensive horses you see knights and heroes trotting around on in movies.
Big carrying equipment for dogs would be hard to find in the UK as it was against te law to use dogs as pack animals/beasts of burden in England. Law that still stands I think. Some of the Ruffwear dog stuff holds a fair bit and goes uo to some big doggie.
We had a couple of chaps who used Suffolk Punch horses for dragging timber out of the woods in sensitive areas. Brilliant beasts, loved to work and were happy when doing so.
Remember reading about a chap who was getting panniers made up for his llamas, he was intending on hiring them out as pack beasts for folk doing long distance walks. I met him a year or to later and it had kind've worked for him though I don't know if he's still going.
Don't know if you'll find the sort of carriers your looking for but try the Iceland route, though as Today said thy were used in Scotland & Ireland too.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Macaroon]

Here is another image which shows a Fell pony with traditional pannier/basket;

http://www.fellponymuseum.org.uk/fells/17_18C/17thc.htm

 

[Arya]

http://wovencommunities.org/catalogue/types/back-creel/

There is a long history of making back creels for ponies in Scotland. I know at least four basketmakers who have made or restored such 'panniers'.
Generally made either of willow or of the same oatstraw and rush rope that kishies (very lightweight, flexible and hard wearing back packs) are made from. On many of the islands willow only grows as dwarf scrub, so only when that could be brought over cheaply was it worthwhile for folks to use it. On the whole folks just used what they had.
Highland garrons (the hill ponies, used to carry everything from people to deer carcases, to pack trains for the tacks men) also had baskets made that were shaped to fit the sides of them.

I can find you the email addresses of Basketmakers here who are interested in this kind of thing if it would help to have a discussion ? I know they make their livings making baskets, but they are genuinely helpful and interesting people

cheers,
Mary

Thank you very much for the information! That might be a nice project when the spring comes

 

[Arya]

Scroll down about two thirds of the way, there's a picture of the old traditional Shetland women with the baskets on the ponies.

Aha! I found it Thanks a lot! One question about the baskets; Are they only intended for use in good weather? I can imagine they would have to cover up the content in some way when is was raining. What did you do?

 

[Arya]

Have you looked up Iceland ponies? Sometimes also called ambling ponies. Wee things with an odd gait. Though small they were the main sort of horse for travel and carrying for most folk and could move at a pace with an odd walking style all day. A lot cheaper to keep than the big expensive horses you see knights and heroes trotting around on in movies.
Big carrying equipment for dogs would be hard to find in the UK as it was against te law to use dogs as pack animals/beasts of burden in England. Law that still stands I think. Some of the Ruffwear dog stuff holds a fair bit and goes uo to some big doggie.
We had a couple of chaps who used Suffolk Punch horses for dragging timber out of the woods in sensitive areas. Brilliant beasts, loved to work and were happy when doing so.
Remember reading about a chap who was getting panniers made up for his llamas, he was intending on hiring them out as pack beasts for folk doing long distance walks. I met him a year or to later and it had kind've worked for him though I don't know if he's still going.
Don't know if you'll find the sort of carriers your looking for but try the Iceland route, though as Today said thy were used in Scotland & Ireland too.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

Oh yes! I´ve kept Icelandic horses since I was 13 yrs old, compete and breed them to this day I have 5 of them now, and one of them is pregnant. One of them will be put down very soon, and another one sold.
A wonderful breed, truly!
And I have two of the knightly horses you speak of as well They were in fact intended for combat riding when I bought them. And yes, the Icelandic horse is MUCH cheaper to feed than the Spanish

I intend to buy a proper pack harness for the Icelandic horses as well, but it is costly so I have to save money for some time.