For every farmer, sooner or later the question of how to make a sleigh for a horse becomes urgent. Even now, in the age of advanced technology, this animal remains indispensable for rural areas.
For every farmer, sooner or later the question of how to make a sleigh for a horse becomes urgent.
Now you can find a lot of offers. Among the winter carts are Russian sleighs, cross-country carriages, covered carriages, and even all sorts of exotic options reminiscent of ancient peasant logs. But paying a huge sum for something you can create yourself is unreasonable.
For what purposes might a horse sleigh be needed?
Sleighs have always been considered attributes of a real Russian winter. Having undergone changes, the device is still used in the presence of snow. Now the sleigh can be found:
- when celebrating the New Year;
- on Maslenitsa;
- as attractions in amusement parks.
In remote corners of Russia, where infrastructure is poorly developed, you can still find horses harnessed to sleighs. They serve as a transport and cargo unit. It is not uncommon for travel companies to use sleds in their work. Sleigh travel over short distances has been developed.
To summarize, we can say that a sled is a universal device that serves:
- means of transportation;
- an object of entertainment and profit.
Other parts and assembly
Once the sled runners are ready, you can begin working on the rest of the sled parts. One of the important parts of the sled are the racks. They must be on each side of your product, otherwise the sled will sag under a heavy load. It follows from this that the greater the load-carrying capacity of the sled is planned, the more such racks there should be. The racks can be made of metal pipes, only thinner ones; in another option, to facilitate the construction of the sled, the racks are made of wood.
After this, it is necessary to make transverse crossbars, which, together with the racks, will create the base of the sleigh. The safest thing to do is to weld all the parts of the sled, so you can be sure that the sled will last for many years.
It will also be necessary to make “fillies” from the pipes, and then weld them to the runners, six pieces on each side of the sleigh. Their length usually varies from 8 to 10 cm. Now that the sled is almost ready, all that remains is to attach small metal plates. Shafts will later be attached to these plates.
Parts that do not bear the load need to be lightened, because you have a horse in the stall, not a mule. Some wooden parts can be replaced with plywood, you will not notice the difference, and the horse will be easier.
Types of horse sleighs
There are several types of sleds. Classification is made in several directions. By purpose:
- Running. This is a lightweight device that is used as a trainer for trotting horse breeds.
- Cart. Closed sleigh with seat and back.
- Volokushi. They can be called cargo. These are poles tied to the horse. A load is placed on them. While moving, the poles drag along the ground.
- Drovni. A sleigh without a body.
- Rozwalny. Wide but low.
- Chunki. Sleds for transporting large amounts of cargo.
- Urban. Double or single sleigh. They are distinguished by their low weight and high height. The runners are narrow.
- European. An improved version with a braking system.
- With low runners. The most stable, but use is only possible in areas where the snow is well compacted.
- With high runners. Poorly stable on a flat surface. Used in areas where bumps and unevenness on snowy roads prevail.
- Ukhonsky. Insulated version of the sleigh. Wide, covered with thick fabric at the top.
According to the material:
- metal;
- wooden;
- plastic.
Nowadays, when making sleds, all of the above materials are used in combination. This makes the product more reliable and cheaper.
Recommendations
The optimal type of homemade sled for constant use will be cargo models, and to increase the rational use of the design of such a base, it is equipped with railings and a closed box is made. At the same time, the skeleton is reliably sheltered from any unfavorable conditions. The selection of materials for homemade sleds must be carefully approached; the service life of your product depends on them and components.
It must be remembered that the sled is used in winter, therefore, it must be resistant to low temperatures. It should also be taken into account that during operation the structure is subject to impacts from protruding tree roots or small stones, and therefore must have an impact-resistant surface.
If you dream of creating a passenger sled model, then safety should be a priority, and this applies not only to the selection of materials and components for them, but also to all welded assemblies and parts. Since the speed of transportation on a snowmobile can be significant, and obstacles can be invisible, it is necessary to equip the sled with additional elements for reliable transportation. Making your own sled is much cheaper than buying it.
There is no sled that is perfect for all situations, and we would recommend several different models that will be useful for different situations.
When modeling the design, you must first focus on the power of your snowmobile, and then on the weight characteristics of the sled, since with low power the snowmobile may not be able to carry a heavy sled. It is best to make runners with an additional rigidity system; the distance from the bottom of the sled to the runners themselves should be at least 10 cm. Thus, your design will not touch the bottom of the snow, and wide runners will allow you to safely drive even on freshly fallen loose snow.
Don't forget about the guides for your runners, because they help maneuver while riding. A sled with flat runners at high speed without guides can tip over if it turns poorly. A self-made sleigh, with the proper approach to the selection of materials and the creative process, will become an excellent assistant and will last for many years.
To learn how to make a sled for a snowmobile, see the following video.
Snowmobile sleds are made from materials with increased frost resistance. The device must be light and durable, and have good glide on snow.
Tips for choosing
When choosing a sled, the first thing you need to decide is for what purpose the device will be used. Next, pay attention to:
- the material from which the sled is made;
- components;
- presence or absence of a seat;
- runner design.
This will determine how much the cart will weigh. Light and flimsy sleds cannot serve as a cargo attribute.
When purchasing or making a cart from wood, give preference to oak, willow, birch or bird cherry.
Places to buy horse sleighs
You can purchase ready-made sleighs for horses at specialized sales points. There is no fixed price. It all depends on the features of the model (what material it is made of, type of runners, etc.). The cost starts to rise from 5,000 rubles. and can reach up to 80,000 rubles.
You can save a little if you buy a sled from farmers who sell used carts.
You can purchase new carts:
- from the craftsmen - a ready-made model or made to order;
- in online stores - there is the largest selection.
You can rent a sleigh in resort towns where mountains and beautiful landscapes predominate. The average cost of renting a cart is 20,000 rubles, including a horse.
Price issue
For my motorized towing vehicle with a 6.5 hp engine. and with the 380th caterpillar I didn’t see the need to buy large drags. Their purpose was to transport the driver and maybe a small load, nothing more. For more massive loads, homemade metal sleds will be used.
So, on the local market I found a suitable option costing only 1000 rubles. The dimensions of the drags are approximately one meter by half a meter. No reinforcement, just a plastic trough. The price of exactly the same trough, but with piping, was already about 3 thousand rubles. It takes a couple of hours to weld a harness from a steel profile, so I bought these plastic drags without reinforcement for, as it seems to me, an adequate price of 1000 rubles. In any case, I couldn't find it cheaper anywhere.
Small plastic drags
Tying plastic drags
The drag sleds will experience a relatively small load, so I don’t see any point in strengthening them thoroughly. This will only make the structure heavier, which is undesirable. Therefore, it was decided to just run runners from a 20x20mm profile under the bottom and connect them to each other at the front and rear.
At the front, 2 eyes from the same profile were welded into which the towing device was passed. And at the back there was a ring welded for coupling with more drags.
Plywood was laid at the bottom of the skids, which was screwed to the runners with self-tapping screws. Those. the bottom of the plastic skids was sandwiched between the plywood and the runners. To prevent the plastic from cracking, holes were pre-drilled for the screws.
The front part of the runners was bent in a proven way: with a grinder, cuts are made in half the thickness of a square pipe, the profile is bent as required, after which the cuts are welded.
The design turned out to be quite rigid, the first tests were successful. The drags in deep snow showed themselves to be much better than the previous metal ones.
Conclusion
In principle, it is not necessary to make strapping and generally strengthen plastic drags in any way. I calmly rode the drags without any reinforcement. But, firstly, this is not very convenient, because... the bottom bends underfoot and there is no rigidity. Secondly, it’s slippery. Thirdly, it is difficult to attach another drag sled to the back and, finally, fourthly, their service life without reinforcement is noticeably shorter.
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Making your own horse sleigh
You can make a sleigh for horses yourself, but this process is labor-intensive and requires certain skills. When starting work, the first thing you need to do is prepare the material from which the cart will be made, take the tools and create a drawing.
Selection of materials
The first stage of making your own sled is choosing the material for the runners. There are several options:
- Tree. It should be prepared and processed.
- Metal. The material needs to be forged (it is better to use the services of a professional).
After the material has been selected and prepared, you will need:
- metal pipes;
- plywood sheet;
- corner (can be replaced with a metal profile);
- paint or varnish;
- boards;
- metal sheets;
- drawing;
- tools that are easier to work with.
Detailed instructions with drawings
Before assembling, draw a sleigh with a horse and make a drawing. The diagram is drawn up based on the size of the cart. The width of the runners has a direct relationship with the road; the spread must correspond to the track. The height of the sleigh is determined based on the breed of the horse, its size and the height of the road track.
For a medium-sized animal, the following indicators are taken:
- length – 1.8 m;
- width – 1.25 m;
- height – 0.3 m;
- width between runners – 0.8 m.
Universal drawing of a wooden sleigh for a horse with a metal strip on the runners:
Manufacturing can begin with the runners, but craftsmen advise beginners to work backwards and first make the seat:
- Select boards.
- Prepare the material, process it so that there are no splinters.
- Cut the seat boards to the optimal size for you.
- Make grooves for fastening with runners.
The next and final stage of making a sleigh for a horse is the runners. This is the most difficult part of designing this device.
If you chose metal as the material, then take stainless steel. The runners must be forged and flat. It is impossible to create this shape on your own; you will need help.
Wood runners are made as follows:
- Make a pattern and transfer it to the tree.
- Cut out the runners. Use a jigsaw while working.
- Clean the ribs of the cut runners. You will need a sanding machine.
Fasten the runners together:
- Attach additional strips to the runners and secure them with rounded spikes that have glue (this step is only relevant when making large sleds).
- Take a drill and drill blind holes in the center of the round crossbars. Also drill holes in the runners. Attach the crossbars with tenons.
- Attach a metal sheet to the bottom of the runners (it is better to use aluminum - it is lighter) using screws.
Next, secure the runners and seat using tenons. At the time of fastening, a distance of 5 millimeters should remain between the components.
Video instructions for making a sleigh for a horse:
Popular materials
Previously, the only material for making sleds was wood, but today metal and plastic have been added to it. You can choose any of these three options or combine them at your discretion.
Tree
Working with wood is difficult without the appropriate skills. If lack of experience does not stop you, it is still recommended to consult with an experienced carpenter. For horse-drawn sleighs it is best to choose:
- oak;
- elm;
- ash;
- linden;
- bird cherry;
- birch
Bird cherry can be bent best, but the hardest material is oak, which will have to be evaporated in order to bend it. When choosing a birch, keep in mind that it is the most succulent in the spring.
Important! The tree requires lengthy preparation. Depending on the technology (soaking, steam baths, boiling), this may take several months.
Wood is easily accessible, it is easier to process than metal, and the structure turns out to be quite light if you do not burden it with unnecessary design. Wooden sleds move smoothly in the snow, but do not tolerate much pressure and require careful maintenance so that the material does not begin to deteriorate.
Video: making a wooden sleigh
Plastic
Similar to the steel option, plastic runners are made from plastic pipes. The cart is lighter than wood and metal, but is not suitable for transporting heavy loads. It is advisable to cover the plastic with metal strips in order to protect the material from possible mechanical damage during travel.
Did you know? In Rus', sleighs were considered an honorary cart even after the invention of the wheel. The Tsar's sleigh rides in the summer were still the order of the day for a long time.
Steel
For metal sleds, choose carbon or stainless steel. Ride quality does not depend on this choice. Steel is stronger than wood and can withstand heavy weight, but does not tolerate severe frosts. If you need a cart for transporting goods, please note that the runners may burst in the cold.
The ideal choice is solid steel sheets, but their cost is high. Steel pipes 2.5–5 cm in diameter will cost less. The length of such pipes should be 1.5 m longer than the length of the sled, since the metal runners are bent on both sides, and not just in front, like wood. The disadvantage of metal structures is their weight, an unchangeable fact: the lighter the cart, the higher it is valued.
Exercises to accustom a horse to a sleigh
A farmer who has a sleigh will not be able to immediately harness the horse to the cart. The animal will be frightened and then will not allow the owner with the attribute to approach him. A horse should be accustomed to a sleigh gradually and as carefully as possible.
The animal that will pull the sled must be trained to reverse.
How to accustom a horse to a sleigh:
- Walk around the cart with the animal several times. You can put there what the horse is interested in: hay, harness or arch. This will help you learn a new subject.
- After introductions, move the sled back and forth. The main thing is to attract the horse's attention.
- Start leading the horse into the shafts, forward to the sleigh. Food will help make the task easier, as the animal will be drawn to it. It is advisable to make the horse come in on its own. Over time, she will get used to the narrow space of the shaft.
- Show the animal that in the future there will be a person in the sleigh. Sit in the cart, always be close to the sleigh. In the future, the horse will not be afraid of the vibrations emanating from the sled while moving with a passenger.
- Secure the reins of the horse and smoothly roll the shaft with the sleigh onto the horse. Use the poles to touch parts of the animal's body. This procedure helps to teach one not to be afraid of the sled coming from behind.
- Hold the shaft in your hands so that the horse can see the object. Move to a safe distance. Raise it 50 cm and throw it. Please note that the horse may become frightened. This way the animal will get used to the fall of the shaft.
- Repeat the previous step, but this time raise the shaft higher. Continue this training until the horse becomes accustomed to the sound of falling.
Basic principles of construction
Despite the fact that Russian sleighs are very diverse, they all have the same structural principle. Their main part is the strips curved along the edges at the bottom of the box. Their usual length when folded is 2 m. 25 cm, and their height is no more than 80 cm. The track width between them is 57 cm.
In addition to the sliding strips, the main parts of such carts include a frame, a shield, a rolling pin, and shafts. All parts must be properly fastened together.
How to properly harness a horse to a sleigh?
Harnessing a horse to a sleigh is not difficult, but to ensure the safety of passengers, it is recommended to adhere to a certain algorithm. It is as follows:
- Place the bridle on the animal. Heat the bit in your hand. This will help prevent damage to the horse's mouth.
- Take the harness in your left hand, and the animal’s neck in your right hand. Hold your other hand so that the saddle is in the right place.
- Get your harness in order. They should be positioned evenly on the horse's body.
- Tighten the girth. Make sure you don't put too much pressure on your stomach.
- Pull the collar over your head.
- Lead the horse into the shafts. Secure it to the nurse's loop and attach the arch.
- Tighten the belt on the clamp.
- Check the correctness of the operations performed and how the arch is secured (the animal should be comfortable).
- Fasten the sled to the bridle.
Today, sleighs continue to be used as a means of transportation. For some, a cart is a necessity in everyday life, for others it is a way to have fun. You can make the attribute yourself, but you need knowledge and skills. At some points, the help of an experienced technician may be required.
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Finishing touches
When the structure itself is ready, it will be necessary to give it a “marketable appearance”. Somewhere you will need to clean out several seams and carry out cosmetic work.
Decorating and painting
And of course, in order for a hand-made horse sleigh to please the eye, it will need to be painted. The tree can be covered with carvings and decorated as much as your imagination allows. You can make comfortable seats, put a few skins. In general, the finishing touches are everyone's business.
The finished sled will bring not only benefits, but also a lot of joy, fun for children and a good mood.
Video: How horse-drawn sleighs are made
On the market today you can find many different winter wagons of all types, types and any design, but their cost is often unreasonably high. Using the simplest drawing or your own ingenuity, you can make a sleigh for a horse cart yourself.
