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Driving Vehicles  *Taken from the  American Driving Society website

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Table of Shaft Lengths and Widths

One of the first questions people ask when they go out looking for a carriage is "How do I know if it will fit?" Over the years there have been several charts printed to aid people by giving dimensions to help in buying the right size. This is a compilation of  some of that information into one chart. How is this kind of chart possible? While horses body types are not identical, there is a dimensional ratio between various parts of the body compared with the height at the withers and this is adequately similar for the purposes of shaft design for different sizes of horse or pony.
What parts of the body need to be considered? Wither height, width at the shoulder, width at the saddle girth, croup width, length of trunk from point of shoulder to buttock and location of the stifle.  An additional consideration is normal length of stride. Taking all these factors together helps define the space needed to give the horse sufficient room to move and to be comfortable, while also allowing room for the harness, and some leeway for a slightly larger or smaller animal.

The information in this chart defines approximate dimensions needed to build or buy a traditional style of two-wheeled single horse vehicles or 4-wheeled pole type vehicles to fit a wide range of horse sizes. Adjustments may need to be made to accommodate heavy draft type horses, donkeys and small ponies or mini-horses. Vehicles designed for specific purposes like the modern marathon vehicle or an antique gig will often differ in dimensions to meet their specific needs. For example: marathon shafts are shorter and end at the saddle girth, or some gigs are made with narrower widths between the shafts. The size and design of the harness may also affect how a vehicle fits. A bulky saddle could require more space between the shafts. Style of breeching may affect the position of the breeching staple. Also the chart describes wheel height for two-wheeled vehicles. Wheels will be smaller on four-wheeled vehicles.  
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Table of Shaft Lengths and Widths for Traditional Style Vehicles
 For Traditional Style Vehicles for Single Turnouts                     *Measurements in inches

Animal Height (in Hands)                                                    17H   16H   15H   14H   13H   12H   11H   10H

Length of Shaft from Swingletree to Tip                           85     80     75     70      65     60     55     50

Height from Ground under Shafts at Back-band Tugs        55     52     49     46      43     40     36     32

Width between Shafts at Back-band Tugs                         25     24      23    22       21     20     19      18

Width of Swingletree                                                         36     34      31    30     28.5    27    25.5   24

Length from Back-band Tug to Shaft Tip                           24     22     20.5  19      17.5    16     14      12

Length from Back-band Tug Stop to Trace Hook                56     53     50    47       44     41     38     35

Distance from Breeching Staple to Trace Hook                 30.5   29    27.5  26      24.5   23    21.5    20

Wheels - Diameter                                                              51     48     45    42       39     36     33     30

Table of Pole and Splinter-Bar Measurements for Fixed Pole Carriages
 For Pair and Four-in-Hand Turnouts                                             *Measurements in Inches

Animal Height (in Hands)                                                     17H     16H     15H     14H     13H     12H     11H     10H

Width of Swingletrees                                                         36       34       31       30      28.5      27      25.5    24

Length of Pole from Splinter Bar to Polehead                     115       110      106      99       94       87       80      72

Splinter Bar Length                                                             68        64       62      60        58       56       53      50

Height of Pole End                                                               45        42       39      37        35       34       31      28

Height of Splinter Bar                                                         40        36       34      33        30       28       26     24

 
***Taken from the  American Driving Society website***

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