Turfsurfer Ltd, 5 Cheswick Drive, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 5DF
Phone: +44 (0)191 645 3160 Mobile 07928 785220
E-mail: simon@saddlechariot.com Skype simon.saddlechariot
Phone: +44 (0)191 645 3160 Mobile 07928 785220
E-mail: simon@saddlechariot.com Skype simon.saddlechariot
Saddlechariot
The saddlechariot is totally modern and makes no concessions to history
or tradition for one simple reason: I am a coward. I want to live in an
era where Health and Safety is paramount. I want to live.
According to Horse and Hound , eleven Eventers have died in the last 14 months yet Formula 1 motor racing, where maniacs drive cars at insane speeds on the outer limits of engineering and adhesion, hasn't lost a life for 10 years.
Totally modern, totally insane, remarkably safe.
That is why I have gone modern. I don't want anyone to get hurt on a saddlechariot or by a saddlechariot. I don't want any dead or injured ponies or people.
This photo shows the moment of truth as I step off the saddlechariot and pull the ripcord. Instantly, I'm not on the vehicle and the vehicle's not on Henry. This is the only skill you need to learn, step off, pull string.
What is a Saddlechariot. Firstly Safe, see above and most of this site. It is a one man vehicle becuase that is safer. If you believe a groom will make you safe please watch the following video of a top level driver with presumably competent grooms. Boyd Exell and his two assistants all fell out of the four wheel vehicle which then careered off through the crowds pulled by four scared horses. Alternatively here is me deciding to get off my vehicle. I can step off at speed releasing the vehicle instantly and easily. This makes the Saddlechariot safer than any vehicle where you can't release the animals.
The structure is modular, TIG welded stainless steel, precision engineered with the massive assistance of Lancaster University Product Developement Unit who stress tested the design, reworked my instant release system and upgraded the chassis strength all round. Wheels are kite buggy 16X 6.50 X 8 assemblies uprated to 20mm sealed bearings. Unlike motorcycle wheels, Kite buggy wheels are designed to take massive side loadings because the insane idiots who drive kite buggies regularly lift off the ground to stupid heights and gravity always wins in the end.
Being modular the Saddlechariot can fit from 7 to 17hh easily and I can fit bigger or smaller without much effort. So any vehicle can be used with a range of horses and ponies and fit each and every one perfectly.
The harness is again totally modern and engineered. Nothing is there because that's how somebody did it in 1817. I took Henry, Saddlechariot and the harness to frame Swift and Partners ( a well respected veterinary practice, who have looked after all our animals for the last 4 years) in Penrith to assess and they could find no problems. Henry has driven in my harness, (because the conventional harness we had made for him was so appalling that it was cruel) and after 7 years in my harness he still goes out in the saddlechariot, happy, enthusiastic, totally disobedient (because he is Henry) and has fun.
The harness features hinged pad saddle, with 20mm closed cell foam padding under sheepskin. A couple of Carriage Driving "experts" have described this as "faux sheepskin". These experts are liars. I have to say this to protect the reputation of my sheepskin suppliers, Fenland Sheepskin, wo are brilliant and have supplied me with superb sheepskin for 7+ years.
The cushioned tailored breeching has a 1/2 ton load capacity breeching band. If you are hit by a car from behind, the pony relies on the breeching or he is pushed along the road by a lump of metal.
There is no crupper because they are at best uncomfortable and at worst actively cruel. Driving without a breeching and with a crupper has caused a lot of problems with ponies that I have had to sort out. It should be obvious to the most stupid that using the tail as a braking system is painful, cruel and doesn't work.
The collar is aluminium, which for some reason a number of experts say is cruel. I obviously missed this bit in school science where Aluminium is a cruel metal. I'm surprised Landrover bodies don't leap out and savage passing horses, and the aluminium shoes they nail on racehorses feet must be totally horrible. But like all the expert comments on the Saddlechariot over 8 years, it was made by someone who hadn't looked, but was just naturally bigoted. Princess Anne could see no problem at the Royal Cornwall Show where we have demonstrated for 6 years ( in the Countryside Arena, we are too common to be allowed in any of the Horse Arenas). And as I said Frame Swift and Partners could find no problems with the harness.
It is a one person vehicle. If you ride you use a one person saddle, you probably own a one person bicycle, a one person set of skis and wear one person trousers. Some things are one person, some aren't. The Saddlechariot is.
If you want to see how to drive solo, click this link and click on the video. Molly is very green and terrified of cruppers, which is why I'm not using one. Her turning is poor and I have only driven her about a dozen times. Whips upset her and she hates being tied up. On this drive we got to the roadworks at the A66/Roman road junction and Molly freaked. So I stepped off, pulling the ripcord, long reined her round the roadworks till we were both bored rigid, groundhitched her on the verge, put the saddlechariot back on and drove home.
According to Horse and Hound , eleven Eventers have died in the last 14 months yet Formula 1 motor racing, where maniacs drive cars at insane speeds on the outer limits of engineering and adhesion, hasn't lost a life for 10 years.
Totally modern, totally insane, remarkably safe.That is why I have gone modern. I don't want anyone to get hurt on a saddlechariot or by a saddlechariot. I don't want any dead or injured ponies or people.
This photo shows the moment of truth as I step off the saddlechariot and pull the ripcord. Instantly, I'm not on the vehicle and the vehicle's not on Henry. This is the only skill you need to learn, step off, pull string.
What is a Saddlechariot. Firstly Safe, see above and most of this site. It is a one man vehicle becuase that is safer. If you believe a groom will make you safe please watch the following video of a top level driver with presumably competent grooms. Boyd Exell and his two assistants all fell out of the four wheel vehicle which then careered off through the crowds pulled by four scared horses. Alternatively here is me deciding to get off my vehicle. I can step off at speed releasing the vehicle instantly and easily. This makes the Saddlechariot safer than any vehicle where you can't release the animals.
The structure is modular, TIG welded stainless steel, precision engineered with the massive assistance of Lancaster University Product Developement Unit who stress tested the design, reworked my instant release system and upgraded the chassis strength all round. Wheels are kite buggy 16X 6.50 X 8 assemblies uprated to 20mm sealed bearings. Unlike motorcycle wheels, Kite buggy wheels are designed to take massive side loadings because the insane idiots who drive kite buggies regularly lift off the ground to stupid heights and gravity always wins in the end.
Being modular the Saddlechariot can fit from 7 to 17hh easily and I can fit bigger or smaller without much effort. So any vehicle can be used with a range of horses and ponies and fit each and every one perfectly.
The harness is again totally modern and engineered. Nothing is there because that's how somebody did it in 1817. I took Henry, Saddlechariot and the harness to frame Swift and Partners ( a well respected veterinary practice, who have looked after all our animals for the last 4 years) in Penrith to assess and they could find no problems. Henry has driven in my harness, (because the conventional harness we had made for him was so appalling that it was cruel) and after 7 years in my harness he still goes out in the saddlechariot, happy, enthusiastic, totally disobedient (because he is Henry) and has fun.
The harness features hinged pad saddle, with 20mm closed cell foam padding under sheepskin. A couple of Carriage Driving "experts" have described this as "faux sheepskin". These experts are liars. I have to say this to protect the reputation of my sheepskin suppliers, Fenland Sheepskin, wo are brilliant and have supplied me with superb sheepskin for 7+ years.
The cushioned tailored breeching has a 1/2 ton load capacity breeching band. If you are hit by a car from behind, the pony relies on the breeching or he is pushed along the road by a lump of metal.
There is no crupper because they are at best uncomfortable and at worst actively cruel. Driving without a breeching and with a crupper has caused a lot of problems with ponies that I have had to sort out. It should be obvious to the most stupid that using the tail as a braking system is painful, cruel and doesn't work.
The collar is aluminium, which for some reason a number of experts say is cruel. I obviously missed this bit in school science where Aluminium is a cruel metal. I'm surprised Landrover bodies don't leap out and savage passing horses, and the aluminium shoes they nail on racehorses feet must be totally horrible. But like all the expert comments on the Saddlechariot over 8 years, it was made by someone who hadn't looked, but was just naturally bigoted. Princess Anne could see no problem at the Royal Cornwall Show where we have demonstrated for 6 years ( in the Countryside Arena, we are too common to be allowed in any of the Horse Arenas). And as I said Frame Swift and Partners could find no problems with the harness.
It is a one person vehicle. If you ride you use a one person saddle, you probably own a one person bicycle, a one person set of skis and wear one person trousers. Some things are one person, some aren't. The Saddlechariot is.
If you want to see how to drive solo, click this link and click on the video. Molly is very green and terrified of cruppers, which is why I'm not using one. Her turning is poor and I have only driven her about a dozen times. Whips upset her and she hates being tied up. On this drive we got to the roadworks at the A66/Roman road junction and Molly freaked. So I stepped off, pulling the ripcord, long reined her round the roadworks till we were both bored rigid, groundhitched her on the verge, put the saddlechariot back on and drove home.