The age old question, should i get a 2 wheel or 4 wheel carriage for my single ? Here are the pros and cons. 2 wheel carts are lighter for the horse or pony. They are easier to back up and safer for a green horse because you can not jackknife it, however many 2 wheels have no brakes so you need properly fitting britching to keep the carriage from bumping into your horse or pony when going down hill and downward transitions are more difficult for the horse. They are more traditional for tandems in pleasure shows. They are usually cheaper than 4 wheel carriages. Carts may be difficult to balance depending on make of vehicle and size of horse. Many 2 wheels have a crank balance system so the drivers box can be moved over the axle to change the balance. An improperly balanced cart can be very hard on the horses back and a wide, good fitting saddle should be used to avoid back pain. Carts may be more difficult to enter and exit. Meadowbrook types are rear entry and can be difficult for beginners or in a sticky situation where a quick exit is required to avoid disaster. Easy entry carts are safer, however entering a cart always results on a great amount of force on the horses back when mounting the carriage. Most carts can only take one passenger. A cocking cart, village cart and similar types have back to back seats so can take 2 more passengers, irlsh jaunting carts can take 4 -6 passengers and tub carts can hold a herd of kids and dogs, however, adjusting the balance for the number of passengers is critical for the horse. Imagine the force on a poor horses back or girth in a poorly balanced village cart carrying the weight of 4 adults ! Carts can be difficult to transport. Extra care must be taken when tying them in your trailer. Make sure the shafts are well supported and the body is tied in with at least 4 tiedowns so it doesn't roll around. If possible, tying it against the front or rear wall offers more security. shaft covers offer protection from scratches and dents during travel. 4 wheel carriages They may be a bit heavier but are a much better ride for people and horses. The horse no longer has to carry the weight of the vehicle and people and there is no need to balance it. The weight on the horse's back is the weight of the shafts. Proper fit is still an issue, however many 4 wheels have adjustable shafts and even removable shafts so you can have a few sets of shafts for different sized animals that are easily interchanged. In fact, many 4 wheels have the option of removing the shafts and attaching a pole (and leader bars) so the same carriage can be used to drive single, tandem, pair, unicorn and 4 in hand. Very handy for pleasure shows ! Carriages have a much smoother ride for both horses and people. The suspension is usually better and as addressed earlier, the horse does not have to carriage the weight of the load. For cross county driving, a 4 wheel is much kinder for you horse. Carriages are also easier to transport. I have an 8 foot wide 6 horse trailer. I usually remove the shafts, roll it up the side ramp and tie it across my aisle, this way the carriage has only 8 ft by 4 foot foot print, while most 2 wheels take up much more space to accomodate the length of the shafts.