This invention relates to a wagon for training trotting horses, the wagon being provided with a braking device and equipment for measuring the traction force of the horse, and the wagon being provided with two shafts for attachment to a horse.

Known wagons now being used when training trotting horses are partly strong, unbraked sulkies, partly braked sulkies. The intention with braked sulkies is that the horse shall be trained in a low speed but with a high load. In this way the legs of the horse are spared frow wear and the risk of injuries which easily arise during trotting.

Braked sulkies has only one axle and the shafts are permanently fixed to the frame of the sulky. Therefore, when braking the sulky, the horse is subjected to a pressing force which counteracts the braking moment. This arrangement, i.e. that the frame and the shafts are permanently fixed to each other, has the consequence that unevennesses in the roadway give rise to side forces on the horse, which are intensified during braking. Furthermore, the mentioned arrangement has the consequence that the shafts do not follow the shoulder movements of the horse, and therefore the force setting up sometimes takes place at the one shoulder and sometimes at the other shoulder for each step that the horse takes. These negative qualities of known braked sulkies may have the consequence that the horse becomes stiff in its movements. Therefore, the use of braked sulkies has become limited.

The object of this invention is partly to solve the above mentioned problem, partly to make the training more effective by measuring the traction force of the horse with a sensing device, which traction force is readable for the driver. This object has been achieved by a wagon of the kind mentioned by way of introduction which has the features which are apparent from claim 1.

The wagon according to the invention shall be described more closely below with reference to the accompanying drawings, where Fig 1 shows a first embodiment of the wagon, seen from the side and fastened to a horse, Fig 2 shows a view from above of the wagon according to fig 1 , Fig 3 shows a second embodiment of the wagon, seen from the side and fastened to a horse, Fig 4 shows a view from above of the wagon according to fig 3, Fig 5 shows a third embodiment of the wagon, seen from the side and fastened to a horse, and Fig 6 shows a view from above of the wagon according to fig 5. Referring to figs 1 , 2 is shown there the first embodiment of the wagon according to the invention. This wagon 1 is provided with a front axle 2 and a rear axle 3, which is arranged like a bogie axle. Two shafts 4 are connected with a draw bar 5 via two articulated arms 6. The draw bar 5 is connected to an articulated draw bar attachment 8 by means of a

force sensing connection 7, which attachment steers the front wheels 9 of the wagon via steering connecting rods 10. The trainer/driver is positioned on a seat 11 of the wagon 1. A braking device 12 is attached on the wheels 9, 13 of the wagon. The braking device can easily be engaged and disengaged, and its force easily be adjusted via an adjusting device 18. The force sensing connection 7 between the shafts and the wagon gives the driver information via a measuring device or a display 14 about the size of the force with which the horse draws the equipage. In order to obtain a sufficient braking force for powerful horses, the wagon can be loaded with weights 15. The two articulated arms 6 which connect the shafts 4 with the draw bar 5 form together with two side rods 21 a parallelogram and by that allows a balanced setting up of forces against the moveable shoulders of the horse.

The shafts 4 are arranged in that way that, seen in the direction from the attachment point at the horse and backwards, they extend on a relatively high level above the ground surface to a point 16 just before the area of the attachment to the wagon, at which point 16 they make a substantial deviation downwards, the attachment of the shafts 4 to the wagon being on a level above the ground surface which essentially corresponds to half the diameter of the front wheel 9.

The low attachment of the shafts to the wagon gives a correct angle for the setting up of forces against the shoulders of the horse. Furthermore, the specific design of the shafts gives the horse a possibility to move its rear legs as freely as when using sulkies without risk for the shin bone of the horse to touch the shaft. Moreover, the strongly bent design of the shafts prevents the horse from climbing over these ones inspite of the low attachment point of the shafts in the wagon.

The construction of the wagon with two axles and an articulated attachment of the shafts eliminates the problem with a down-pressing force on the horse during braking. A potential unbalance regarding the braking force on the wheels of the one or the other side of the wagon is neither transmitted to the horse due to this construction. Furthermore, the construction has that advantage that the side forces arising during driving on uneven roadways will neither be transmitted to the horse.

The front axle is designed in that way that the wheels are journalled in steering spindles 17. Due to that fact only insignificant side forces arise on the horse when the front wheels roll in unevennesses in the roadway.

The force sensing connection 7 between the shafts and the wagon informs the trainer/the driver via a measuring device or a display 14 about the size of the force with

which the horse draws the equipage. By adjusting the braking force with an adjusting device 18, the trainer can obtain a desired traction force for the horse irrespectively of the inclination in uphill slopes or downhill slopes or different rolling resistance due to varying state of the road. The embodiment which fig 1 and fig 2 disclose with bogie wheels 13 on the rear axle

3 gives a larger maximal braking force per weight unit 15 than a wagon with single wheels on the rear axle.

Furthermore, the risk of sliding, i.e. that the wheels slide along the roadway when strongly braked, is less when having a bogie-designed rear axle than having single wheels on the rear axle.

The embodiment disclosed in figs 1, 2 can be provided with an extra seat 20, which is simply mounted in the frame 19 of the wagon where the loading weights 15 normally are positioned for use when training apprenticies or for demonstration of the training for the horse owner. The wagon according to fig 3, 4 is provided with single wheels 13 on the rear axle

3 and has a more simple design than the embodiment according to figs 1, 2. The frame 19 of the wagon is shorter and has no place for an extra seat. Otherwise, this embodiment has the same function as the embodiment according to figs 1, 2.

The embodiment according to figs 5, 6 is also provided with single wheels 13 on the rear axle 3 and has a design which is further simplified in comparison with the embodiment according to figs 3, 4. Thus, the wagon according to figs 5, 6 has only one front wheel 9 on the front axle 2 and this front wheel is placed in a position essentially half-way between the two rear wheels 13 and in front of these ones, seen in the travelling direction of the wagon. Otherwise, the last mentioned embodiment has the same function as the embodiment according to figs 3, 4.

The invention is of course not limited to the shown and described embodiments but can be modified within the scope of the following claims.