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Mini Van

15K views 38 replies 14 participants last post by  ButtInTheDirt 
#1 ·
Hi, first off I guess I should introduce myself! My name is Kim and I own
O So, a 2 year old mini! I have been lurking here for a while, but recently got involved in one of the threads where I shared a pic of my mini van (bus). I was asked for more pics, so I figured I would start a new thread to not take away from the other! :D

Here is a pic I took a while ago, we were just training O So to load into the bus! Hubby is holding the lead! :D



Here is one with the stall we built to go in the bus! I put a rubber mat down and then put pine shavings on top. I also made wood paneling for the bus's doors! Cleaned it up nicely!!



It isn't the best looking stall, but it works!

Here is a pic of the back window!!



When I first got O So, I didn't have a trailer at all. I was going to have hubby build me a small one, but then I thought about the bus! It would be perfect! Only thing is, you have to really love your horse to ride in the same space as him! LOL Put it this way, I consider him potty trained. I can be at the stables for a couple hours and he will not pee or poop, until he gets in the bus!!!!! :lol: It's not bad once you get moving! LOL
 
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#2 ·
Hey, thanks for the pics!
I think that is really great! Does the stall just slide in and out, or is it mounted permanently in there?
Do you just haul one mini then?

I should snap some pics of our mini van "in progress" so that I will have some before and after shots as well....

Looks like yours is low enough for them to step up into?
That is one problem I have, I need a permanent ramp that maybe folds up out of the way while we are in transit, but always there when needed.
But my hubby is very good at that kind of thing, just needs the time to work on it...
 
#3 ·
The stall slides in and out! That way if I want a normal bus, it isn't to hard to switch over!

My ramp is just a wheel chair ramp. I lucked out and it slides between the front seats and the stall. I wish O So could just step in, would be a lot easier!! :D
 
#5 ·
Well that makes it really handy then!
When mine is all done it will pretty much be just for haul'in minis...

Do you haul a cart as well? If so how/where?
My hubby wants to make it really easy for me to be able to just load up a horse and cart and away I go!
That way I am not dependent on him to take me any where all the time.
(Although we do go driving a lot together as well)


 
#7 ·
No, I don't haul a cart. I don't even have one "yet"! LOL O So isn't trained to do much more then run in a circle! LOL We will be doing all that other stuff as time progress's! Right now I need to save to have him gelded. He may be crypt ( will find out for sure tomorrow morning) If he is, I will need to save for that. If not, he will be getting gelded at the end of Oct.!! Then we can really start learning some new stuff!!

I wouldn't be able to haul a cart and him in the bus. I would have to put the cart on a trailer if I wanted to take one places!


Yah, people get a kick out of the mini van when they see him getting out or in it! It should be on facebook somewhere, lol, everyone takes pics and say's they are putting it on the page! LOL
 
#8 ·
Love the name too. "Minivan" Too awesome.

I brought my young mini home in a full size van. He was so small I just picked him up and put him in, no ramp needed. Not the case now LOL.

We had to stop and get fuel and he picked that moment to whinny very loudly while I was refueling. I got lots of funny looks to say the least.
 
#9 ·
How old is O So ?
Hope
there are no problems getting him gelded... At least being October you should not have to worry about flies, Oh wait, you are in California, is it cool enough in Oct. there to not be bothered with flies?

I won't be able to put my cart inside either. Our plan is to have a simple system for loading it up onto the roof of the van.

My goal, besides being able to get around "independently", is to start doing more nursing home type visits with a couple of my minis.
My little Me Jo has the absolute perfect temperament and size for that. Actually I think three of my five would all do equally well, but Me Jo is the one I think I will really concentrate on first.

LittlemanRob, "quote"
We had to stop and get fuel and he picked that moment to whinny very loudly while I was refueling. I got lots of funny looks to say the least.

That had to worth a few looks and chuckles! :lol:


 
#10 ·
He is 2 and a half! Will be 3 in May.

I'm sure hoping it will be cooler by then! Here it is supposed to be Fall, and we are going to have 99 degrees for the next 5 days or so! Actually, by the end of Oct. it is cooling off pretty good. So I should be fine. The vet and some other horse people I talk to seem to think I picked a good time to do it!

I work for a grocery store, so trying to take vacations in Nov or Dec is pretty hard! Those are usually the busy months!! I want to be off for the week after he gets snipped. That way I can keep a close eye on him!!! I'm a worry wort!! LOL

Maybe you guy's can get one of those wheelchair lifts that go on the back of vans. You could load your cart on it with the bars ( the things that go around the horse, don't know the technical name for them) up in the air. Then just tie it down and make the lift do it's thing!!! Hmm, maybe I will have to do that when I get a cart!! LOL
 
#13 ·
Thanks!

I have to give credit to my son! If he hadn't have called me about getting the bus running (when I was on the way back from buying O So) I would have never thought of it! I was all for trying to pull a trailer behind my car, even though I don't like to pull trailers! So this worked out perfect! I don't have to pull a trailer and O So gets to go to the stables to play! That and I get to pet him on the trip! LOL

Now I just need to weather proof the bus! It's been sitting for about 2 years, that and it has all original weather stripping. I plan on doing the windshields first! They leak when the dew gets heavy! Then I need to do the rear hatch! I think that is about 150 bucks alone! For now I will be putting a plastic sheet back there to keep it from getting the carpet wet! Windshield is more important! LOL

Luckily I will have some time during the winter. I won't be using the bus when it is raining. I don't want to go out in the rain, so I don't think O So will either! LOL I can get some work done on it so it will make it more pleasurable for the both of us!! Nothing but the best for O So! LOL
 
#14 ·
O So, what did you find out at the vets? Will he be getting gelded in October, or is it going to be more involved?

He will be the perfect age to start training him to drive next spring then!
I always thought there was nothing better than riding a horse, but when we added minis to our four footed family, and started driving....
I dunno, it's a pretty close call as to which is more fun.

Today has been dark and rainy, maybe tomorrow I will be able to get a few snaps of my mini-van in progress.
I definitely want to get myself a "minis on board" sign for it! Where did you happen across yours?
 
#15 ·
The vet visit went well! The vet came by my house one his way to work and "copped a feel" , and determined that he could do O So for the normal gelding fee! He didn't even charge me for the visit!!! I will be taking him to the vet on Oct. 22 to have the deed done! :D

This is where I got the sticker. I thought I was getting one of those plastic signs, but turns out it is just a sticker. They sent me the large one you see in the pic, and also a smaller one that I put on the side window of the bus! So I guess it all worked out because I got two stickers! LOL

Today it is hot and sunny! Summer in the fall! LOL I look forward to seeing you 'mini' van progress!! :D


Oops, forgot to ad the link to the stickers! LOL Here it is!

http://www.familycarsigns.com/baby/customonboard1.htm
 
#19 ·
Okay, finally got some nice sunshine and was able to snap off a few pics of my "mini-van" in progress....

You can see why I would like to "line" the walls and ceiling before hauling any minis in it....
But the rubber floor, and the safety grid on the windows and divider between cab and cargo areas are really great.
I will need to create a "moisture barrier" at the floor level at the divider also, don't need that in the cab area now do we? :lol:

I am pretty excited to get it finished, but it will definitely be next summer before that happens. Time, money, and winter coming on fast and all... :-(

And thanks O So for the sign and sticker info, it would not be complete with out those!


 

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#20 ·
I looks like it will make a very nice "mini" van! You will be able to get at least 4 in there if you make your stalls right! I can only get 2 in mine and that would be making them with not much room to move! I only have one though, so I'm good! LOL

The only thing I can see that you may find to be somewhat of an inconvenience is no windows that open! At least I can't see any in the photos! I have found that it's much better to have the windows open all of the time! (Not traveling in rain if I can help it!) O So figures it is time to poop and pee when he gets in the bus, so it is nice to get moving and have the air flow!!!! LOL Course, I guess you could actually use some plexi glass on the back of your mesh divider, then you could seal yourself in the cab and not have to smell that nice aroma!! :D You really got to love your horse to ride in the same vehicle as his poo!!! LOL :D

I look forward to seeing progress pics!! :D
 
#21 ·
WOW, that is so awesome! Never seen anything like that before, what a clever idea. I only wish that we could do that for regular sized horses xD
 
#27 ·
I think opinions will very on the size. Some people think the horses need to be secured so they can move much. Like a big horse in a big horse trailer. Some people think they can be allowed to move around in a bigger area. Here is what mine is.

Mine is 3 foot wide by 4 foot long. My 28 inch mini can turn around or move back and forth. I do drive cautiously because I do know that a sudden stop could cause him to get jerked forward or what ever. My guy rides really good and he has good balance. I think most horses do though!

I am thinking of getting another mini. Roughly the same size as O So. If I do, all I plan on doing is putting a divider in so they can ride side by side like in a normal trailer. Although, the more I think about it, I may just put them both in and let them figure out who wants to stand where. That is if they get along well enough. That is all still on the back burner though. I am still trying figure out if I want to get another one. LOL I mean I would love to have one and I know it would be good for O So to have a friend, but can I handle taking care of 2 and do I have enough space for 2 to play safely. All things that I am contemplating! But, that is another story! LOL


I will try to take better pics of my box later today!
 
#30 ·
This photo is from a cell phone, so the quality is poor, but it shows our Chevy Xpress extended van, which os our horse hauler for our minis, including Mingus, who is 38 inches. If we had an emergency, we could fit all four of our kids, although it would be rather exciting with our stallion, two geldings and a mare. Normally we haul one and our easy entry cart (shafts removed). We load from the side (they hop right in...no ramp necessary) and put the cart in the back compartment (Mingus is looking over the divider in this photo).

While we have rubber matting, it is not thick enough to stand up to a big mini's hooves, so we lay down a sheet of plywood, carpet padding, and a good layer of shavings.

Has anyone using a van come up with a means of keeping their horse from steppin into the door well while in transport? For now, we tie him to prevent this, but I would prefer to let him ride loose.

 
#32 ·
This photo is from a cell phone, so the quality is poor, but it shows our Chevy Xpress extended van, which os our horse hauler for our minis, including Mingus, who is 38 inches. If we had an emergency, we could fit all four of our kids, although it would be rather exciting with our stallion, two geldings and a mare. Normally we haul one and our easy entry cart (shafts removed). We load from the side (they hop right in...no ramp necessary) and put the cart in the back compartment (Mingus is looking over the divider in this photo).

While we have rubber matting, it is not thick enough to stand up to a big mini's hooves, so we lay down a sheet of plywood, carpet padding, and a good layer of shavings.

Has anyone using a van come up with a means of keeping their horse from steppin into the door well while in transport? For now, we tie him to prevent this, but I would prefer to let him ride loose.


Hi susanne!

Sounds like you have a very similar Chevy Van to ours! :D (pics posted earlier in thread)
We do have that step you are talking about, and we are definitely going to be blocking that off some how.
Ours is still a work in progress, and being that we are still under a few feet of snow, won't be getting back to work on it for a bit yet...
But once we do I will make sure to post pics of what we figure out for that.

I was wondering if you ever worry about your mini cutting it's head on the ceiling?
Oh, and the side walls as well. Have you ever had any issues?
Ours looks just like yours. We are planning on lining the walls and ceiling for safety.

Did you say yours load up through the side door where the step is?
I would not have thought about that, we are still working on a ramp idea for the rear doors...

Love to hear your input!

The ramp and the walls/ceiling issues are really all that are keeping me from using mine, so any thing to get me and my minis "rolling" sooner, would be GREAT!
 
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