Sulky

For the adjective, see Wiktionary:sulky.
This article is about the type of horse cart. For the locality in Australia, see Sulky, Victoria.

Harness racing sulky (2007)
Horse show sulky for roadster classes (2012)
Wooden racing sulky (c. 1895–1910)
Horse-drawn mower with a "sulky seat"[1]

A sulky is a lightweight cart used for harness racing. It has two wheels and a small seat for only a single driver. The modern racing sulky has shafts that extend in a continuous bow behind the driver's seat, with wire-spoked "bike" wheels and inflated tyres.[1][2] A sulky is frequently called a "bike". Historically, sulkies were built for trotting matches and made from wood with very tall wheels and almost no body, just a simple frame supporting a single seat.[3] Such vehicles were called "sulkies" because they were "said to have been chosen by unsociable people fond of their own company or fits of sulking".[1]

A horse show vehicle used in roadster classes is also called a sulky. The drivers dress in racing silks and show their horses at a fast trot around the showring.[4]

Other uses of the term sulky include:

  • the single metal seat found on many horse-drawn agricultural implements such as ploughs, mowers and rakes.[1]
  • the logging arch, a log-transport tool on wheels, is also called a logging sulky and may be towed manually or by horses or tractors.[5]
  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference smith was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference walrond79 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference carlisle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Roadster". United States Equestrian Federation.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference loggingsulky was invoked but never defined (see the help page).