It all starts with the "tire". We use only bias-ply tires for safety. There are no steel belts that could rupture and harm a child.
All of the tires we use are "re-cycled" used tires. We get them from many sources, such as the stream shown in the photo on the left.
Using used tires helps to keep our costs and prices down, and makes our horse tire swings affordable to more people.
We are doing our part in helping to keep America beautiful thru our re-cycling.
We bring 'em back by the truck load for re-cycling into "Phony Pony" tire swings.
And then, we go back out looking for more used tires to re-cycle -- helping to clean up America's countryside.
Result ?
- Clean STREAMS
- Clean FIELDS
- Clean ROADSIDES
- Less POLLUTION
Processing the Tire
Meanwhile, back at our shop, we have accumulated piles and piles of used tires waiting to be processed.
Each tire is thoroughly scrubbed, cleaned, and specially treated so that no "black rubber" comes off on your child's clothing.
Next, our "proprietary" patterns are used to mark the tire for final cutting. The tires are then rough cut with special tools and knives. After the final cut, any rough edges are removed.
Making the Tie Bar
The Tie Bar is used to separate the two ropes, keep them from tangling, and provide head room for the child.
After cutting the tie bars to the proper length, we drill the two holes for the support ropes.
The tie bars are then sanded to a smooth finish, removing any splinters created by the drilling operation.
Finally, we spray paint the tie bars with a durable, glossy black (or white), enamel-based paint - as shown in the photo on your left.
The tire swings are painted with a high quality oil-based paint. We have some plant holders, made from the same tires that the tire swings are made from, that have kept their color for years.
The swing is attached to the tie bar and hanger with durable, 1/2 inch, solid-braided white support ropes. This is nylon fiber which is long lasting and rot resistant.
Mane & Tail
The mane, tail, and other hair is made out of braided maxi-cord.
Here, a worker is carefully installing the tail on a new Phony Pony tire swing.
The close-up photo on the right shows how the mane and tail are attached.
Finishing Touches
Our tire swings are designed with accessories that you will not find on other tire swings.
The head of a bolt and a washer are used to make the eyes, and to attach the rear flank accessory (not found on most tire swings).The metal parts are rust resistant and shiny.
Locking nuts and round-headed nuts and bolts are used for both appearance and safety.
The bridle and stirrups are made from the same material as the tire swing (tire rubber). The bridle (also called rein) is actually a sturdy band for the child to hold
on to for safety.Custom Orders
Shown here is a custom order we built for "Hot-Rod Danny" - a BLUE pony, complete with shiny new hub caps !
Save your old hubcaps, you may want to turn your Phony Pony tire swing into a hot-rod for your youngster too some day.
Occasionally, We Goof ...
Sometimes we make mistakes, not often, but sometimes. After all, we are only human. Like the day after Sam's daughter's wedding -
. . . when Sam put TWO heads on this poor Pony. Fortunately for Sam, we understood why he wasn't feeling so well that day. In baseball, this is called a "double-header" isn't it ?
Our Final Product
We are very proud of our Phony Pony tire swings. The craftsmanship is unbelievable. Our product is safe, durable, attractive, and ... FUN !
Shown below are three Phony Ponies in various colors: Green, Red and Black. We also make one in Brown (not shown).
Ready to Ship
We can ship to most of the Eastern states for $ 15.00, or less.
Shipments to the Western states are slightly more.
Our pony tire swings weigh about 23 lbs.
We normally ship UPS Ground since it is the most economical. We can also ship Next Day Air. We will ship to a third party address, if requested.
Displays at Our Home Office
As we mentioned earlier, if you are ever in the Lakeland area, please stop by and visit us. We would love to meet you. MAP
Wanna see our "Big Panorama" ?
(you know what to do)
Thank You, for taking our Tour.
We hope you enjoyed it, and gained
some insight into how we craft our
quality "Phony Pony" tire swings.
"Ride On, Pardner" - and Have Fun,
~ Cecil ~