Horses and Buggies
Horses, buggies, 2-wheeled carts, ox carts, topless wagons, etc. These are several types of transportation used by the different traditional and conservative Mennonites living in Belize and are all locally made by their own members. Unlike the ones used by the Amish of North America, the ones here are all the open kind and use rubber tires. Also, how a buggy is made reflects how conservative their group is.
Old Colony Mennonites
The Mennonites of northern Belize; Shipyard, Little Belize, Neuland, etc. use horses, 4-wheeled buggies and 2-wheel carts mostly for personal transportation within the community and to travel to surrounding villages. These Mennonites allow the use of motorized farm equipment as long as it has steel tires. Hence steel-tire tractors are depended on for pulling heavy loads and plowing, leaving the horses for lighter transport. Buggies and carts are made of planed lumber and painted black, with reflectors stuck on them. Tires are motorcycle type with spoke rims. Buggy rooftops are made of sheet metal, the floor is often lined with vinyl, i.e. linoleum, and it is open on all four sides. Four-wheeled buggies with rooftops are the family SUV. Two-wheeled carts without roofs are used much the same way the rest of us would use a motorcycle. Running errands, going to and from work, delivering small items. Topless 4-wheeled wagons are also used.
Hoover Mennonites
(aka Old Order Mennonites)
The Mennonites of central and southern Belize; Upper Barton Creek (almost empty now), Springfield, Birdwalk, etc., are more conservative than the Old Colony Mennonites of Shipyard. No motor-driven farm machines are allowed to be owned by them. Instead, both horses and oxen are used interchangeably for farming and transporting loads, depending on how heavy the job is. For example their sawmills are horse-powered while the oxen are put to work hauling the logs. Their buggies are made in the same pattern as Shipyard but more plain, many of them are left unpainted. Since their buggies and wagons carry much heavier loads than those of Shipyard, the tires used are often regular vehicle tires. Also, their work wagons have sometimes been made out of a pickup bed.
Lower Barton Creek & Pine Hill
In another article I explained the historical details of Lower Barton Creek (Cayo District) and Pine Hill (Toledo District) . Although they have elements of Old Colony beliefs and lifestyle, they follow the same practices as the Old Order Mennonites in dressing and regarding the use of horses and buggies. Both communities are located close to a major town, so they simply use their own buggies to haul their supplies except for extra heavy material.
Old Colony Mennonites
The Mennonites of northern Belize; Shipyard, Little Belize, Neuland, etc. use horses, 4-wheeled buggies and 2-wheel carts mostly for personal transportation within the community and to travel to surrounding villages. These Mennonites allow the use of motorized farm equipment as long as it has steel tires. Hence steel-tire tractors are depended on for pulling heavy loads and plowing, leaving the horses for lighter transport. Buggies and carts are made of planed lumber and painted black, with reflectors stuck on them. Tires are motorcycle type with spoke rims. Buggy rooftops are made of sheet metal, the floor is often lined with vinyl, i.e. linoleum, and it is open on all four sides. Four-wheeled buggies with rooftops are the family SUV. Two-wheeled carts without roofs are used much the same way the rest of us would use a motorcycle. Running errands, going to and from work, delivering small items. Topless 4-wheeled wagons are also used.
(aka Old Order Mennonites)
Photo courtesy: Chantal Sakay, PBase
Lower Barton Creek & Pine Hill
In another article I explained the historical details of Lower Barton Creek (Cayo District) and Pine Hill (Toledo District) . Although they have elements of Old Colony beliefs and lifestyle, they follow the same practices as the Old Order Mennonites in dressing and regarding the use of horses and buggies. Both communities are located close to a major town, so they simply use their own buggies to haul their supplies except for extra heavy material.
