WO1993004977A1

WO1993004977A1 - Horseback riding saddle

Info

Publication number: WO1993004977A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/001582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Thorowgood
Original assignee: Thorowgood Limited
Priority date: 1991-08-31
Filing date: 1992-08-28
Publication date: 1993-03-18
Also published as: GB2259436A; GB9203610D0; GB9118681D0

Abstract

A saddle (10) comprises a saddle tree (11) and saddle coverings (15, 16, 17, 20) which at least partially cover the tree (11), a pad means (25, 26) which in use is disposed between the saddle tree (11) and the animal's back on which the saddle is carried, means releasably to attach the pad means (25, 26) to the underside (20) of the remainder of the saddle (10).

Description

Horsebac riding saddle

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a saddle for an animal such as a horse or pony.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a saddle comprising a saddle tree, and saddle coverings which at least partially cover the tree, a pad means which in use is disposed between the saddle tree and the animal's back on which the saddle is carried, means releasably to attach the pad means to the underside of the remainder of the saddle.

In this way, the saddle may be adapted for use on horses, ponies or other animals having different widths of withers in that either the pad means can be attached to the remainder of the saddle in any one of a plurality of alternative positions, or common fixing points on the remainder of the saddle can be used to attach the pad means thereto, the pad means being selected from a plurality of pad means at least some of which are of different sizes and/or shapes to others of the pad means.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

FIGURE 1 is an upper perspective view partially exploded, of a saddle in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an underside plan view of the saddle of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a saddle 10 for a horse or pony comprises a saddle tree 11 comprising a front part 12 and a rear cantle part 13, and a seat part 14 between the front 12 and cantle 13 parts.

The saddle tree 11 is partially covered on its upper side by upper saddle coverings which provide a seat 15, and flaps 16,17, which depend from either side of the seat 15. The upper saddle coverings may be made of leather or other natural material, or preferably a synthetic durable and water resistant type of material. The upper saddle coverings are secured to the saddle tree 11 by a plurality of fasteners one of which is indicated at 18.

Secured to the front part 12 of the saddle tree 11 is a handle 13 which is provided for a novice rider to hold.

Secured to the saddle tree 11 and depending from each of the flaps 16 and 17 are straps 19, which in use are secured to a girth and/or other harness members in order to secure the saddle 10 to the horse.

Underside saddle coverings 20 comprising a single sheet of material extend beneath each of the flaps 17, and beneath the seat part 14 of the tree 11, the single sheet of material being secured to a lining (not seen) which is adhered or otherwise attached to the saddle tree 11, by stitching 22, and the sheet of material 20 is secured to each of the flaps 16 and 17 by further stitching 23,24, respectively.

A pad means comprising a pair of pads 25,26 are releasably attached to the underside of the saddle 10. This is achieved by the method of each of the pads 25 and 26 being, at least on one side thereof, one component of a Velcro (Trade Mark) type of material, the material 20 of the underside saddle coverings comprising at least in part, a second component of a Velcro (Trade Mark) type of material. Thus each of the pads 25,26, may be releasably attached to the underside saddle coverings 20 of the remainder of the saddle 10 in any desired position. In this example, the pads 25 and 26 are each of elongate configuration and serve to raise the saddle 10, in the relation of the seat 14 above the horse's back. Thus the pads 25,26, may be attached to the underside of the saddle a relatively wide distance D apart to suit a horse having wide withers, or a relatively small distance D apart to suit a horse having narrower withers.

In the example shown, the material of the pads 25,26, comprise a plurality of generally rigid nylon hooks, and the material 20 of the underside saddle coverings comprising a plurality of generally flexible loops which co¬ operate with the hooks of the pads 25,26, releasably to attach the pads 25,26, to the underside of the remainder of the saddle 10. It will be appreciated that the pads 25,26, may be of any alternative size, shape or configuration to suit a particular animal and that additional pads may be secured to the underside of the saddle covering 20 wherever it is desired to provide padding.

Further, although as shown, the hooked material of the pads 25,26, covers a wide area, and the looped material of the underside saddle coverings 20 comprises a single sheet of material which covers the entire underside of the saddle tree 11 and the flaps 16,17, the looped material may be provided over small discrete areas at the underside of the saddle tree 11 only, and the hooked material of the pads 25,26, may cover only discrete parts of the pads.

If desired, alternatively the hooked material may be provided at the underside of the saddle and the looped material on the pads.

In another embodiment, the underside saddle coverings 20 or the underside of the tree 11 is provided with a plurality of first components of press stud type fasteners. The pads 25,26, are provided with corresponding second components of the press stud fastenings, so that the pads- 25,26, can be releasably attached at the underside of the saddle tree 11 in unique positions only. However, to enable the saddle to be adapted to suit horses having different width withers, the pads 25,26, may be selected from a plurality of pads 25,26, each of which has second components positioned such that they are engageable with the first components of the press studs provided beneath the saddle tree 11, and the plurality of pads 25,26, including pads 25,26, of various sizes, shapes and configuration.

Thus the saddle 10 can be tailormade to suit each particular animal.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to saddles having saddle trees of different configurations to that shown in the drawings, and the material of the upper saddle coverings may be different in extent and make-up to that shown. Instead of hook and loop type material, or press stud fastenings being provided, any other suitable means may be provided to enable the pads 25,26, to be releasably attached to the underside of the remainder of the saddle.

Whereas the pad means in the examples described has comprised a pair of separate pads 25,26, particularly where the pad means is attached by press studs or the like, the pad means comprises a single component having two or more padded parts, connected together by a web.

Claims

1. A saddle comprising a saddle tree, and saddle coverings which at least partially cover the tree, a pad means which in use is disposed between the saddle tree and the animal's back on which the saddle is carried, means releasably to attach the pad means to the underside of the remainder of the saddle.

2. A saddle according to Claim 1 wherein lower saddle coverings extend beneath the saddle tree and have first co-operating means which co-operate with second co-operating means of the pad means to enable the pad means to be attached to the lower saddle coverings in any one of a plurality of alternative positions.

3. A saddle according to claim 2 wherein the first co-operating means comprises a plurality of hooks or loops and the second co-operating means comprises a plurality of loops or hooks respectively, the hooks and loops co¬ operating releasably to attach the pad means to the lower saddle coverings.

4. A saddle according to claim 3 wherein the lower saddle coverings are made at least in part of a material comprising a plurality of hooks or loops and the pad means is made at least in part of a material comprising a plurality of loops or hooks respectively, the materials of the lower saddle coverings co¬ operating releasably to attach the pad means to the lower saddle coverings.

5. A saddle according to claim 4 wherein the entire lower saddle coverings are made of a material comprising a plurality of hooks or loops.

6. A saddle according to claim 1 wherein at the underside of the saddle tree, first co-operating means are provided comprising a plurality of first fastener components, and the pad means is provided with a plurahty of second fastener components, each of the first fastener components being releasably engageable with a corresponding second fastener component.

7. A saddle according to claim 6 wherein the fasteners comprise press studs.

8. A saddle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pad means comprises two separate pads, each generally of elongate configuration and being adapted to extend along the animal's back so as to raise the saddle tree upwardly from the animal's back.

9. A method of making a saddle according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of selecting a pad means from a plurality of pad means and releasably attaching the pad means to the underside of the remainder of the saddle.

10. A method according to claim 10 wherein at least some of the plurahty of pad means are of different sizes and/or shapes to others of the pad means whereby the saddle thus made is adapted to fit a particular animal.