EP0208606A1 - Simulator for the different gaits of a horse and the interventions to be made for its conduct - Google Patents

Abstract

In an apparatus for simulating the different paces of a horse and the aids to be applied for controlling the horse, four representative display lamps light-up in order to represent the precise time-duration of the instant of ground contact of the different hooves of a horse and are supplied by four separate circuits in dependence on control devices for ensuring different lighting-up recurrence rates and sequences with a view to reproducing different types of paces of a horse. In addition, a signal lamp is intended to light-up so as to represent predetermined aids for controlling a horse, this lamp being connected into a circuit which includes an operating key at the user's disposal. Closing of the circuit at a predetermined instant has the effect of turning-on the lamp and blocking the circuits of the representative display lamps in their state of operation at that instant.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating the different gaits of a horse and the interventions to be carried out for driving it.

This device is intended to allow riders and non-riders to analyze themselves the different gaits of a horse and to become familiar with them to be able to use with profit the new method of riding called "Balance Method". This method consists for a rider, by knowing the mechanisms of the horse's locomotion and its natural reflexes, to use these to his advantage to help the horse and more easily create the conditioned reflexes that the rider needs to make him take attitudes or execute changes of direction and unnatural movements for him. For this purpose, the rider should know the exact contact times on the ground of each member of the horse in order to be able to voluntarily use his own weight, via the saddle and stirrups, at such and such a time. depending on the supports he wants to strengthen or reduce. This is what we improperly call, in common parlance, the "weight aids" although it is a question, by the internal forces of the rider, of using all or part of his mass to act on the horse.

To properly apply this method, riders should therefore have a perfect knowledge of the succession of ground supports for hooves of the horse and the air supports of each of its members, according to its different gaits. However, it is also essential that they understand the sequence of horse movements and the transitions between its different gaits. Furthermore, it is necessary for the riders to train themselves to carry out a determined intervention at the exact moment when it is effective, which poses a delicate problem taking into account the different reaction times of each individual, and of each horse, the duration of these reaction times ranging between hundredths and tenths of a second.

This is why the apparatus according to the invention is designed so as to allow riders and non-riders to familiarize themselves beforehand with the various movements of a horse and to train in the chamber to carry out determined interventions in simulating the execution of these during the horse's movements.

• - d'une part de quatre lampes de figuration ou similaires dont l'allumage est destiné à figurer le temps exact du moment d'appui des différents sabots d'un cheval, et qui sont alimentées par quatre circuits distincts asservis à un ou plusieurs dispositifs de commande aptes à assurer des rythmes et séquences différents d'allumage de ces lampes, de façon à reproduire différents types d'allures d'un cheval (pas, trot, galop, etc...);
• - d'autre part, une lampe de signalisation dont l'allumage est destiné à figurer des interventions déterminées sur un cheval pour la conduite de celui-ci, cette lampe étant branchée dans un circuit comprenant une touche de commande à la disposition de l'usager et dont l'agencement est tel que la fermeture de ce circuit assure à la fois l'allumage de cette lampe et le blocage des circuits des lampes de figuration dans l'état où ils se trouvent à ce moment.

For this purpose, this device includes a display board provided with:

• - on the one hand, four figuration lamps or the like, the lighting of which is intended to represent the exact time of the moment of support of the different hooves of a horse, and which are powered by four distinct circuits slaved to one or more devices control capable of ensuring different rhythms and sequences of lighting of these lamps, so as to reproduce different types of gaits of a horse (step, trot, gallop, etc ...);
• - on the other hand, a signaling lamp, the ignition of which is intended to represent specific interventions on a horse for driving it, this lamp being connected to a circuit comprising a control key available to the user and whose arrangement is such that the closing of this circuit ensures both the lighting of this lamp and the blocking of figuration lamp circuits in the state they are in at the moment.

Thus, the user of this device can immediately realize whether the intervention planned by him was carried out at the exact desired time, or on the contrary, too early, or even too late. It is then possible for him to repeat this training until he manages to act at the right time. In addition, apart from this training possibility, the user can use this device to analyze the different types of paces of a horse and familiarize themselves with the succession of hoof posers in each case considered.

Preferably, next to each figuration lamp for the support time of one of the hooves of a horse, there is provided a second figuration lamp, the lighting of which is intended to represent the exact support time in air from the same shoe, that is to say from lifting it to setting it down, the lamps of this second set of figuration lamps being supplied by circuits controlled by the same control devices as the figuration lamps of the supports of the hooves in order to reproduce, in combination with these, different types of gait of a horse.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present device, the display board includes the representation of the silhouette of a horse and its rider, and of traces representing the four hooves of this horse, and it is provided in the location defined by each of these traces, a pair of lamps, one representing the moment of support and the other the moment of support of the corresponding shoe, while in place of a single signaling lamp, a series of such lamps intended to each represent a specific intervention of a rider and which are placed on or against the silhouette of the horse in positions corresponding to the particular nature of these interventions, each of these lamps being connected to a circuit comprising a control key available to the user and whose arrangement is such that the closing of this circuit ensures both the lighting of this lamp and blocking the circuits of the figuration lamps in the state they are in at the time.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une première forme de réalisation du présent appareil.
• La figure 2 est une vue en plan de dessus, à échelle différente, d'une autre forme de réalisation de celui-ci.
• La figure 3 est une vue en plan de dessus de deux boitiers de commande susceptibles d'être utilisés avec l'appareil représenté à la figure 2.
• La figure 4 est une vue partielle en élévation, avec arrachement d'un autre dispositif de commande susceptible d'être utilisé avec l'appareil représenté à la figure 2.
• La figure 5 en est une vue partielle en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4.
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'un cheval et de son cavalier sur laquelle sont indiquées les principales interventions possibles de ce dernier.
• La figure 7 représente un cache destiné à être placé sur le clavier usuel de commande d'un ordinateur lorsqu'un tel clavier est utilisé.

However, other particularities and advantages of the apparatus according to the invention will become apparent during the following description of some exemplary embodiments thereof. This description is given with reference to the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present apparatus.
• Figure 2 is a top plan view, on a different scale, of another embodiment thereof.
• FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two control units capable of being used with the device shown in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is a partial view in elevation, with cutaway of another control device capable of being used with the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 5 is a partial view in section along the line VV of FIG. 4.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a horse and its rider on which are indicated the main possible interventions of the latter.
• FIG. 7 represents a cover intended to be placed on the usual keyboard for controlling a computer when such a keyboard is used.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the device according to the invention consists of a box 5 whose upper face constitutes a table display. This comprises four figuration lamps 1, 2, 3, 4 arranged so as to represent the supports of the four members of a horse; lamps 1 and 3 correspond respectively to the left rear shoe and the right rear shoe, while lamps 2 and 4 correspond respectively to the left front shoe and the right front shoe. These lamps can consist of light-emitting diodes appearing behind a screen 6, transparent or translucent, occupying part of the upper face of the case 5, or arranged perpendicularly to the latter.

These lamps are powered by four separate electrical circuits which can be slaved to different control devices capable of imparting to them different ignition rhythms and sequences so as to reproduce different types of paces of a horse, in particular: steps, trots and gallop. At least three separate control devices corresponding to these three gears are therefore provided. However, · for each type of pace, several separate control devices can be provided corresponding to different variants or at different speeds. The control devices thus provided may consist of devices comprising time switches, adjustable or not.

On one of its edges, the upper face of the casing 5 carries a series of operating members making it possible to swap the control devices, or to change the computer programs to which the figuration lamps 1, 2, 3 are controlled. , 4. These operating members can consist of keys 7 distributed in three boxes 8, 9 and 10 corresponding respectively to the step, the trot and the gallop. Each of these boxes can then comprise either a single key, or possibly several keys in order to be able to represent variants of the same shape.

In addition to the four figuration lamps already mentioned, still arranged at the corners of a rectangle, the upper face of the case 5 includes a fifth lamp 12 constituting a signaling lamp, the lighting of which is intended to indicate a specific intervention on a horse for the conduct of it. This lamp is supplied by a separate circuit comprising a contactor actuated by a button 13.

However, the circuit of this fifth lamp 12 is connected to that of the figuration lamps 1, 2, 3, 4 and the arrangement is such that the closing of the circuit of the lamp 12 ensures the blocking of the circuits of the figuration lamps in the state in which they are at the time when the user of the apparatus acts on the button 13 for controlling the lamp 12.

As already indicated, this device allows a rider who is just starting out to analyze the different gaits of a horse and to familiarize himself with the succession of ground supports for his hoofs.

He can then easily understand the sequence of movements and the transitions between gaits. By the knowledge he thus acquires, he can then focus on intervening at the right time in the equilibration system of the horse to use it for his benefit. Moreover, the very design of this device allows you to practice performing such interventions at the right time, each time checking the result.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. In it, the display board 5a of this device includes the representation 14 of the silhouette of a horse seen in plan from above as well as the representation 15 of the saddle of the rider thereof. However, at the location of this silhouette, there are also provided lines 16, in the shape of a horseshoe, which represent the location of the four matching horse hooves.

As before, this display board has four figuration lamps intended to depict the support times of the horse's four hooves. In the present case, these figuration lamps 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a are arranged inside the layout 16 of the various corresponding shoes. However, beside each of these figuration lamps, there is provided another figuration lamp 1b, 2b, 3b or 4b which is intended to represent the exact time of the air support of the corresponding shoe, that is to say - tell the time to get up from it. These two series of figuration lamps are of different colors, for example red for the supports and green for the supports.

These various lamps are connected to supply circuits slaved to control devices capable of imparting to them different ignition rhythms and sequences to reproduce different types of paces of a horse. The change from one pace to another can be controlled by successive presses on a general control key 17, a series of indicator lights 18 being provided to indicate the speed controlled on the device.

Instead of a single signaling lamp 12 intended to indicate on its own different types of intervention determined on a horse for driving it, there are provided several signaling lamps, each of which illustrates a particular intervention. In addition, these different signal lamps are arranged on or against the silhouettes 14 and 15 of the horse and its rider in precise positions corresponding to the type of each of the interventions to be illustrated.

Thus, facing each of the sides of the silhouette 14 of the horse, there are provided three signaling lamps 19a, 20a, 21a or 19b, 20b, 21b which are intended to illustrate three different types of actions of the rider on the stirrup located on the corresponding side, the two lamps 19a, 19b signaling a counterweight action towards the front, the two lamps 20a and 20b a vertical pressure in the passing transverse plane by the center of gravity of the horse and the two lamps 21a and 21b a rearward action. Furthermore, the lamps 19'a and 19'b have the function of signaling an action of adding weight to the right or to the left when the horse presses his right or left anterior.

On both flanks of the horse's silhouette, there is another signal lamp 22a or 22b which has the function of depicting a pressure of one or the other leg of the rider on the corresponding flank .

Two other lamps 23a and 23b, arranged at the location of one and the other hand of the rider, have the function of representing the intervention of the hands on the reins. In addition, two other signal lamps 24a and 24b have the role of illustrating the repercussion of these interventions on the mouth and on the attitude of the horse.

Two other lamps 25a and 25b, arranged at the location where the rider's buttocks would be on the saddle, have the function of indicating a weighing on the horse's back with the weight of the upper body on either one or the other of the two buttocks, or on both.

These various signal lamps are in different colors from the figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the horse's hooves. Thus, they can be yellow, with the exception of lamps 22a and 22b which are of a still different color, for example blue.

However, provision could still be made for other signaling lamps having the role of indicating other specific types of rider intervention.

The various signaling lamps are connected in separate supply circuits each comprising a particular control button, respectively 19c, 19'c, 20c, 21c, 22c, 23c and 25c for the lamps 19a, 19'a, 20a, 21a , 22a, 23a and 25a, and 19d, 19'd, 20d, 21d, 22d, 23d and 25d for lamps 19b, 19'b, 20b, 21b, 22b, 23b and 25b. These pushers are arranged on a control keyboard 26 provided next to the display panel 5a on the external face of a box comprising the various control circuits as well as the other constituent elements of the device. However, the control circuits of the signal lamps are also connected to the circuits of the figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the horse's hooves so as to block the circuits of these various lamps in the state in which they are found. actuation of any of the control buttons on the keyboard 26. Thus, the user of the device can, as in the previous embodiment, realize whether the intervention carried out by him, and which is materialized by the depression of one of the pushers on the keyboard 26, was carried out at the right time or not. However, the connection of these two series of circuits is ensured by means of an inverter controlled by the operation of a rotary bar 27 having three positions A, B, C, which correspond to the following three types of operation:

In position A, the connection of the various circuits is such that the depression of one or more push-buttons on the keyboard 25 simultaneously causes the lighting of the corresponding signaling lamps and the blocking of the figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the horse's hooves. in the state they are in at the moment.

In position B, the connection of the circuits is such that the operation of one or more of the pushers on the keyboard 26 causes not only the lighting of the corresponding signaling lamps, but also a change in the pace of the horse which had been previously programmed by operation of the general control pushbutton 17. This change is then a function of the nature of the rider's intervention (s) such as they are materialized by the depressing of one or more of the buttons on the keyboard 26.

In position C, the connection of the various circuits is such that during the operation of one or more of the push-buttons on the keyboard 26, the desired change in speed is obtained and immediately after the blocking of the various figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the horse's hooves, which allows to have the representation of the corresponding transition.

Thus, the positioning of the reverser in position B makes it possible to verify, during the course of the figuration of the movement of the horse, if the synchronization is respected. The operator can therefore observe the change in the horse's gait by modifying the rhythm of the succession of ground supports and supports. These changes of pace are conditioned by the application of the principles of the riding method known as the "Balance Method". The programs for controlling the rhythm and the sequence of lighting of the figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the hooves are therefore designed to be modified accordingly by corresponding interventions, themselves materialized by the actuation of one or more buttons on the control panel 26.

So that the beginner can familiarize himself with the device, there is preferably provided a system for slowing down the normal progress of the selected pace on the push button 17. For this purpose, there is provided a second inverter actuated by a rotary button 28. In a first position D thereof, the control circuits are blocked during the course of the selected speed in a very slow idle allowing a detailed study of each speed. In the second position E, this reverser makes it possible to control the course of the selected pace with a potentiometer comprising a rotary control button 29. It is then possible to choose at will the speed of course of the desired pace. The display panel 5a can also include the indicator light 30 of a counter making it possible to control the duration of the different phases of the selected pace, within a cycle divided into 100.

FIG. 3 represents two control boxes, respectively 33 and 34, which are capable of being used with the device illustrated in FIG. 2. These boxes can then be connected to the device by a connection cable 35 connected to a socket 36 carried by the case thereof. The control keyboard 26 can then remain, while being somehow short-circuited when the control boxes 33 and 34 are used. However in another version of the device, this keyboard can be completely removed.

The box 33 is intended to be placed on the ground so that the control pushers provided on the two separate parts 33e and 33f of this box can be actuated by the operator with one or the other of these feet. The pushers 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd provided on the part 33e, as well as the pushers 19f, 20f, 21f and 22f provided on the part 33f control the signaling lamps indicating the actions of the riders carried out with one or the other leg.

As for the control unit 34, it is intended to be placed next to the display panel 5a to be controlled with one or the other hand. It does indeed two pushers 23e and 23f which control the lamps indicating the interventions carried out with the hands on the horse's mouth at 24a and 24b.

The use of the control boxes represented in FIG. 3 allows the operator to approach practical riding conditions since he has to carry out fictitious interventions with one or the other foot and one or the other hand.

However, Figures 5 and 6 show another control device for even closer practical _conditions for horse riding. This device is designed so that the interventions intended for the feet are actually carried out with them under the usual conditions, that is to say on stirrups 37 inside which one and the other feet are engaged. . To this end, this device comprises a horizontal bar 38 capable of being fixed, by means of flanges 38a or the like, on the edge of a table or on a support representing a horse. Below the two ends of this bar are suspended the two stirrups 37 whose stirrup 37a is attached to a vertical rod 39 forming part of a control device with multiple contacts, associated with the corresponding stirrup .

This rod is disposed inside a housing 40 fixed under the corresponding end of the bar 38 and which contains a spring 42 on which the upper end of the rod 39 is supported. An adjustment system makes it possible to adjust the compression initial of the spring 42, this adjustment being controlled by an adjustment button connected by a circuit 43 to table 5a to display the pressure exerted by the spring, which makes it possible to control the latter.

The lower end of the vertical rod 39 crosses the bottom 44 of the housing 40 through an opening 45 thereof. This opening has a shape elongated in the longitudinal direction so as to allow possible displacements forwards and backwards of the lower end of the rod 39. However, it also has a notch 46 allowing a possible displacement of this rod towards the interior side . On the opposite side, however, a projection 47 carrying a contact 48 intended to be actuated by a collar 49 carried by the rod 39 is provided, during a purely vertical weighing action on the stirrup 37.

On the other hand, if this stirrup is actuated forwards or backwards, the rod 39 can then act on one or the other of the two contacts 50 and 51 provided opposite. Finally, another contact 52 is provided on the internal side to be actuated by the rod 39 in the event of action on the stirrup 37 in this direction.

Consequently, one or other of these four contacts can be actuated by the rod 39 depending on the nature of the action exerted on the corresponding bracket. Of course, these contacts then replace the push buttons provided in the previous embodiments for controlling the lamps embodying the corresponding interventions. To this end, the two control devices carried by the bar 38 are connected to the display panel 5a by a connection cable. In combination, there can be provided a manually controlled device constituted by two handles intended to be held with the hands and which comprise contacts which can be actuated with one or the other of these in replacement of the actions provided on the pushbuttons of the housing 34 of FIG. 3.

Thus, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 to 5, the apparatus according to the invention allows the user thereof to practice performing, at the desired time, different types of intervention on a horse in order to change the pace and / or direction, by applying the principles of the so-called "Balance Method". The main types of intervention provided according to this method are indicated by the various arrows F1, F2, F3 .... F12 represented in FIG. 6. The user of the device can thus become familiar with the application of this method. and immediately realize the result obtained in each case on the change in gait and / or direction of the horse.

Consequently, this device allows novice riders to save the many hours of training that are usually necessary to acquire the desired equestrian tact. However, this device can also be used with profit by riders not beginners, or even experienced, in order to improve and acquire the desired reflexes to then perform in practice the different types of intervention provided by the so-called riding method "Balance Method".

However, the present device is not limited to the few embodiments described above simply by way of examples. On this subject it should be noted that the present device could also be produced from an individual portable computer or not by equipping the latter with software designed to make appear on the screen not only the reproduction of the different gaits of a horse, but also the active points of connection of the rider with the horse and of this one with the ground, as well as the changes of pace and attitude.

For a simplified and reliable use of the control keyboard, special covers adaptable to each type of keyboard are then provided, to clearly separate the group of "display keys" (to display the gaits and their progress - Figure 2-5a) from the group of "control keys" (Figure 2-26) allowing the user to perform a fictitious intervention on the horse.

FIG. 7 shows, moreover, an exemplary embodiment of such a cover which can be placed on a keyboard of the AZERT type. This cover comprises, in its middle part, transparent windows 32 revealing only a determined number of keys of the corresponding keyboard, in this case the keys controlling the fictitious interventions desired by a jumper. However, these windows each carry a coded indication indicating the exact nature of the intervention to which this intervention corresponds, these different coded indications being those shown in FIG. 6.

In another more advantageous embodiment, the group of "control keys" may be replaced by a system of several external control members, such as those used particularly in electronic games or other types of control members allowing the operator to intervene without using the keys. However, even more advantageously, such control members can be replaced by direct coupling of the computer with the control device shown in FIG. 3, or with that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the contacts 48, 49, 50, 51 triggering the actions provided for in the programs from both hands and both feet, without using the keys of the keyboard or of other usual control elements of a computer.

But the present device can also be produced so as to constitute a recreational electronic game making it possible to become familiar with the progress of the different gaits of a horse and the various possible interventions on it.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for simulating the different gaits of a horse and the interventions to be carried out for driving it, characterized in that it includes a display board provided with: - on the one hand, four figuration lamps (1, 2, 3, 4) or similar, the lighting of which is intended to represent the exact time of the moment of support of the different hooves of a horse, and which are powered by four distinct circuits slaved to one or more control devices able to ensure different rhythms and sequences of lighting of these lamps, so as to reproduce different types of paces of a horse (step, trot, gallop); - on the other hand, a signaling lamp (12) whose ignition is intended to represent determined interventions on a horse for driving it, this lamp being connected to a circuit comprising a control button available of the user and whose arrangement is such that the closing of this circuit ensures both the lighting of this lamp and the blocking of the circuits of the figuration lamps (1, 2, 3, 4) in the state where they are at this moment. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that next to each lamp (la, 2a, 3a, 4a) for figuring the support time of one of the hooves of a horse, there is provided a second figuration lamp (1b, 2b, 3b, 4b), the ignition of which is intended to represent the exact time of air support of the same shoe, that is to say from its rising to its installation, the lamps of this second set of figuration lamps being supplied by circuits slaved to the same control devices as the figuration lamps of the shoe supports in order to reproduce, in combination with these, different types of a horse's gait. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the display board comprises the representation (14) of the silhouette of a horse and that (15) of the saddle of its rider, and of the traces (16) representing the four hooves of this horse, and it is expected, in the location defined by each of these routes, the pair of lamps (la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b) one of the support and the other the support of the corresponding shoe, however that instead of a single signaling lamp, a series of such lamps is provided (19a, 19'a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 23a, 25a and 19b , 19'b, 20b, 21b, 22b, 23b, 25b) each intended to represent a specific intervention of a rider and which are arranged on or against the silhouette (14) of the horse in positions corresponding to the particular nature of these interventions, each of these lamps being connected to a circuit comprising a control key available to the user and whose arrangement is such that the closure of this circ uit ensures both the lighting of this lamp and the blocking of the circuits of the figuration lamps (la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b) in the state they are in at the moment. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that a lamp (19a, 19'a, 21a and 19b, 19'b, 21b) signaling an intervention of the rider is arranged against each pair of lamps (la- 1b, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b) showing the support and support times of the various hooves of a horse, two other lamps (20a, 20b) signaling an intervention being located on each side of the silhouette (14) of a horse between the first two signal lamps provided on the corresponding side in the transverse plane of the center of gravity of the horse. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that at the place of each hand of the rider and on each side of the outline of the mouth of a horse, there are provided other signal lamps (23a, 23b and 24a, 24b) intended to illustrate the intervention of the rider's hands and their repercussions on the mouth and the attitude of the horse, two other similar signaling lamps (22a, 22b) being provided at the sides of the silhouette of a horse (14) to illustrate pressures of the rider against the sides of the horse. 6. Apparatus according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it is provided either on the display board (5a) itself, or on an annex box or other control device, an inverter ( 27) comprising the following three control positions: - first. position (A) allowing the operator to obtain, during an action on the control contact (19c, 20c, 21c, 22c, 23c, 24c, 25c or 19d, 20d, 21d, 22d, 23d, 24d, 25d) of a signal lamp for a specific intervention, both the lighting of this lamp and the blocking of the figuration lamps (la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b) of the supports and support the different hooves in the position where they are, - second position (B) allowing the operator to operate various actions on the contacts of the signaling lamps for different determined interventions, in order to apply the lessons of the riding method called "balance method", the arrangement of the circuits being such that this triggers, on the figuration lamps for the supports and supports of the hooves, changes in operation, corresponding to the desired changes in pace and attitude of the horse, - third position (C) to obtain a blocking of the figuration lamps of the supports and sabot supports, only after the desired change of pace, to have the figuration of the corresponding transition. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the contacts (19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 19f, 20f, 21f, 22f) for controlling at least some of the determined intervention signal lamps are arranged on the above a box (33) intended to be placed on the ground so that these contacts can be actuated by the operator with one or the other foot, while the contacts (23e, 23f) controlling the other signal lamps other interventions are provided on a separate box (34) in order to be actuated by hand. 8. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a control device comprising two hanging stirrups (37) which are capable of receiving one and the other feet of the operator and which are associated with different contacts (47, 50, 51, 52) making it possible to control the operation of certain specific lamps for signaling specific interventions by a rider, the arrangement being such that according to the effort and / or the displacement imprinted on one and the other of these stirrups, the operator can act on one or the other of the contacts associated with these to obtain the lighting of the signal lamp for the corresponding intervention of a jumper. 9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting of the four lamps, or pairs of lamps representing the support and / or support times of the different hooves of a horse is controlled by software comprising different programs that can reproduce different types of pace, and the layout is such that these programs can be influenced and issue different operating instructions for the corresponding lamps depending on the action of the operator on the control contacts of the signal lamps for the various possible interventions of a jumper. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, for the use of the usual keyboard of a portable personal computer or not, there are provided covers (31), adaptable to different types of keyboard, and comprising transparent windows (32) showing only the keys assigned to the display of the type of simulation of pace sought and to the control of the various fictitious interventions of a rider, these windows carrying coded indications identifying each of the interventions carried out by the corresponding keys . 11. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it is produced from an existing type of computer equipped with software capable of showing, on its screen, the different gaits of a horse and the various planned interventions of a jumper, this computer being coupled with an external control device constituted either by the combination of two boxes (33 and 34) carrying keys intended to be actuated respectively with the feet and with the hands, or by the combination of stirrups (37) capable of acting on different control contacts and of handles comprising other control contacts actuated with the hands.

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