EP0220089B1 - Device for holding back a riding saddle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for reversing a riding saddle, said saddle being held at the front by abutment means cooperating with the shoulders of a horse and being fixed to the horse's back by a strap, the ends carry straps cooperating with the counter-straps fixed to the saddle and a shock absorbing device adaptable to said reversing device.

The saddle is held on the horse's back by a strap that passes through a very specific area of the horse's body called a strap passage, and towards which it tends to move due to the morphology. To prevent the saddle from moving forward, it has padding that acts as a stop that rests in the hollow of the shoulders. The seat is then generally positioned perpendicular to the zone centered on the ninth dorsal vertebra and the latter must support the weight of the rider.

The position of the saddle is too far in front of the horse's center of gravity and work or training has, among other goals, to develop musculature capable of compensating for this imbalance and allowing the horse to regain its natural gaits.

Unfortunately the work of young horses too often results in a restriction of the movement of the shoulders. It is not uncommon to see disappointed riders because their horse has lost some of the gaits it had in the field.

These animals practically all have the same bone lesion consisting of a blockage of one or more vertebrae of the withers (dorsal vertebrae 3 to 8). The study of the spine of the horse (Figure 1) leads to two observations: the vertex of the curve of the vertebral bodies is at the level of the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae, area where the top line is the lowest; the shortest spinous processes are those of these same vertebrae.

The weight of the rider is applied to the horse at a point resulting from the position of his plate and the attachment of the stirrups carrying the stirrups. When the horse is not muscular enough, the weight of the rider tends to collapse the area of rachism under the saddle.

For the reasons previously developed, the position of the saddle (Figure 2) is such that the weight is applied to the level of the 9th dorsal vertebra and the whole tourniquet collapses since in this zone the vertebral bodies naturally dive forward . Owing to the great length of the spinous processes tourniquet, the slightest sagging of this region causes them to touch and causes symptoms of interspinous osteoarthritis. This condition is very painful and then self-maintains, the pain causing a reflex spasm of the muscles of the inter-vertebral joints.

The invention proposes the production of a seat recoil device for transferring the weight of the rider backwards in the area of the 13th dorsal vertebra which is the most solid area of the rachism considered without muscle and that where the sagging is the least painful since the spinous processes are the shortest there. Means are known which make it possible to maintain a saddle in its conventional position during a malformation or a growth not yet completed of the withers of a horse. Indeed, in these cases the hollow of the shoulders are not sufficiently formed to allow the padding of the saddle to be housed there and to prevent it from moving forward. We then use a false tourniquet consisting of a surfaix bearing stops against which abuts the front of the saddle panels. The surfaix then occupies the strap passage and the strap which holds the saddle is placed behind it on an area of mobility of the ribs, which has the disadvantage of compressing the rib cage.

The false tourniquet being independent of the saddle, the exercise given to the horse causes a pushing of the saddle forward with the consequence of requesting the advancement of the false tourniquet and frequently causing discomfort at the elbows and injury to the level of ars.

Document DE-A-27 36 327 describes a device for reversing a saddle according to the preamble of claim 1 or 2, derived from the tourniquet and also independent of the saddle itself and comprising stop means saddle.

Document US-A-4 524 570 also discloses a saddle-mat comprising a saddle mat provided, at the front of its two side panels, with a thick external padding designed only to constitute a comfortable support for the knees of the rider.

Despite numerous attempts to date to roll back the saddle and avoid the drawbacks of the false tourniquet, no satisfactory solution has been found to this problem.

Always with the aim of avoiding affections of the spine and minimizing the shocks due to the rebound of the rider on the saddle during the different gaits and thus increasing the comfort of the rider, some saddles are fitted with shock absorbers fixed directly or indirectly. These shock absorbers consist of elastic foam plates or pneumatic cushions.

The major drawback presented by such systems is due to the fact that the carpet or saddle must be adapted to the morphology of the horse. Therefore, to be effective, the carpet or saddle must be personalized. Due to the unitary design of the shock absorber and the saddle or the carpet, the system must be made to measure by a saddler. This results in a significant investment which limits its use to high-level saddlery items. In addition, the assembly thus produced does not allow easy maintenance.

The invention proposes a saddle reversing device which avoids the drawbacks previously indicated by the use of abutment means, cooperating with the shoulders of the horse against which the front of the saddle is held, these said means being independent or integral with the saddle and possibly held by the saddle strap.

According to one embodiment, abutment means are provided on the inside of a saddle cloth to cooperate with the shoulders of the horse, other abutment means being provided on the outside of the front part of the saddle mat to stop the seat of the saddle in a predetermined longitudinal position, the front panels of the mat saddle carrying additional attachment means of front attachment means provided on the strap.

According to another embodiment, a padding of a front tree extension of the saddle constitutes abutment means stopping forwards the seat of the saddle in a predetermined longitudinal position, wings of the tree extension carrying additional fastening means of front fastening means provided on the strap.

Other characteristics are defined in claims 3 to 15.

The invention further provides an adjustable shock absorbing device capable of being placed between the saddle reversing device and the saddle and comprising at least one pocket receiving the shock absorbing material, comprising along a central line quick fixing means allowing the adjustment of its longitudinal position on the additional fixing means provided on the dorsal line of the saddle cloth.

The description which follows with reference to the appended figures, given by way of examples, will make it possible to understand how the invention can be implemented.

Figure 1 shows a partial view of the skeleton of a horse and more particularly its spine.

Figure 2 schematically shows the action of a saddle in a conventional position on the vertebrae of a horse.

Figure 3 is a first embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows schematically the action of a saddle in the retracted position on the vertebrae of a horse.

Figure 6 shows a first embodiment of a damping device according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a damping device according to the invention.

As previously explained, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the conventional position of a saddle as a result of the compulsory passage of the strap, which is fixed indirectly to the bands constituting the frame of the saddle, has the effect of applying the weight of the rider in the region of the 9th dorsal vertebra and causes disadvantages in terms of the vertebral processes.

The saddle recoil device, according to the invention, applies the weight of the rider in the region of the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae (Figure 5), which is the keystone of the spine and the most solid area of the rachism even while ignoring the muscles.

Even discreet sagging that can occur in this area, has the effect of spreading the processes of the region of the withers and has a beneficial aspect for all the action of the horse. Indeed, this spacing causes a relaxation of the shoulder muscles with liberation of their movements and an easier rise of the tourniquet therefore a stretching of all the rachism.

3 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, a conventional saddle 1 normally includes a saddle frame consisting of a front tree and a rear tree connected by bands. Under these trees and these bands are housed on each side of the cushions or panels 2. The seat 3 which is the part on which the rider is placed is housed between the trees. On the strips are fixed the quarters 4 which cover and protect the panels. Again, the straps 5 are fixed on the bands, on which the straps 6 of the strap 7 which are used to fix the saddle and the stirrup holders 35 are fixed.

The districts are covered by false districts. The front end of the panels carries inward padding which is housed in the hollow of the horse's shoulders to prevent the saddle from advancing. Due to the need to pass the strap through the strap passage and fix it approximately plumb with the seat to keep it firmly on the horse's back and prevent it from leaving the horse's back, when it ci takes exercise, it is not possible to move the girths towards the front tree. The following three conditions: the strap is in its path, the counter-straps are in front of the straps so that they can be attached to it, the seat is at the level of the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae, cannot be simultaneously fulfilled by the devices known.

The reversing device, according to the invention, meets this triple condition by using stop means 14 which, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 comprise a strap 7 (Figure 3) which has at its ends 8, 9 on its rear longitudinal edge 10 a part 11 protruding rearwards on which are provided straps 6 capable of cooperating with the counter-straps 5 of the saddle, and, near its front longitudinal edge 12 and approximately parallel thereto at least one front fixing means 13 capable of cooperating with stop means 14 to hold them against the shoulders of the horse.

The abutment means, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, are carried by the front edge 15 of a saddle cloth 16 and are made up inwards of padding 17 cooperating with the hollow of the shoulders of the horse and towards the outside of stops 18 against which the front of the panels 2 comes to bear.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the front panels 19, 20 of the saddle cloth carry complementary means 21 of the front fixing means 13 provided at the ends of the strap 7. These fixing means are constituted according to the example , a strap and a buckle. Preferably, the belts 21 of the saddle cloth are fixed so as to be in line with one another, the straight line joining them passes behind the stops 18 and the withers of the horse. It is possible to provide a reinforcement of the carpet directly above the withers to release the latter or a notch.

According to the embodiment of the strap, as shown in Figure 3, the rear protruding parts 11 form a right triangle whose short side of the right angle is in alignment with the edge 8 and 9 of the end of the strap and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 10. Preferably, the trapezoidal part 22 of the strap is made of a relatively rigid material and must be of short length so as not to interfere with the breathing of the horse.

The saddle cloth, carrying the stop means, constitutes in itself a recoil mat which can be maintained in a conventional manner by the saddle and its strap, the fixing means then being formed by the latter.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a saddle reversing device according to the invention, in which the abutment means consist of the front padding 23 and 24 of the panels 25, of a saddle formed by a frame of normal saddle 26 on the front tree 27 from which is fixedly or movably mounted, a front tree here called an extension of the front tree 28 and the wings of which carry the complementary means 29 of the front fixing means 13, of the ends of the strap 7. The tree extension 28 can be provided adjustable in length so as to set the adjustment of the distance from the seat relative to the hollow of the shoulders in which the padding forms a stop and thus take account of the morphology of the horse. In the case of the adjustable tree extension, this can be covered with panels independent of those of the saddle frame supporting this seat.

According to an example not shown, the saddle frame is of a length such that the seat is plumb with the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae while the padding of the panels are housed in the hollows of the shoulder. The frame carries countersons at the base of the seat and the wings of the front tree, the complementary means of the front fixing means 13 of the ends of the strap 7. In the embodiments shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7, the stops 18 arranged on the outside of the saddle cloth, are removable so that they can be replaced depending on the horse, the distance between the shoulder grooves and the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae being liable to vary from horse to horse .

According to another embodiment, these stops can be adjustable lengthwise.

It should be noted that the position of the saddle is determined not only by the distance from the stops to the seat, but also by the distance of the straps 6 from the strap by means of front attachment 13. To make this distance adjustable, there is provided a certain number of straps allowing a gradual longitudinal displacement of the order of ten centimeters towards the rear, corresponding approximately to the average distance between the 9th dorsal vertebra (classic saddle position) and the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae, position steephead Valley.

The damping device 30 (Figures 6 and 7), according to the invention, adaptable to the previously described reversing devices and in particular to the reversing mat 16, has the form of a mat, consisting of at least one pocket in which is placed the cushioning material.

The device according to the example of FIG. 6 has forward two ears 31 which are placed symmetrically on the mat 16 and on either side of the dorsal line 32.

According to the center line 33 of the device, there are provided fixing means cooperating with complementary fixing means fixed along the dorsal line 32 of the mat. The fixing device preferably consists of a quick fixing system, for example a "VELCRO" strip allowing an adjustable longitudinal position of the damping device relative to the mat 16. In order to allow the introduction of the damping material, the pocket is open, for example, along its midline. The material is in the form of a panel of dimensions corresponding to those of the pocket, or fragments of more or less large dimensions, means for rapidly closing the openings being provided.

According to another embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the damping device is separated transversely into two pockets, an anterior pocket forming the ears 31 and a rear pocket 34. Each of the pockets carries a quick fixing system which cooperates with a system of additional fixing provided on the back line of the carpet.

This two-part design allows the shock absorber to be precisely and independently adapted to the morphology of the horse.

The use of open or quick-closing pockets allows the use of quality shock absorbing materials different or of different thickness as well as cushions presenting zones with different damping allowing to compensate in a simple and fast way, during the saddle the morphological differences, or to regulate the importance of the damping according to the anatomical zones more or less sensitive to the horse.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the damping material is a polyurethane elastomer, such as that known under the name of "SORBOTHANE".

The damping device as described can be used with conventional saddle pads where it can not only play the role of shock absorber, but also depending on the type of saddle used, that of reversing stops.

Claims (15)

1. Arrangement for setting back for an equestrian saddle, the latter being provided for being fixed on a horse's back by a girth (7) whose ends carry strap buckles (6) cooperating with girth straps (5) fixed on the saddle, characterised in that stop means (17) are provided on the inside of a saddle cloth (16) to cooperate with the shoulders of the horse, and other stop means (18) are provided on the outside of the front part of the saddle cloth (16) to stop the seat (3) of the saddle in a predetermined longitudinal position, the front ends (19, 20) of the saddle cloth carrying fastening means (21) complementary to front fastening means (13) provided on the girth.
2. Arrangement for setting back for an equestrian saddle, the latter being provided for being fixed on a horses's back by a girth whose ends carry strap buckles cooperating with girth straps fixed on the saddle, characterised in that a padding of a pommel extension (28) of the saddle constitutes stop means (23, 24) stopping towards the front the seat of the saddle in a predetermined longitudinal position, sides of the pommel extension (28) carrying fastening means (29) complementary to front fastening means provided on the girth.
3. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the girth (7) has at its ends (8, 9), on its rear longitudinal edge (10), a rearwardly projecting portion (11) on which are provided strap buckles (6) adapted to cooperate with the girth straps (5) on the saddle and, near and approximately parallel to its front longitudinal edge (12), at least one front fastening means (13) adapted to cooperate with the stop means (14; 23, 24) to hold the latter against the horse's shoulders.
4. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the stop means (14; 23, 24) are longitudinally adjustable.
5. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the stop means (14; 23, 24) are detachable.
6. Arrangement according to Claim 3, characterised in that the rearwardly projecting portions (11) of the girth form a right-angled triangle in which the longer side of the right angle is in line with the rear longitudinal edge (10) of the girth, while the shorter side of the right angle is in line with the edge of the ends (8, 9) of the girth and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal edges.
7. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the distance between the stop means and the point of application of the rider's weight to the horse's back is determined in such a manner that said point of application is situated approximately at the 13th and 14th dorsal vertebrae of the horse.
8. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that in that the saddle cloth (16) carrying the stop means is adapted to carry on its front edge, vertically in line with the withers, a reinforcement for the purpose of freeing the withers.
9. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that in that the saddle cloth (16) carrying the stop means is adapted to carry on its front edge, vertically in line with the withers, a cutout for the purpose of freeing the withers.
10. Arrangement according to Claim 3, characterised in that the straight line joining the front complementary fastening means (21) on the saddle cloth (16) passes behind the stops (18) and the horse's withers.
11. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is provided with an adjustable damping device (30) consisting of at least one pocket holding a damping material and provided, on a median line, with a fastening system adapted to cooperate with a complementary fastening system provided along the dorsal line (32) of the saddle cloth, said system permitting adjustment of the longitudinal position.
12. Arrangement according to Claim 11, characterised in that said pocket has two lobes (31) at the front.
13. Arrangement according to Claim 11, characterised in that said damping device is composed of two pockets: a front pocket (31) in the form of lobes and a rear pocket (34), each pocket having independent fastening means adapted to cooperate with complementary means provided on the saddle cloth to permit independent longitudinal adjustment of one pocket in relation to the other.
14. Arrangement according to Claim 11 or 13, characterised in that the pockets are provided with at least one opening for the insertion of the damping material.
15. Arrangement according to Claim 11, characterised in that the damping material filling the front pocket and that filling the rear pocket have different characteristics.

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