GB2317350A - Horse riding training apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Horse riding training apparatus comprises a base, a body portion, support means supporting the body portion on the base and drive means, in which the body portion is pivotably supported on the base via a transverse pivot axis and the drive means is operatively connected to the body portion via cam wheels and cam followers, whereby operation of the drive means causes the body portion to adopt an up and down pivot action to simulate the motion of a horse's back. The body portion may comprise respective flank parts the rear ends of which move alternately up and down to simulate walking or trotting or the body portion may move up and down alternately at the front and rear ends to simulate cantering. An area of the body may be touch-sensitive to simulate the effect of whipping, etc.

Description

HORSE RIDING TRAINING APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for teaching horse riding. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus to simulate the motion of a horse's back during movement in different paces.

As a horse walks or trots, the left- and right-hand sides of its back and in particular its rear quarters or haunches move upwardly and downwardly as the hind legs are alternately lifted, brought forwards and lowered to the ground: as one hind leg of the horse is brought forward the portion of the horse's back above that leg dips below the oppositely handed portion and as the leg is lowered to the ground that portion of the back rises slightly forwards of and higher than the oppositely handed portion. During cantering, the hind quarters rise as the rear legs come under the body and strike the ground, followed by the shoulders rising as the front legs strike the ground. There is then a slight delay giving rise to a feeling of suspension before the cycle is repeated.

Generally new riders are initially taught to ride while on a docile or placid horse in order to learn the feel of the horse's back during movement. This can, however, be stressful for the horse and even cause injury to it. To overcome this, rider training apparatus may be used.

However, the rider training apparatus currently available does not simulate the motion of the horse's back; such apparatus is generally static, rocks backwards and forwards or rocks in opposition to a moving neck portion to mimic the relationship between the movement of the horse's back and its neck particularly at a gallop.

Thus, the rider is taught how to remain on a moving object but is given no instruction in learning the natural feel of the motion of a horse's back.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide rider training apparatus which simulates the natural undulating motion of a horse's back as it moves in order to familiarise the rider with such motion without unduly stressing a horse.

Accordingly, the invention provides horse riding training apparatus comprising a base, a body portion, support means supporting the body portion on the base and drive means, in which the body portion is pivotably supported on the base via a transverse pivot axis and the drive means is operatively connected to the body portion via cam wheels and cam followers, whereby operation of the drive means causes the body portion to adopt an up and down pivot action to simulate the motion of a horse's back.

To simulate walking or trotting, the body portion comprises a flank part mounted on each side of a longitudinal vertical plane, the flank parts being pivotably connected to one another and to the base and being independently connected to respective cam wheels and cam followers to create reciprocal movement of the flank parts, the pivot axis being located forwards of the cam followers. To simulate cantering, the drive means is connected to the base via respective forward and rearward cam wheels and cam followers and the pivot axis is located between the cam followers. The respective flank parts may be releasably connected together for movement simulating the canter.

Preferably, the body portion is shaped like the body of a horse and may be covered to prevent exposure of the join between the flank parts. The covering material, where used, should be sufficiently flexible and either loosely-fitted or elastic so as to accommodate the movement of the flank parts. The body portion preferably includes a neck part.

The drive means preferably comprises a motor the output shaft of which is operatively connected to the cam wheels via a gearbox.

Preferably, the cam followers comprise wheels at least the rims of which comprise a resilient material, the cushioning thereby provided helping to generate the realistic feel of the horse's back.

The profile of the cams includes lobes designed according to whether the horse movement to be simulated is a trot, canter or other motion. The edge of the cams engage the cam followers which are pushed upwardly and allowed to fall in a controlled movement by the lobes thereby imparting the rising and falling motion to the body portion or to the flank parts thereof. The movement of the two cams is preferably out of phase with respect to one another giving rise to the alternate rising and falling movement which simulates the motion of the leftand right-hand sides of the horse's back, particularly while trotting, or to the alternate rising and falling of the hind quarters and shoulders while cantering.

Optionally, the drive means can operate through a range of speeds by varying the output speed of the motor. Cams of different profile may be carried within the body portion and arranged to be interchangeable to mimic the sensation of a change of speed of movement of the horse, for example from a trot through to a gallop, or even the sensation of different sizes of horse. The body portion may be provided with a touch-sensitive area or zone which is responsive to a kick or other physical command from the rider to change the speed or pace, or the apparatus may be rendered responsive to a remotely-transmitted command from an instructor or from the rider.

The apparatus is preferably used with a removable saddle but a saddle may be permanently mounted on the body portion. Advantageously, the positioning of the saddle in relation to the pivot position can be altered to mimic different sized horses or a pony; for example, to simulate the gait of a pony, the saddle is placed closer to the pivot position.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention showing the cams used to simulate trotting; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line B-B of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of apparatus according to the invention showing the cams used to simulate cantering, and Figure 5 is a section along line D-D of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, horse riding training apparatus, generally indicated 10, includes a base 11, a body portion 12, a neck portion 13 and support means in the form of legs 24, 25 supporting the body 12 and connecting it to the base 11. The apparatus includes adjustable reins 14 and stirrups 15. As can more clearly be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the body portion 12 houses the drive means in the form of a motor 20, cams 21 and cam followers 22. The body portion includes flank parts 12a, 12b (see Figure 3) pivotably connected together towards their front ends and elastically connected together towards their rear ends by means of a resilient joint material 16.

The motor 20, gearbox and cams 21 are supported on a beam 23 connected to the legs 24, 25 and thus to the base 11.

Front leg 25 extends above the cam 21 and bears at its upper end 26 the pivotable connection 27 between the flank parts 12a, 12b of the body portion. The output shaft of the gearbox is connected via a worm gear and pinion to the axle of the cams.

This embodiment is specifically intended to simulate a trotting motion and for this purpose each cam 21 is substantially oval or lemon-shaped and engages with a cam follower 22 in the form of a wheel bearing a pneumatic tyre 28. Each cam follower 22 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 29 attached to the upper rear portion of the respective flank part. As shown, each cam has a major lobe and a minor lobe and the corresponding lobes on each cam are 1800 out of phase with each other.

Referring to Figure 4, where the apparatus shown is for canter simulation, parts the same as those described in the trot simulation are given like reference numerals.

Cams 41 are positioned one in front of the other such that one 41a is beneath the neck portion 13 and the other 41b below the rear of the body portion. The cams 41a, 41b drive respective cam followers 42a and 42b. The pivotable mounting 47 is disposed between the cams 41.

The cams 41 alternately lift and lower the front of the body portion and the rear of the body portion. The pivotable mounting 47 is carried at the upper end of an extendible strut 48; in the embodiment shown the strut 48 is telescopic, but other means may be contemplated as between the cams, cam followers and their connections to accommodate the upward motion of the body 12 caused by movement of the cams 41a, 41b and cam followers 42a, 42b, while preventing distortion of the body 12 or the support brackets 29. The cam followers 42 are in this embodiment substantially pear-shaped, the elongate portions, or major lobes, of which are 1800 out of phase with one another. As can best be seen in Figure 5, the cams 41 are disposed towards the centre of the body portion 12.

In use, a saddle (not shown) is placed on the body 12 and the motor 20 is activated. The motor 20 and gearbox cause the cams 21, 41 to rotate which in turn rotate the followers 22, 42 and cause them to rise and fall in accordance with the profile of the cams. The out-ofphase mounting of the cams imparts an undulating or alternating movement to the upper surface of the body 12 thereby simulating the motion of a horse's back while moving.

The speed and saddle adjustment enables the apparatus to be used not only to simulate different sized horses and ponies but also to accommodate very small or young pupils as well as adults.

The trot and canter embodiments may be used within one, single body portion 12, the two sets of cams being driven by the same motor and gearbox and the flank parts 12a, 12b of Figures 1 to 3 being releasably connectible to move together as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

Claims (4)

1. Apparatus for providing training in horse riding, the apparatus comprising a base, a body portion, support means supporting the body portion on the base and drive means, in which the body portion is pivotably supported on the base via a transverse pivot axis and the drive means is operatively connected to the body portion via cam wheels and cam followers, whereby operation of the drive means causes the body portion to adopt an up and down pivot action to simulate the motion of a horse's back.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the body portion comprises a flank part mounted on each side of a longitudinal vertical plane, the flank parts being pivotably connected to one another and to the base and being independently connected to respective cam wheels and cam followers to create reciprocal movement of the flank parts, the pivot axis being located forwards of the cam followers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the respective flank parts are releasably connected together.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the drive means is connected to the base via respective