GB2460390A

GB2460390A - Horse saddle

Info

Publication number: GB2460390A
Application number: GB0803307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lorraine Green; Gary Frederick Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-23
Filing date: 2008-02-23
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Also published as: GB0803307D0

Abstract

A saddle 10 for a horse comprising a tree portion 12 for providing a seat 18 for a rider, at least one panel 14 for supporting said tree portion and for providing a comfort interface between said rider and said horse and a bridge portion 16 between said tree portion and said panel portion. The bridge portion directs pressure away from the horse's spine towards a corresponding transverse edge of each panel.

Description

I

Saddle The present invention relates to a saddle for a horse.

It is a well known goal in the construction of saddles for horses tO aim to provide a comfortable and secure seat for a rider whilst minimising the impact of the riders weight on the back and in particular the spine of the horse. Traditionally this achieved by providing a saddle having an upper portion called the saddle tree for providing a seat and a lower portion, called the panels, for cushioning the pressure of the tree and rider on the horses back.

The saddle tree generally comprises an open frame to which strips of webbing are attached for providing a suspended, dipped seat of a particular desired shape.

The panels comprise a symmetrical pair of panels configured to act as a comfort interface between the saddle tree and the horses back, to raise the saddle tree clear of the spine of the horse, and to allow the saddle to be adjusted for optimised balance. The upper sides of the panels are shaped for conformity with an underside of the saddle and the undersides of the panels are shaped to for conformity with the back of the horse thereby providing maximum comfort for the horse.

However, once the panels have been made the saddle is difficult to adjust should the balance or height of the saddle need altering. Furthermore, the weight distribution of a rider and saddle tree is still very centralised and hence tends to exert pressure toward the centre of the horses back where the panels run alongside the spine. This is generally undesirable and can cause discomfort to the horse.

The present invention aims to provide a saddle, which mitigates at least some of the above issues According to the present invention there is provided a saddle for a horse, the saddle comprising: a tree portion for providing a seat for a rider; at least one panel for supporting said tree portion and for providing a comfort interface between said rider and said horse; and a bridge portion between said tree portion and said panel portion for directing pressure away from the horses spine toverds a corresponding transverse edge of each said panel.

Preferably, said bridge portion comprises a first portion configured for engagement with said tree and a second portion for engagement with the or each panel, wherein said second portion comprises a pair of arms each depending outwardly from said first portion.

Preferably, each said arms depends outwardly at an angle configured for optimum transfer of pressure toward said transverse edge.

Preferably, the saddle comprises a pair of panels each panel being a substantial mirror image of the other.

Preferably, the or each panel comprises cushioning means configured to cushion the pressure of a rider on the back of said horse.

Preferably, the or each panel comprises at least one profiled wedge for providing support to a leg of said rider said profiled wedge being configured for mutual engagement with said support roll.

Preferably, at least one profiled wedge comprises a knee roll.

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of part of a saddle according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of a bridge support for the saddle of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of a bridge support for the saddle of figure 1.

In figure 1 a saddle is shown generally at 10. The saddle 10 comprises a tree portion 12, a panels portion 14, and a bridge portion 16. It will be appreciated that only the parts of the saddle relevant to the invention are shown and described in detail.

The tree portion 12 comprises a seat portion 18 for providing a seat for a rider, a girth strap 20, and a stirrup bar 22. The seat portion 18 has a shoulder portion 24 at a withers end, which curves gently into a raised portion 26 at a cantle end, to form the seat. The shoulder portion is shaped to engage oer the shoulders of a horse in a known manner.

It will be appreciated that the tree portion 12, and component parts, are of a generally known design and will not be described again in detail.

The panels portion 14 comprises a right panel and a left panel, only the left one of which is shown. Each panel 14 comprises a structure ha'Ang cushioning means 30 for comfortable engagement with the back of the horse, and first and second profiled wedges 32, 34, for providing an interface between the tree portion 12 and the cushioning means 30, and for providing support to the rider's legs.

The panels are substantially identical in construction to one another, but are shaped in substantial mirror image to one another for location, in operation on respective left and right sides of the back of the horse, beneath the saddle tree.

The cushioning means 30 of each panel comprises a flexible open loop having a central aperture 36. The loop has a general shape corresponding to the half of the saddle beneath which it is located, and an underside configured for comfortable engagement against the contours of the horses back. The loop 30 is flexible enough to allow for movement of the horse and rider and to take account of small changes in rider position, weight or the like.

However, whilst the loop is flexible it has sufficient rigidity to maintain its general shape. The cushioning means 30 may comprise any suitable material but typically comprises a flexible moulded plastic. Alternatively, the cushioning means may comprise a tube of leather shaped to receive a filling of soft material such as wool fibre, sheet foam or the like.

The first wedge portion 32, and the internal contours of the aperture 36 are shaped for mutual engagement to form a generally continuous surface upper surface. The second wedge portion 34 has an underside similarly shaped for engagement against the continuous upper surface, thereby to form the completed panel.

It will be appreciated that the second wedge portion may be profiled, in cross-section to provide appropriate support for a leg of the rider. The withers end of the second profiled wedge 34 may, for example, be provided with a knee roll or the like.

The wedges 32, 34 are relatively rigid compared to the cushioning means 30 and may comprise any suitable material, lbr example, wood, glass fibre or the like.

In operation, when the saddle 10 is located on the back of the horse, the panels are located on either side of horse, generally longitudinally aligned adjacent the spine.

As seen in figures 2 and 3, the bridge portion 16 comprises a first portion 40 for engagement with the tree 12 and a second portion 42 for transferring pressure away from the centre of the saddle. The first portion 40 is configured for engagement with a corresponding part (not shown) of the underside of the tree 12. The first portion 40 is substantially symmetrical having the shape of an inverted channel comprising planar sidewalls 44 depending substantially orthogonally from a planar connecting portion 46. It will be appreciated that the sidewalls 44 and connecting portion 46 need not be orthogonal but may be angled acutely relative to the perpendicular.

The second portion 42 comprises a pair of planar arms or wings 48, each depending symmetrically from a respective sidewall 44. Each arm 48 extends outwardly from the corresponding sidewall, away from the central longitudinal axis of the connecting portion 46.

In the assembled saddle the bridge portion 16 is located between the tree portion 12 and the panels portion 14, with the first portion 40 engaged with the tree portion 12 and the respective arms 48 of the second portion 42 engaged against respective panels of the panels portion 14.

Hence, in operation, when the saddle is correctly positioned on the horse and a rider is present, a portion of the weight of the rider and saddle tree is transferred along the sidewalls 44 of the bridge 16, and then outwardly along the arms 48 towards a transverse edge of the cushioning means. Thus pressure is taken away from the spine of the horse making the saddle more comfortable.

It will be appreciated that the dimensions and shape of the bridge portion may be configured both to optimise the transfer of pressure for a particular rider / horse / saddle arrangement, and to adjust the height, orientation and balance of the saddle.

Claims

Claims 1 A saddle for a horse, the saddle comprising: a tree portion for providing a seat for a rider; at least one panel for supporting said tree portion and for providing a comfort interface between said rider and said horse; and a bridge portion between said tree portion and said panel portion for directing pressure away from the horses spine towards a corresponding transverse edge of each said panel.
2 A saddle as claimed in claim I wherein said bridge portion comprises a first portion configured for engagement with said tree and a second portion for engagement with the or each panel, wherein said second portion comprises a pair of arms each depending outwardly from said first portion.
3 A saddle as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said arms depends outwardly atan angle configured for optimum transfer of pressure toward said transverse edge.
4 A saddle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising a pair of panels each panel being a substantial mirror image of the other.
A saddle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each panel comprises cushioning means configured to cushion the pressure of a rider on the back of said horse.
6 A saddle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each panel comprises at least one profiled wedge for providing support to a leg of said rider said profiled wedge being configured for mutual engagement with said support roll.
7 A saddle as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one profiled wedge comprises a knee roll.