GB2609970A

GB2609970A - Saddle arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2609970A
Application number: GB2111921.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darbyshire Sally
Original assignee: Birtles Horses Ltd
Current assignee: Birtles Horses Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-19
Filing date: 2021-08-19
Publication date: 2023-02-22
Also published as: GB202111921D0

Abstract

Saddle arrangement for placing on the back of a horse, comprising a saddle body 210 and a girth assembly to secure saddle body 210 on the horse. A lower surface of the body defines the animal contact region whilst the top surface defines a seat region, at least one flexible band e.g. 250 extends across the top surface. The saddle may be treeless, it may have two or more layers 100, 200 and may be flexible and / or mouldable. The flexible band portions, may be mouldable, may have a transverse orientation and may act to fasten saddle layers together, support the saddle body, or facilitate the addition of girth straps or stirrup bars. Compressible padding may be provided across the contact surface or spinal region. A recessed gullet (155, fig.1) may be provided in the contact region, it may extend along the central axis of the saddle body, running parallel with the animal’s spine. Two padded regions may be separated by a gullet to create a gap between the horse’s spine and saddle body. A flexible band portion may maintain the shape of the gullet region in use.

Description

Title -Saddle Arrangement The present invention relates to a saddle arrangement, and in particular to a horse saddle arrangement Saddle arrangements are placed over the back of an animal, such as a horse, so that a human can ride on the back of said animal. Traditionally, saddle arrangements for horses consist of layers of padding and leather built over a rigid base or frame, known commonly as a saddle tree. The saddle tree typically comprises a panel of wood or similar synthetic material and provides a sturdy base for the rest of the saddle arrangement, whilst distributing the weight of the rider across the length of the horse -s back. The size and shape of the saddle tree determines its fit on the horse -s back, and the size of the seat for the rider.

However, in more recent years there has been much debate as to whether saddle trees are harmful to the horse -s back, and thus, saddle arrangements without saddle trees have been developed.

Treeless saddle arrangements typically use a plurality of stiff, but bendable, pads and layers of foam as a base for bearing the weight of a rider. Many horse owners choose to use a treeless saddle because the absence of the rigid tree structure, and the absence of the focused pressure points that this creates on the horse's back, reduces the pain endured by the horse when being ridden. In tum, the lack of pressure also frees up the horse's shoulders to allow them to stride more freely, thus improving their performance. The more flexible structure of a treeless saddle arrangement also enables a single saddle arrangement to be used with multiple horses having different shaped or sized backs.

Despite their advantages, there remain problems with treeless saddles. In particular, in arrangements having a saddle tree, the tree creates a bridge over the breadth of the horse' back, thus preventing the rider from putting direct pressure onto the horse -s spine. By removing the saddle tree, the riders weight impacts directly on the horse -s spine, and this can be particularly problematic for horse' having long, high withers (the ridge between the horses shoulder blades) or sensitive spines.

Furthermore, although a saddle tree can create specific pressure points on either side of the horse -s spine, the tree does a good job of distributing the riders weight over the length of the horse (ie from head to tail). By removing the saddle tree, the riders weight is more focused, which can cause pain for the horse.

There has now been devised an improved saddle arrangement which overcomes or substantially mitigates the abovementioned and/or other disadvantages

associated with the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a saddle arrangement for placing on the back of an animal, the saddle arrangement comprising a saddle body and a girth assembly arranged to secure the saddle body on the animal; the saddle body having a bottom surface defining a contact region and a top surface defining a seat region; wherein the saddle body comprises at least one flexible band portion extending across the top surface.

The animal may be a horse.

The saddle arrangement according to the invention has been found to be advantageous in that it provides the benefits of treeless saddles, such as the removal of focussed pressure points on the horsers back and the ability to use the saddle arrangement with different shaped or sized horses, whilst the provision of at least one flexible band portion also ensures that the saddle body maintains its shape over the horse -s back, so that the pressure applied directly to the horse' spine and/or wither is reduced relative to conventional treeless saddle arrangements.

The saddle arrangement may be treeless, ie the saddle arrangement may not comprise a rigid base or frame, known commonly as a saddle tree. The saddle body may be flexible and/or mouldable. The saddle body may be generally stiff, ie such that once bent or moulded into a desired shape, the saddle body retains said shape.

Some or all of the saddle body may comprise a layered arrangement. The layered arrangement may comprise two or more layers. Some or all of the two or more layers may be flexible and/or mouldable layers, ie some or all of the two or more layers may be non-rigid. The layered arrangement may comprise a base layer. The bottom surface of the saddle body may be a bottom surface of the base layer. The bottom surface of the base layer may define the contact region. The two or more layers may comprise flexible and/or mouldable layers, ie such that the layers can be moulded to the shape and/or size of the horse's back.

The contact region may be arranged to contact the horse' back. The contact region may comprise a cushioned or padded region, ie some or all of the bottom surface of the saddle body may be cushioned or padded. The contact region may be arranged to compress or flatten in response to a force being applied to the saddle body, eg when a rider sits on the saddle arrangement The contact region may comprise a compressible material, such as a foamed material. This may provide increased comfort for the horse when being ridden.

The saddle arrangement may comprise a recessed gullet region. The recessed gullet region may extend along a central axis of the saddle body. The recessed gullet region may be recessed relative to the contact region, ie such that the gullet region does not make contact with the horse's back when the saddle body is placed on the horse. The contact region may comprise two padded regions arranged either side of the recessed gullet region. The two padded regions may be separated by the recessed gullet region. The recessed gullet region may create a gap between the horses spine and the saddle body in use.

The seat region may be arranged to receive a saddle seat ie the seat region may be arranged to have a saddle seat placed thereover, upon which a rider can sit in use.

The saddle body may comprise a central portion and two opposing side portions extending from the central portion. The central portion and side portions may be arranged such that the central portion is placed on the back of the animal and the side portions extend over the sides of the animal, in use.

The bottom surface of the central portion may define the contact region. The top surface of the central portion may define the seat region. The flexible band portion may extend across the top surface of the central portion. The central portion may comprise the layered arrangement having two or more layers.

The central portion may have a front end arranged to be placed towards the head of the horse in use. The central portion may have a rear end arranged to be placed towards the tail of the horse in use. The central portion may have two sides extending between the front end and the rear end. The side portions of the saddle body may extend from the sides of the central portion. The central portion and/or the side portions may be generally lobe-shaped.

The central portion may have a length extending between the front end and the rear end of the central portion. The central portion may have a width extending between the two sides of the central portion. The length of the central portion may be substantially aligned with the horses spine, in use. The width of the central portion may extend substantially perpendicularly to the horses spine, in use.

The recessed gullet region may extend along the length of the central portion. The recessed gullet region may extend along the entire length of the central portion, ie between the front end of the central portion and the rear end of the central portion. The central axis of the saddle body may be substantially aligned with the length of the central portion. The central axis of the saddle body and/or the length of the central portion may be substantially aligned with the horse -s spine in use. The recessed gullet region may therefore be substantially aligned with the horse-s spine in use. This may be advantageous in that when the at least one flexible band portion maintains the shape of the gullet region, the riders weight makes less direct contact with the horse-s spine, providing greater comfort for the horse in use.

The at least one flexible band portion may extend across the width of the central portion. The at least one flexible band portion may extend across the entire width of the central portion. The at least one flexible band portion may additionally extend over at least a portion of each of the side portions. The at least one flexible band portion may comprise more than one flexible band portion, for example two, three, or four flexible band portions. At least one flexible band portion may be positioned towards the front end of the saddle body, eg towards a front end of the central portion. At least one flexible band portion may be positioned towards the centre of the saddle body, eg approximately centrally between the front end of the central portion and the rear end of the central portion. Preferably, the at least one flexible band portion comprises one flexible band portion positioned towards the front end of the saddle body and one flexible band portion positioned towards the centre of the saddle body.

The saddle body may comprise a padded spine region. The padded spine region may be arranged to compress or flatten in response to a force being applied to the saddle body, eg when a rider sits on the saddle arrangement The padded spine region may comprise a compressible material, such as a foamed material.

The padded spine region may be provided on the top surface of the saddle body, eg a top surface of the central portion of the saddle body. Where the saddle body comprises a layered arrangement, the padded spine region may be provided on the top surface of the uppermost layer. The padded spine region may extend along the length of the central portion. The padded spine region may extend along the entire length of the central portion, ie between the front end of the central portion and the rear end of the central portion. The padded spine region may be substantially longitudinal, ie the padded spine region may have a length far greater than its width and/or depth. The padded spin region may be substantially semi cylindrical or semi-tubular. The padded spine region may have a longitudinal axis that runs along its length. The padded spine region may be substantially aligned with the horse -s spine in use, ie the longitudinal axis of the padded spine region may be substantially aligned with the horse-s spine in use.

This may be advantageous in that where the rider exerts enough of a force onto the saddle body to cause the recessed gullet region to deform and contact the horses spine, ie in spite of the actions of the at least one flexible band portion, the contact with the horse-s spine is cushioned by the presence of the padded spine region.

The at least one flexible band portion may be removably attached to the saddle body. The at least one flexible band portion may be fastened or secured to the saddle body, for example by one or more fasteners, such as by screws and/or rivets. The at least one flexible band portion may be removably attached to the top surface of the saddle body. The at least one flexible band portion may be fastened to the top surface of the saddle body. The at least one flexible band portion may be removably attached to the central portion of the saddle body, for example to the top surface of the central portion. The at least one flexible band portion may be fastened to the central portion of the saddle body, for example to the top surface of the central portion. The at least one flexible band portion may also be removably attached to one or both of the side portions of the saddle body, for example to a top surface of one or both of the side portions of the saddle body. The at least one flexible portion may also be fastened to one or both of the side portions of the saddle body, for example to a top surface of one or both of the side portions of the saddle body.

Where the saddle body comprises a layered arrangement, the two or more layers may be fastened or secured together via the at least one flexible band portion. The at least one flexible band portion may comprise one or more fastening arrangements. For example, the one or more fastening arrangements may comprise a fastener and an aperture. The two or more layers may also comprise a fastening arrangement to enable the at least one flexible band portion to fasten thereto. For example, the two or more layers may comprise an aperture arranged to receive the fastener associated with the at least one flexible band portion.

The at least one flexible band portion may provide support to the saddle body, and most preferably to the front end and/or the centre of the saddle body. The at least one flexible band portion may have a length that is greater than its width and/or its depth. The length of the at least one flexible band portion may extend across the width of the central portion of the saddle body. The length of the at least one flexible band portion may therefore extend substantially perpendicularly to the horse-s spine in use. The at least one flexible band portion may be mouldable. The at least one flexible band portion may retain its shape once moulded into a preferred shape. The at least one flexible band portion may be a thin portion of metal, for example an alloy metal such as steel, where thin refers to the thickness or depth of the band portion.

The girth assembly may comprise girth straps, or be arranged to have girth straps secured thereto. The girth straps may extend from the saddle body, ie such that they extend over the sides of the horse in use, for securing around the horse-s trunk. The saddle arrangement may further comprise other conventional components associated with a saddle arrangement. For example, the saddle arrangement may comprise any of, or any combination of, a saddle seat saddle flaps, stirrup bars, with or without stirrups, and a saddle blanket These components may be integrated with the saddle arrangement.

The saddle blanket may be positioned under the saddle arrangement in use, ie in direct contact with the horses back. The stirrup bars and/or the girth straps may be placed over the saddle arrangement in use, ie such that their length extends over the width of the saddle body, and over the sides of the horse. The stirrup bars may be secured or fastened to one of the at least one flexible band portions. Preferably, the stirrup bars are secured or fastened to the flexible band portion positioned towards the centre of the saddle body. The stirrup bars may be secured or fastened to the flexible band portion by one or more fasteners, such as by screws and/or rivets. The girth straps may be secured or fastened to the saddle body, for example using stitching and/or fasteners such as screws and/or rivets. The saddle flaps may be placed over the saddle arrangement for example such

B

that the saddle flaps extend over the horse -s sides in use, ie over the side portions of the saddle body. The saddle seat may be placed over the saddle arrangement, ie in the seat region.

Practicable embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a base layer of a saddle arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top side of a second layer of a saddle arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top side of the combined layers of Figures 2 and 3, ie when brought together in use; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top side of the arrangement of Figure 4, further illustrating the arrangement of stirrup straps and girth straps according to the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the top side of a pair of saddle flaps according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a saddle seat according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the complete saddle arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the arrangement being made up of the various components/layers shown in Figures 1-6.

Figure 1 illustrates a base layer 100 of a saddle arrangement The base layer 100 has a central portion 120 that is arranged to be positioned over the horse -s back in use, and two side portions 130 that extend outwardly from the central portion 120 and over the horses sides in use. The central portion 120 has a padded underside 140, which is typically made of a foam material.

In use, the base layer 100 is placed over the horses back such that the padded underside 140 is in contact with the horse's back, the front end 150 of the base layer 100 is positioned towards the front of the horse -s back, ie towards the horses head, and the rear end 145 of the base layer 100 is positioned towards the rear of the horse' s back, ie towards the horse' s tail. The side portions 130 extend outwardly from the front end 150 of the central portion 120 such that the two side portions 130 hang over the sides of the horse towards its front end.

Running down a central axis of the underside of the central portion 120 is a raised portion 155, which forms a recess thereunder, creating a gap between the horse's spine and the base layer 100 in use. This gap is more commonly known in the field as a gullet In use, the gullet 155 is aligned with the horse "s spine, to protect the horse-s spine from contact On the upper side of the base layer 100, screw holes 160 are positioned towards the rear end 145 of the central portion 120, and screw holes 170 are positioned towards the rear edges of the side portions 130. Also positioned towards the rear edges of the side portions 130 are pockets 180 having screw holes 190 therethrough. The pockets 180 are positioned further towards the side edges of central portions 130 than screw holes 170 (as illustrated), so that when the side portions 130 hang over the horses sides in use, the pockets 180 are positioned lower down than the screw holes 170. Screw holes 160, 170 and 190 are substantially aligned along the front edge of the base layer 100, ie when the base layer 100 is laid flat (as illustrated).

Figure 2 illustrates a second layer 200 of the saddle arrangement In use, the second layer 200 is placed over the base layer 100 such that the upper side of the second layer 200 rests upon the upper side of the base layer 100. The second layer 200 consists of a body portion 210, a central panel portion 220, and a padded portion 230. The body portion 210 and the central panel portion 220 may also have screw holes therethrough (not shown), to enable the second layer 200 to be fastened to the base layer 100 of Figure 1.

The body portion 210 is made from a strong, flexible material, and the central panel portion 220 is formed of leather. The padded portion 230 consists of a flexible moulded polyethylene tubular portion that runs along and through a central axis of the second layer 200. In use, the padded portion 230 is forced against the central portion 120 of the base layer 100 (see Figure 1), such that if the raised portion 155 of the base layer 100 is forced into contact with the horse' s spine, it is by padded portion 230, thereby cushioning any impact of the rider-5 weight on the horses spine.

Figure 3 illustrates the combination of the base layer 100 of Figure 1 and the second layer 200 of Figure 2, when brought together. A flexible metal band 250 is placed over the second layer 200 towards the front end 150 to fasten the second layer 200 to the base layer 100. The band 250 traverses across the width of the body portion 210 of the second layer 200, and is fastened into each of the pockets 180 on the side portions 130 via screw holes 190 using a screw or a rivet The band 250 also has screw holes 260 along its length, which enable it to fasten the body portion 210 and the central portion 220 of the second layer 200 to the base layer 100 via screw holes in the second layer and screw holes 160, 170 in the base layer 100, again using screws or rivets.

Figure 4 illustrates the second layer 200 of Figure 2, with the further addition of a second flexible metal band 305, girth straps 310 and stirrup bars 320, which are positioned over the top of the second layer 200 in use. The second flexible metal band 305 is similar to the flexible metal band 250 described in relation to Figure 3, only placed over the centre of the second layer 200. Girth straps 310 extend over the width of second layer 200 and are of sufficient length that they can extend over the sides and around the trunk of the horse in use. The girth straps 310 have a fastening mechanism 330 at their ends, so that each girth strap 310 can be fastened around the trunk of the horse, thereby holding the saddle arrangement in place on the horse. Typically, the fastening mechanism 330 will consist of a buckled arrangement whereby a pin on the end of a first end of the girth strap 310 engages with a hole in a second end of the girth strap 310. The girth straps 310 are sewn into attachment with the body portion 210 and/or the padded portion 230 of the base layer 200.

Stirrup bars 320 are fastened to the second flexible metal band 305 such that the stirrup bars 320 hang at the sides of the horse in use, ie such that the stirrups at either end of the stirrup bar 320 (not shown) would be positioned at the sides of the horse, at a height that a rider can place their feet therein. The stirrup bars 320 are fastened to base layer 200 via screw holes 340 in the second flexible metal band 305 using a screw or a rivet.

Figure 5 illustrates a further layer 400 comprising saddle flaps 410. In use, this layer 400 is placed over the girth straps 310 and stirrup bars 320 shown in Figure 4, such that the saddle flaps 410 hang over the sides of the horse. Traversing between the saddle flaps 410 are straps 420, which are typically made of VelcroTm, and are positioned over the top of the girth straps 310 and stirrup bar 320 in use. Each of the saddle flaps 410 comprises a screw hole 430 therethrough, which is positioned towards the front edge of the saddle flap so as to enable the saddle flaps 430 to be fastened to the second layer 200 and the base layer 100 via the flexible band 250 and screw holes 160, 170, 190, 260.

Figure 6 illustrates a moulded saddle seat 500 having a front end 510 and a rear end 520. In use, the saddle seat 500 is placed over the further layer 400 described in relation to Figure 5, over the straps 420 between the saddle flaps 410, ie such that when a rider is sat on the saddle seat 500, their inner legs fall over the saddle flaps 410. The front end 510 of the saddle seat 500 is positioned towards the horses head and the rear end 520 of the saddle seat 500 is positioned towards the horse's tail. The saddle seat 500 is typically made of a soft, mouldable material that is moulded to the general shape of a horse's back, ie so that it fits comfortably over the previously described layers. The soft material is then typically covered with a durable material, such as leather, to protect the seat in use.

The saddle seat 500 further comprises a screw hole 530 on either side of its front end 510 (shown in Figure 7), that enables the seat 500 to be attached to flexible band 250 via one of screw holes 260 (see Figure 3), which in turn attaches the saddle seat 500 to the base layer 100, the second layer 200 and the further layer 400.

Figure 7 illustrates the complete saddle arrangement comprising the base layer 100 of F igure 1, the second layer 200 of Figure 2, the flexible band 250 of Figure 3 (not shown when assembled), the girth straps and stirrup bars of Figure 4 (not illustrated), the further layer 400 of Figure 5, and the moulded saddle seat 500 of Figure 6. In use, these layers and components are layered over the horses back in the order that they have been described above, ie with the base layer 100 placed onto the horses back first, and the saddle seat 500 placed last It is envisaged that any of the layers described above may be attached, connected or combined, ie although they have been shown as separate, detachable layers, some of the described components may be attached, connected or combined during manufacture.

Claims

Claims 1. A saddle arrangement for placing on the back of horse, the saddle arrangement comprising a saddle body and a girth assembly arranged to secure the saddle body on the animal; the saddle body having a bottom surface defining a contact region and a top surface defining a seat region; wherein the saddle body comprises at least one flexible band portion extending across the top surface.
2. A saddle arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the saddle arrangement is a treeless saddle arrangement
3. A saddle arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the saddle body is flexible and/or mouldable.
4. A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the saddle body comprises a layered arrangement having two or more layers.
5. A saddle arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein some or all of the two or more layers are flexible and/or mouldable.
6. A saddle arrangement according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the two or more layers are fastened or secured together via the at least one flexible band portion.
7. A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact region comprises a cushioned or padded region, and/or wherein the contact region is arranged to compress or flatten in response to a force being applied to the top surface of the saddle body.
8. A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact region has a recessed gullet region extending along a central axis of the saddle body.
9. A saddle arrangement according to Claim 8, wherein the recessed gullet region is recessed relative to the contact region.
10.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the saddle body comprises a central portion and two opposing side portions extending from the central portion.
11.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 10, wherein the bottom surface of the central portion defines the contact region and the top surface of the central portion defines the seat region.
12.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the at least one flexible band portion extends across the top surface of the central portion.
13.A saddle arrangement according to any of Claims 10-12, wherein the at least one flexible band portion extends across the width of the central portion.
14.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion comprises a first flexible band portion positioned towards the front end of the saddle body.
15. A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion comprises a second flexible band portion positioned towards the centre of the saddle body.
16.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the recessed gullet region is arranged to be substantially aligned with the horse -s spine in use.
17.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the saddle body comprises a padded spine region.
18.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 17, wherein the padded spine region is arranged to compress or flatten in response to a force being applied to the top surface of the saddle body.
19.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the padded spine region is provided on the top surface of the saddle body.
20.A saddle arrangement according to any of Claims 17-19, wherein the padded spine region is arranged to be substantially aligned with the horse -s spine in use.
21.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion is removably attached to the saddle body.
22.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion provides support to the saddle body.
23.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion is mouldable.
24.A saddle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible band portion retains its shape once moulded into a preferred shape.
25.A saddle arrangement according to Claim 15, further comprising one or more stirrup bar, the one or more stirrup bar being fastened or secured to the second flexible band portion.