US3672123A

US3672123A - Trotting-horse saddles

Info

Publication number: US3672123A
Application number: US48314A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert W Dykman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-22
Filing date: 1970-06-22
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27

Abstract

A saddle for a trotting-horse comprises two superimposed straps secured together, the upper strap being separated from the lower strap at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings disposed one on each side of the horse, and adapted to receive the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse.

Description

United States Patent Dykman 1 June 27, 1972 [54] TROTTlNG-HORSE SADDLES 2] Inventor: lb t 1 ExkmaaNo- 2 zll-Ashb iw New Zealand [22] Filed: June 22,1970

21] Appl.No.: 48,314

[52] U.S. (I 54/2, 54/39 [5 l Int. B68b 01/00 [58] Field of Search "54/2, 39, 43, 50

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,737 7/1895 Jacquot ..54/2

3,270,488 9/1966 535,234 Bill 895 Beach .54/ 39 Albee et al ..54/2

Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Spensley, Horn and Lubitz [57] ABSTRACT A saddle for a trotting-horse comprises two superimposed straps secured together, the upper strap being separated from the lower strap at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings disposed one on each side of the horse, and adapted to receive the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJURN I912 F II II TROTTING-HORSE SADDLES The invention relates to saddles used on trotting-horses to support the shafts of sulkies pulled by the horses.

A conventional saddle comprises a tree of wood or metal covered with leather, which is attached to a horse by means of a girth strap, and is adapted to support the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse by means of two straps connected to and depending from two rings screwed into the saddle, one on each side of the horse. These support straps are connected to the shafts of the sulky by means of D-shaped rings adjustably secured to said straps, and adapted to slidably engage the shafts of the sulky.

A second girth strap attached to the shafts of the sulky is provided to hold down the shafts of the sulky, as they tend to lift when a driver is seated on the sulky.

Also connected to the saddle are an overcheck strap and a crupper strap, which extend forwardly and rearwardly respectively from two rings screwed into the central portion of the saddle, and two straps adapted to stop forward movement of the shafts of the sulky, which extend forwardly and downwardly from two rings screwed into the saddle above the rings for the straps adapted to support the shafts of the sulky.

Two more rings adapted to guide reins for the horse are screwed into the saddle above the rings for the straps adapted to stop forward movement of the shafts of the sulky.

The conventional saddle has the disadvantages that there is an objectionable number of moving parts, that it does not conform closely with the shape of the horse, and that the rings for the support straps, the stop straps, and the reins are broken off if the horse rolls.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a saddle that is simpler, lighter, more comfortable, and more robust.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

According to the invention, a saddle for a trotting-horse comprises two superimposed straps secured together, the upper strap being separated from the lower strap at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings disposed one on each side of the horse, and adapted to receive the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse.

Preferably, the two superimposed straps are adapted at each end portion to be adjustably secured to a separate girth strap, so that the girth strap can be tightened from either side of the horse.

Preferably, also, an oval metal ring is secured between the two superimposed straps in the center thereof, so as to form two D-shaped rings extending from opposite edges of the saddle, and the limbs of four U-shaped metal rods are inserted through eight holes formed in the upper strap and are rigidly secured to two metal plates secured between the two superimposed straps, so as to form two upstanding D-shaped rings between the center of the saddle and each one of the D- shaped openings therein.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front or rear elevation of a saddle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the saddle when fitted to a trotting-horse; and

FIG. 4 is a front or rear elevation thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a saddle indicated generally at for a trotting-horse 11 comprises two superimposed leather straps l2 and 13 sewn together, the upper strap 12 being separated from the lower strap 13 at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings 14 disposed one on each side of the horse 11, and adapted to receive the shafts 15 of a sulky (not shown) pulled by the horse 11.

The two superimposed straps l2 and 13 are adapted at each end portion 16 to be adjustably secured to a separate girth strap 17 provided with a conventional buckle 18 at each end, so that the girth strap 17 can be tightened from either side of the horse 11.

An oval metal ring is secured between the two

superimposed straps

12 and 13 in the center thereof, so as to form two D-shaped rings 19 extending from opposite edges of the saddle 10, and the limbs of four U-shaped metal rods are inserted through eight holes formed in the upper strap 12 and are welded to two metal plates secured between the two

superimposed straps

12 and 13, so as to form two upstanding D-

shaped rings

20 and 21 between the center of the saddle 10 and each one of the D-shaped openings 14 therein.

Conventional leather rivets 22 may be used to reinforce the stitching 23 of the saddle 10 adjacent the D-shaped openings 14, and the D-

shaped rings

19, 20, and 21.

In operation, the saddle 10 is attached to the horse 11 by means of the girth strap 17, and the shafts 15 of the sulky (not shown) are passed through the D-shaped openings therein.

An overcheck strap 24 is connected to the forwardly extending D-shaped ring 19 in the center of the saddle l0, and a crupper strap 25 is connected to the rearwardly extending D- shaped ring 19 in the center of the saddle 10.

Two straps 26 adapted to stop forward movement of the shafts 15 of the sulky (not shown) are connected to the two upstanding D-shaped rings 20 disposed adjacent the D-shaped openings 14 in the saddle l0, and reins 27 for the horse 11 are passed through the other two upstanding D-shaped rings 21.

As the girth strap 17 is invariably tightened from one side of the horse 11 only, the saddle is reversed from time to time so as to equalize the wear on the two end portions 16 of the saddle 10.

The fixed height of the D-shaped openings 14 in the saddle 10 is not a disadvantage as most trotting-horses 1 l are approximately equal size, and any horse 11 not conforming to the standard size can be easily provided with a special saddle.

The saddle 10 is formed by sewing together two

leather straps

12 and 13 in preference to sewing two separate pieces of leather onto a single leather strap, so that the shafts 15 of the sulky (not shown) are not completely released if the stitching 23 adjacent the D-shaped openings 14 breaks.

A felt pad 28 may be placed under the saddle 10 if required.

In a modification, the two upstanding D-shaped rings 20, to which the two straps 26 adapted to stop forward movement of the shafts 15 of the sulky (not shown) are connected, are each replaced by two D-shaped rings 29 extending from opposite edges of the saddle 10, see FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

It will of course be obvious that the two superimposed

straps

12 and 13 may be made from materials other than leather.

The saddle 10 provided by the invention is simpler, lighter, more robust, more comfortable, and cheaper to produce than the conventional saddle, and it also facilitates attachment and detachment of the sulky.

Many details of the saddle 10 hereinbefore described can of course be modified without departing from the ambit of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A saddle for a trotting-horse, comprising two superimposed straps secured together, the upper strap being separated from the lower strap at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings disposed one on each side of the horse, and adapted to receive the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse,

said two superimposed straps adapted at each end portion to be adjustably secured to a separate girth strap, so that the girth strap can be tightened from either side of the horse,

an oval metal ring secured between said two superimposed straps in the center thereof, so as to form two D-shaped rings extending from opposite edges of the saddle, and four U-shaped metal rods having their limbs inserted through eight holes formed in the upper strap and rigidly secured to two metal plates secured between the two superimposed straps, so as to fonn two upstanding D- shaped rings between the center of the saddle and each one of the D-shaped openings therein. 2. A saddle according to claim 1, wherein the two upstanding D-shaped rings adjacent the two D-shaped openings in-the saddle are each replaced by two D-shaped rings extending from opposite edges of the saddle.

'0 I I t

Claims

1. A saddle for a trotting-horse, comprising two superimposed straps secured together, the upper strap being separated from the lower strap at two points so as to form two D-shaped openings disposed one on each sidE of the horse, and adapted to receive the shafts of a sulky pulled by the horse, said two superimposed straps adapted at each end portion to be adjustably secured to a separate girth strap, so that the girth strap can be tightened from either side of the horse, an oval metal ring secured between said two superimposed straps in the center thereof, so as to form two D-shaped rings extending from opposite edges of the saddle, and four U-shaped metal rods having their limbs inserted through eight holes formed in the upper strap and rigidly secured to two metal plates secured between the two superimposed straps, so as to form two upstanding D-shaped rings between the center of the saddle and each one of the D-shaped openings therein.

2. A saddle according to claim 1, wherein the two upstanding D-shaped rings adjacent the two D-shaped openings in the saddle are each replaced by two D-shaped rings extending from opposite edges of the saddle.