Abstract: A method of making a saddle wherein the upper saddle coverings including the seat, backs and upper flaps are pressed from a single sheet member, the underside saddle coverings including the panel, lining and underflaps also being pressed from a single sheet member, the upper and lower pressed saddle coverings being secured to a saddle tree placed between the coverings and the saddle completed by stitching the upper and lower pressed saddle coverings together around the periphery of the cantle and the periphery of the seat. The saddle coverings are formed from a composite sheet material composed of a cloth-covered foam.

Abstract: A saddle comprises upper and lower saddle coverings formed from composite sheet material consisting of outer fabric layers bonded to an intermediate layer of flexible foam. Preferably, the outer fabric layer consists of synthetic such as nylon and the foam is a closed cell foam.

Abstract: A data collection system comprises magnetically encoded tickets and reading/writing/data collection elements -- one or more magnetic transducers -- for reading from (and/or writing on) the tickets together with means for manual input of data onto storage media while selectively maintaining running totals. The tickets are fed into a reading/writing apparatus comprising a self-aligning means, a pivotal platform movable between loading and read/write positions and further comprising a motor driven capture and eject mechanism. The tickets are either automatically ejected by the motor after reading/writing or manually releasable if not capable of reading/writing or eject. The ticket is maintained in effective, reliable reading contact with the transducer(s) during reading/writing.