Abstract: A lifting girdle apparatus for enhancing the performance of a harness racing horse includes a lifting girdle affixed to a harness and sulky at two points on each side of the horse with a clip that attaches to the harness, behind approximately the front quarter of the horse, and with a securing strap that runs vertically towards and around the shaft of the sulky. The securing strap is preferably made to be adjustable, for example by constructing the securing strap as a belt and utilizing a belt buckle. The ability to adjust the distance between the attachment clips and the lifting girdle allows for a trainer to configure the lifting girdle device apparatus for different sized horses for producing an optimum setting for horses of almost any size.

Abstract: A center pivot swingarm for racehorse harnesses is disclosed: In one preferred embodiment of the present invention a horse harness comprises a saddle for extending around the sides and the top of a horse, the saddle having a topmost portion, a swingarm having a top portion connecting a pair of arms extending in opposing directions around the sides and the top of the horse, over the saddle, the top portion of the swingarm is pivotally connected to the topmost portion of the saddle to enable the saddle to rotate relative to the swingarm, and a pair of hitches, each hitch formed as part of, or connected to, each of the pair of arms, for connecting with a shaft of a sulky or cart; in another embodiment of the present invention, a method of transmitting force between a sulky or a cart to a horse is disclosed; in another embodiment a method of training horses or horseracing is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the attachment of a racehorse to a racing sulky. The apparatus connects the shafts of the sulky to a harness in a manner so as to isolate racehorse motion from the racing sulky. The apparatus includes a ball joint for rotating attachment to the harness and a threaded end for fixed attachment to the sulky shaft. A dampening piston is provided between the ball joint and the sulky shaft to provide shock absorption and thereby isolate horse movement by dampening the running, trotting, pacing, and galloping motions of the horse from the sulky and vice-versa.

Abstract: A sulky shaft connector device includes a swivel ball joint arrangement whereby the sulky shaft is allowed relative damped vertical movement with respect to the harness. A sulky shaft connector member, removably connected to the sulky shaft, forming part of the device also provides for quick and releasable engagement between the sulky shaft and the sulky shaft connector device.

Abstract: A harness for horse racing has a back-engaging tree with an arched body shaped to fit across a horse's back, a pair of laterally-spaced fork members projecting downwardly from opposite sides of the arched body so as to extend downwardly on opposite sides of the horse's body when in use, and a pair of laterally-spaced independently resiliently deflectable spring members extending rearwardly from the arched body and shaped to confirm with the shape of a horse's back. A girth strap assembly is attached to the back-engaging tree, the girth strap assembly having shaft attachments on opposite sides thereof below the back-engaging tree for attaching the shafts of a sulky thereto.

Abstract: A harness bracket 10 comprises a first securement member 12 and a second securement member 14. The harness bracket 10 is arranged, in use, to be mounted to a carriage used in harness racing or trotting where the carriage is pulled along by a horse. A harness bracket 10 is mounted on to two shafts extending from the carriage 11 in order to secure a harness therebetween. The second securement member 14 is movable relative to the first securement member 12 in order for the securement means (i.e. a securement plane or the plane of the harness) to move towards an optimal plane for transferring the forces from the horse to the carriage 11 through the shafts 15. Accordingly, as the horse turns out of the line of the wheels 60 of the carriage, the second part 14 of the harness bracket 10 move and pivot to provide a securement plane at an angle to the plane of the wheels.

Abstract: The tree of a harness saddle band is formed of an elongated, narrow, thin, strip of resilient plastic material bent into an inverted U-shape having a central bight portion and integral depending leg portions. The bight portion is stiffened to resist bending or flexing of the bight portion. The depending leg portions are resiliently flexible relative to the bight portion for independently bending laterally towards an away from each other and for independently bending longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly of the horse. The junctions between the leg portions and the bight portion are provided with raised ribs which are decreasingly tapered in the direction from the bight portion towards the free ends of the leg portions.

Abstract: A harness racing quick hitch comprises a pair of swivel joints in the hitch. The pair of swivel joints permit the harness saddle to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the sulky arm. This rotation provides a degree of freedom not otherwise present in the connection of the sulky arm to the harness saddle. Thus, the swivel joints in the quick hitch separate further the flexing movement of the horse flanks from the rigidity of the sulky arms. Modifications to the swivel joints provide further freedom of movement to the horse and therefore comprise alternative embodiments of the new swivel joint quick hitch.

Abstract: Harness device for horse-drawn vehicles, comprising in combination a saddle bow (6) having a pommel (15) and a cantle (16) and a length between the pommel and the cantle of at least about 350 mm, extending forwardly of each side of the withers (19) of a horse and comprising padding over all the surface bearing on the back of the horse. Two pairs of lateral straps (9, 10) are adjustable as to length and are mounted on the flanks of the saddle bow and connected to a belly band (11). A spherical ball (4) is fixedly secured to the pommel of the saddle bow, and projects upwardly. A forward end of a shaft (2) for drawing the vehicle bears a socket (3) of a shape matching that of the spherical ball. The socket encloses the ball and is adapted to incline in all directions on the ball. The sphere (4) is inclined forwardly upwardly lengthwise of the horse at an angle (.alpha.) of about 7.degree. with respect to the vertical.

Abstract: Hitch for securing a racing sulky to a harness or saddle of a horse. The hitch has an elongated, generally cylindrical body which includes a frustoconical tapered front portion, a generally cylindrical mid-portion and a cylindrical rear portion of slightly smaller diameter than that of the mid-portion so as to form a shoulder. The rear portion is adapted to be inserted into the open end of a tubular shaft, such as a shaft of a racing sulky. When so inserted, the hitch may be permanently secured to the shaft. The mid-portion of the hitch includes cylindrical front and rear end members which adjoin the front portion and the rear portion respectively of the hitch. The mid-portion of the hitch has one or more cutouts which define a longitudinally extending rigid strut and (when there is more than one such cutout) one or more transverse spacer discs, which are spaced from the end members and from each other. A rigid rod extends through the rear portion and the mid-portion of the hitch.

Abstract: A race horse harness attachment for securing a sulky by its thills to the harness piece about a race horse to limit the pivot of the attachment to rotating about a single horizontal axis whereby the horse may rear without breakage of the thills of the sulky. The attachment includes cup-shaped members extending horizontally from the opposite sides of a base plate and horizontally with the ground into which are detachably-extended inwardly-bent members. These members have an axially adjustable connection with the thills of the sulky to adapt the bridle connection for different size horses. A cotter pin extends through the cup-shaped members for engagement with a groove in the inwardly-bent attaching members to hold the members against axial displacement while permitting their rotation. A substantially rigid connection of the sulky with the bridle is provided wherein rotation is permitted in but one direction rather than in many directions as with ball and socket connections.

Abstract: A hitch for connecting a sulky shaft to a harness girth on a horse comprises a pair of brackets affixed to the girth, with a pivotable yoke pivotally mounted between the brackets on a vertical bolt. A horizontal bolt, extending through arms of the yoke, pivotably supports an element which is connected to the sulky shaft by means of an L-shaped pin having a pivoting connection to a hole in the sulky shaft, providing universal movement between the sulky shaft and the harness.

Abstract: A hitch for a horse-drawn vehicle, which includes a single shaft (2) passing over a horse's back and connected at its front end to a harness (5, 6, 7) via a traction cradle (4) on which the single shaft (2) is rotatably mounted, and at its rear end to a horse-drawn vehicle (3). The cradle (4) comprises two arcuate frame members (9, 10) interconnected at their bottom ends for connection with a collar (5) to the harness and diverging progressively from each other to reach a maximum separation vertically above the horse's withers. An element (11) integral with the single shaft (2) is rotatably mounted on a member (12) interconnecting the two frame members (9, 10) at their point of maximum separation. The cradle rests on the horse's back via two pads (15, 16) swivel-mounted on the rear frame member (10) and situated on either side of the midline of the horse's back. The single shaft (2) carried by the cradle (4) is connected to a wheeled vehicle (3) via a shock absorber suspension.

Abstract: A sulky cart, preferably leaving shafts with off-set forward end portions, is releasably attached to an off-set elongated sleeve member with a connector assembly on the forward end of the sleeve member. The connector assembly contains a rotatable ball with a central aperture for sliding over a harness pin secured to and extending from a harness saddle. The harness pin is provided near its outer end with a normally locked locking device, so that the cast can be hitched to the saddle harness by sliding the harness pin and locking device through the central aperture in the ball.

Abstract: A hitching device for connecting the shafts of a racing sulky to a harness saddle which includes a harness pin affixed to and extending outwardly from the saddle and a normally locked, spring loaded retractable ball bearing locking devive on the harness pin. A connector assembly is attached to a shaft and retains a rotatable ball provided with an central aperture through the ball and a collar surrounding the central aperture on both sides of the ball. When in the unlocked position the connector assembly slides over the locking device and when in the locked position the connector assembly is positively locked on the harness pin. A spacer is positioned on the harnes pin to maintain the connector assembly at least a preselected distance from the saddle.

Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided for detachably securing the thills or shafts of a two-shaft racing sulky to the harness saddle which accommodates adjustable lengthwise and vertical positioning of the shaft relative to the saddle while accommodating a limited range of free pivotal movement of the shaft about a point which is fixed relative to the saddle. The assembly provides for precise tracking control of the sulky while affording reasonable freedom for relative motion between shaft and saddle to accommodate twisting and minor linear motion of the saddle by body movements of the horse in stride and turns.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching the shafts of a sulky to the harness of a horse. A cup on a tug strap is attached to the free end of the shaft. The tug strap is pivotally attached to the harness along the length of the tug strap. A shaft loop attached to the harness encircles the shaft. The remote end of the tug strap is attached to the shaft aft of the harness. The tug strap extends substantially parallel to and in alignment with the shaft forward of the harness and for a distance aft of the harness. Provision is provided for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the shaft relative to the horse.

Abstract: This invention consists of a coupling device by means of which the shafts of a sulky used in harness horse racing can be quickly and easily attached to or detached from the harness of the horse. It consists primarily of a metal framework, which is part of the harness, into which is inserted the end of each shaft wherein it is held by a spring loaded pin which passes through the framework and the free end of the shaft. The shaft is released simply by pulling the pin out of the shaft end; when released, the pin returns to the locking position until it is pulled up again to reinsert the shaft.

Abstract: A harness connector includes a link connected to a harness with a first ball joint and to a sulky shaft with a second ball joint permitting horse leaning and lateral motion relative to the sulky shafts.

Abstract: A harness for a horse and sulky comprising a saddle and an elastic girth and a method for attaching the harness to the shafts of a sulky. The saddle includes a bearing strap extending down the sides of the saddle and attaches to each end of the girth. The bearing strap is secured to the top of and at two locations on each side of the saddle. A sulky shaft loop is attached to the bearing strap between the saddle attachment points. A tie down strap attached to the top of the saddle and extending down therefrom is wrapped around the sulky shaft passing through each shaft loop and is tightly secured to the top of the saddle, pulling and securing the shafts and the shaft loops in an upward direction. The shaft loops are adjustably positioned on the bearing straps. A safety strap is loosely fitted to the elastic girth and wrapped around the sulky shafts with slack therebetween.

Abstract: A two-wheeled cart for training trotters, wherein the cart frame comprises two longitudinal rigid thill members, which at a central part thereof are pivotally connected through a cross connecting member to be vertically rotatable in relation to each other, wherein each wheel is individually resiliently suspended at a rear part of the respective thill member, and wherein a seat supporting cart member is separately resiliently suspended by the cart frame. A device for adjustable loading of the cart comprises hydraulic pump means arranged to load the wheels.

Abstract: An improved sulky and harness is disclosed. The improvement includes a pair of ball joints joining the shafts of the sulky to the harness of the horse. The ball joints avoid unnecessary restraint upon the running horse by allowing only pulling forces to be applied through the shafts to the sulky. The driver's seat is positioned up higher than the conventional sulky and forward of the wheel axles to reduce or eliminate the upward lift of the shafts during acceleration at the start of a race.

Abstract: A harness racing hitch in which the horse and the sulky are coupled together allowing the horse improved freedom to lean into the turns of a racetrack, to pivot between the sulky shafts and to be able to move up and down with respect to the sulky. The sulky shafts are interconnected by a yoke which overlies and is attached to the saddle of the horse harness by a coupling allowing the horse limited but sufficient free movement in all three planes of motion.

Abstract: A sulky hitch in the form of a generally wishbone-shaped or Y-shaped assembly having two rearwardly diverging tubular members attached to the cut-off forward ends of the conventional shafts of a sulky, upwardly and inwardly curving portions contoured to the hind quarter area of a horse and a forwardly and downwardly extending member attached to an upstanding post on the forward portion of the horse's back.