Abstract: An equestrian saddle having flaps, and a block mounted to each flap for engagement by the leg of the rider, the block being mounted to the flap by a mounting system which permits the position of the block on the flap to be adjusted and which retains the block in its selected position on the flap by a clamping action between the block and the flap.

Abstract: A safety device (18, FIG. 1) for a horse 12 comprises an air bag 24 and an inflation means, the safety device (18) being adapted to be mounted to a saddle 14 or saddle pad 16. The airbag 24 is substantially horseshoe shaped and when inflated is adapted to extend around a horse's hind quarters up one flank, across the back of the horse, and down the other flank. Inflation of the airbag 24 is triggered when the safety device is moved to a substantially vertically disposed position as encountered in a rotational fall. A second embodiment of airbag 42 with a pyramidal shape is shown in FIG. 4.

Abstract: An adjustable saddle for a horse or other animal includes a pommel with substantially opposed lower ends, a seat member connected to the pommel and a pair of substantially opposed gripping members comprising flexible panels configured to contact the flanks of the animal. The panels have rearward portions fastened to the seat member and forward portions which are substantially free of contact with the seat member. An adjustment means connects at least one of the forward portions to the pommel. The adjustment means is configured to cause the panels to flex between a retracted position where the gripping members are relatively widely spaced and a gripping position where the gripping members are relatively closely spaced together. The gripping position provides gripping action against the upper body of the animal when the saddle is in use.

Abstract: A saddle for equestrian use has panels having sealed air bags filled with air at atmospheric pressure to permit an even pressure to be applied over the back of a horse. The interior of the panel above the air bags is filled with packing material to permit adjustment of the fit of the saddle on the horse throughout the working life of the saddle.

Abstract: A saddle for equestrian use has panels having sealed air bags filled with air at atmospheric pressure to permit an even pressure to be applied over the back of a horse. The interior of the panel above the air bags is filled with packing material to permit adjustment of the fit of the saddle on the horse throughout the working life of the saddle.

Abstract: The present invention describes improvements in “Western” style saddles allowing existing saddles to be converted to a European saddle panel style which will facilitate a method of modelling the underside of the saddle to fit a horse's back. There is described a panel adapted for mounting to an underside of a skirt of a saddle, the panel comprising a sheet of a padded material and a sheet of a flexationally resistive material, the sheets being generally shaped to match a shape of the skirt to which the panel will be secured, and wherein the sheets are bonded together generally around their edges to define a pocket therebetween; and wherein the pocket is filled with a resilient medium. The resilient medium may be conventional flocking, but preferably comprises at least one inflatable bladder. The use of two generally coplanar inflatable bladders arranged to provide an overlap between the two bladders, is preferred.

Abstract: A saddle assembly comprising a seat portion with panels detachably mounted thereto, one on each of the opposing sides. An under flap and a long flap are detachably secured to each panel, the long flap overlying the under flap. The panels and long flaps each have cooperating fasteners for detachably securing the under flaps and long flaps to the respective panels. Each panel includes a cavity for receiving a filler material. The cavity has an access opening suitably configured for adding and removing material from the cavity, and fasteners across the opening for retaining the material in the cavity. Alternatively, the panel includes an inflatable cavity with a valve for controlling the passage of fluid to and from the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an orthopedic saddle seat cushion, and method for cushioning, to prevent the coccyx of a rider from touching the saddle, to prevent or eliminate lower back discomfort or injury. The cushion allows a substantial area of the rest of the buttocks-seat of the rider to contact the saddle which permits the rider to feel the saddle and thus maintain good control of the animal being ridden. The saddle seat cushion is a circularly shaped outer ring of material that contains a mechanism for inflating the ring, which comprises an inflation tube for putting a gas, or any combination of gases, such as normal air, into the ring to inflate the ring, and an air plug for retaining gas in the ring. There is a fastening mechanism to secure the cushion to the saddle.

Abstract: The present invention describes improvements in “Western” style saddles allowing existing saddles to be converted to a European saddle panel style which will facilitate a method of modelling the underside of the saddle to fit a horse's back. There is described a panel adapted for mounting to an underside of a skirt of a saddle, the panel comprising a sheet of a padded material and a sheet of a flexationally resistive material, the sheets being generally shaped to match a shape of the skirt to which the panel will be secured, and wherein the sheets are bonded together generally around their edges to define a pocket therebetween; and wherein the pocket is filled with a resilient medium. The resilient medium may be conventional flocking, but preferably comprises at least one inflatable bladder. The use of two generally coplanar inflatable bladders arranged to provide an overlap between the two bladders, is preferred.