Patent ID: 9266712
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B68C

Claim Text:
1. An accessory apparatus for an English-style saddle comprising a seat, a pair of saddle flaps, a pair of stirrup leathers and a skirt with leg-contacting portions, and also for a Western-style saddle comprising a seat, a pair of fenders terminating in a pair of stirrup leathers managed by a pair of hobble straps, and a set jockey with leg-contracting portions, the accessory apparatus comprising a form-fitting panel having a saddle-contacting side and a rider-contacting side, said panel including: a) a saddle seat covering portion sized and shaped to cover at least the seat and leg-contacting portions of the skirt of said English-style saddle, and at least the seat and leg-contacting portions of the seat jockey of said Western-style saddle, b) a first flap portion extending from a first side edge of said seat covering portion, c) a second flap portion extending from a second side edge of said seat covering portion; said first flap portion and said second flap portion each being sized and shaped to cover the stirrup leathers and the leg contacting portions of the flaps of the English-style saddle, and the leg-contacting surfaces of the fenders, the stirrup leathers, and the hobble straps of the Western-style saddle; said first flap portion and said second flap portion including length adjustment means for longitudinally adjusting the length of said first flap portion and said second flap portion to cover stirrup leathers of different longitudinal lengths; and d) communication aid retention means for retaining an elongated communication aid having a handle, said communication aid retention means comprising, an elastic cord having a proximal end attached to said saddle seat covering portion, and a distal end terminating in an elastic sleeve sized and shaped for removable frictional engagement with at least a portion of the handle of an elongated communication aid.