Abstract:
The present invention is a saddle girth to be used in conjunction with either English or Western saddles. The girth band of the saddle girth is curved and made with an inelastic member which provides a more secure and comfortable fit on the horse. The saddle girth connectors are made of elastic material which allows for expansion of the horse&#39;s chest as it breaths. This saddle girth prevents shifting of the girth or saddle while fitting comfortably around the torso of the horse providing comfort and security to both the hose and rider.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to saddle girths for horses, and more particularly to a novel saddle girth that inhibits the saddle from shifting preventing chafing and sores, providing more comfort for the horse and a more stable seat for the rider. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Equestrian saddles are held in place on a horse&#39;s back by a girth which attaches to either side of the saddle and extends under the horse&#39;s belly. Girths for English or Dressage saddles typically have two or three buckles on each end; girths for Western saddles have a single buckle on each end and a pair of girth rings at the center of the girth on its outside layer. 
     A well known problem with traditional saddle girths is that they typically allow considerable movement of the saddle during riding. Saddles are also known to shift along the longitudinal axis of the horse. This movement causes chafing and sores to develop as the saddle girth and/or saddle move over the horse&#39;s withers, should blades and back. The movement also can be dangerous and disconcerting to the rider. 
     On method of reducing movement is to make the saddle girth extremely tight. This results in discomfort to the horse and will also increase chafing while restricting the horse&#39;s ability to expand its chest while breathing. 
     The present invention represents an improvement in previous saddle girths in that it offers greater flexibility, convenience, comfort and protection and the unique shape of the novel saddle girth overcomes disadvantages inherent in prior saddle girths. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is uniquely shaped saddle girth. An object of this invention is to provide a unique saddle girth that has been found to stabilize the saddle on the horse&#39;s back, even during rapid action events. The novel girth employs a unique shape and angled ends to provide a superior fit around the horse&#39;s torso. The novel girth also uses a combination of an inelastic layer interior to the girth strap with elastic connector straps to provide a snug fit while allowing greater comfort for the animal. Keepers retain the girth straps when attached to the saddle. These keepers can, for example, be in the form of sleeves as illustrated in one embodiment herein. 
     Another object of the invention is to securely hold the saddle on the back of the horse and prevent it from shifting during riding. The saddle girth will accomplish this by being able to be used with traditional western or dressage saddles in a manner familiar to equestrians. 
     Yet another object of the invention is for the saddle girth to retain its position around the torso of the horse so that it does not allow shifting or movement that will call chafing or sores. 
     Yet another objective of the invention is to provide increased stability for the rider resulting in greater comfort and confidence. 
     Previous saddle girths have employed straight sections in an attempt to overcome the shifting and movement of the saddle girth. These saddle girths typically slide forward towards the horse&#39;s forelegs causing the saddle to slide longitudinally along the back of the horse. This movement can result in irritation of the horse&#39;s ribcage and skin along the chest and torso. The instant invention overcomes these problems and disadvantages by curving the lines of the forward and rearward edges of the girth band to conform to the horse&#39;s torso and then angling the distal ends towards the rear of the horse thereby minimizing girth and saddle movement. 
     An example of a saddle girth is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,376, to Swain. Swain discloses a saddle girth with a central portion separating two opposing straight sections, each extending from the central portion at angles in a chevron shape. Swain employs a traditional saddle girth design which is split at the center. The straight sections still allow movement and do not follow the natural lines of the animal. 
     Another example of a saddle girth is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,533, to Larisch. Larisch discloses a saddle girth that is straight from end to end and is pulled across the horse&#39;s chest just beneath the point at which the girth is attached to the saddle. The Larisch design allows the girth to slide forward which causes it to loosen causing sores and chafing when the girth rubs against the chest and forelegs of the horse. 
     Yet another example of a saddle girth is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,458, to Johnston. Johnston discloses a saddle girth which completely encircles the torso of the horse which has gripping members extending from the inner surface of the girth to reduce movement. The Johnston design extends under the saddle causing pressure points and addition friction on the horses back. 
     Yet another example of a saddle girth is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,663, to LaCroix. LaCroix discloses a saddle girth which incorporates an elastic central belt to allow expansion as the animal breaths. However, the use of an elastic belt allows the girth to move causing shifting of the saddle and sores and chafing. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of saddle girth; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the saddle girth in its embodiment for use with western saddles; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the distal end of the saddle girth as attached to a saddle; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the distal end of the saddle girth as attached to a western saddle; and 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the saddle girth illustrating the layers which comprise the saddle girth. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1  which shows a perspective view of the saddle girth  1  for use in combination with a Dressage saddle which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The saddle girth  1  is between 610 mm and 915 mm in length. The length of the saddle girth  1  may vary to accommodate horses of various sizes. The saddle girth  1  is fitted around the horse&#39;s torso and attached to the saddle in the traditional manner and has a forward edge  5 , a rearward edge  10 , a midsection  15  and two distal ends  20 . The forward edge  5  and rearward edge  10  of the saddle girth  1  is curved at the midsection  15  such that the saddle girth  1  is widest at its midpoint and narrowing at the ends of midsection  15  before flaring out at the distal ends  20 . The distal ends  20  of the saddle girth are connected to the midsection  15  at an angle to the centerline  25  of said saddle girth  1  so as to provide a curved shape to the entire saddle girth  1 . The inside surface  30  is joined to the outside surface  35  by stitching  40 , although other methods for joining fabrics and materials known in the art may be used. At least one connector strap  45  attached to each said distal end  20  of said saddle girth  1 , and a connector  50  attached to each said connector strap  45 . The connector strap  45  being made of an elastic material which will allow the saddle girth  1  to conform and hold snug against the rib cage of a horse without chafing. The connectors  50  are typically buckles that are used to removably attach the saddle girth  1  to a saddle by means of the saddle straps  55  (illustrated  FIG. 4 ), but the connectors  50  may be any element that accomplishes such a purpose. Keepers  60  of sufficient size to cover the point of attachment for the connector straps  45  to the saddle girth  1  and for the ends of the saddle straps  55  to be secured under them are fixedly attached to the saddle girth  1  at each distal end  20 . The distal ends  20  are angled away from the centerline  25  of the saddle girth  1  at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. However, the angle may be varied to change the position of the saddle girth  1  on the horse. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the saddle girth for use with a Western saddle. The western saddle girth  101  is between 610 mm and 915 mm in length. The length of the western saddle girth  101  may vary to accommodate horses of various sizes. The western saddle girth  101  is fitted around the horse&#39;s torso and attached to the saddle in the traditional manner and has a forward edge  105 , a rearward edge  110 , a midsection  115  and two distal ends  120 . The forward edge  105  and rearward edge  110  of the western saddle girth  101  is curved at the midsection  115  such that the western saddle girth  101  is widest at its midpoint and narrowing at the ends of midsection  115 _before flaring out at the distal ends  120 . The distal ends  120  of the western saddle girth  101  are connected to the midsection  115  at an angle to the centerline  125  of said western saddle girth  101  so as to provide a curved shape to the entire western saddle girth  101 . The inside surface  130  is joined to the outside surface  135  by stitching  140 , although other methods for joining fabrics and materials known in the art may be used. A connector strap  145  is attached to each distal end  120  of the western saddle girth  101 , and a connector  150  is attached to ch said connector strap  145 . The connector strap  145  being made of an elastic material which will allow the western saddle girth  101  to conform and hold snug against the rib cage of a horse without chafing. The connectors  150  are typically buckles that are used to removably attach the western saddle girth  101  to a saddle by means of the saddle strap  155  (illustrated  FIG. 4 ), but the connectors  150  may be any element that accomplishes such a purpose. Keepers  160  of sufficient size to cover the point of attachment for the connector strap  145  to the western saddle girth  101  and for the ends of the saddle strap  155  to be secured under them are fixedly attached to the western saddle girth  101  at each distal end  120 . The distal ends  120  are curved forward from the centerline  125  of the western saddle girth  101  at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. However, the angle may be varied to change the position of the western saddle girth  101  on the horse. 
       FIG. 3  shows the distal end  20  of the saddle girth  1  in its embodiments for the use with Dressage saddles as used in combination with a saddle (not shown). The saddle girth  1  is removably attached to the saddle with the connectors  50  attached to the saddle girth  1  by the connector strap  45 . The connector strap  45  may consist of one or more members and is made of an elastic material which will allow the saddle girth  1  to conform and hold snug against the rib cage of a horse without chafing. The connectors  50  are typically buckles such as roller buckles and have a mechanism to attach the saddle girth  1  to the saddle straps  55  so that the saddle girth  1  may be secured to the saddle in a manner which is typical in the art. 
       FIG. 4  shows the distal ends  120  of the western saddle girth  101  in its alternative embodiment for the use with Western saddles as used in combination with a western style saddle (not shown). The western saddle girth  101  is removably attached to the saddle with the connectors  150  attached to the western saddle girth  101  by the connector strap  145 . The connector strap  145  is made of an elastic material which will allow the saddle girth  101  to conform and hold snug against the rib cage of a horse without chafing. The connectors  150  are typically buckles such as roller buckles and have a mechanism to attach the western saddle girth  101  to the saddle strap  155  so that the western saddle girth  101  may be secured to the saddle in a manner which is typical in the art. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the distal ends  20 ,  120  of the saddle girth  1  and western saddle girth  101 , and illustrates the layers comprising the invention. The saddle girth  1 ,  101  in its preferred embodiment consists of five layers, the inside surface  30 ,  130  made of leather or similar material lies against the body of the horse. The inside surface  30 ,  130  may be constructed of leather, and in its preferred embodiment is of a chrome tanned leather less than 1.8 millimeters in thickness. However, the inside layer  30 ,  130  may be made of material other than leather with varying thickness. Fixedly attached to the inside layer  30 ,  130  is a pad  70  consisting of one or more sections located at pressure points caused by the connectors or other buckles. The pad  70  may be made from most any material capable of being compressed and/or absorbing shock including foam rubber, neoprene, latex or other similar material. Layered on top of the pad  70  is the inelastic layer  75  which is fixedly attached to both the inside layer  30 ,  130  and the pad  70  by glue or any similar method for fixing fabrics and materials. The inelastic layer  75  is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) woven material or other material with similar inelastic properties. The outside surface  35 ,  135  and the inside surface  30 ,  130  are joined together by stitching  40 ,  140 , although other methods for joining fabrics and materials known in the art may be used. Between the outside surface  35 ,  135  and the inside surface  30 ,  130  a linen layer  80  is sandwiched between the inelastic layer  75  and the outside surface  35 ,  135  and is fixedly attached to the outside layer  30 ,  135  by stitching or similar method for joining fabrics and materials. 
     Of course, it is understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it therefore will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.