Patent Publication Number: US-2005120684-A1

Title: Auxiliary stirrup for saddle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Mounting a horse is often times a difficult task, particularly for children, short people or people having other physical limitations. The primary difficulty arises from the conventional saddle which has a high stirrup into which the rider must place their left foot, and then step up and swing their right leg over the rump of the horse. The difficulty in getting up onto the horse is a deterrent which keeps many people from the enjoyment of horseback riding.  
      There are several prior art solutions to overcome the high first step into the conventional saddle stirrup. One solution is a small ladder or stepping stool upon which the rider can stand before swinging their foot into the stirrup, thereby reducing the size of the step. However, a ladder cannot be taken along for later use in case the rider dismounts. Also, a ladder or stool presents safety concerns in that the horse may accidentally knock it over, which may spook the horse or cause the horse to run or rear up before the rider is safely seated in the saddle. Ladders, or other mounting blocks, also may be dangerous if the horse moves or walks off prematurely while the person is on the ladder or block.  
      Another solution to the high step stirrup problem is a stirrup attachment, which extends downwardly from the main stirrup. The stirrup attachment reduces the height which the rider must lift their left foot for placement into the attachment, but creates another problem in that the right leg must be thrown higher over the rump of the horse, which may be difficult. This also creates safety concerns, in that the rider may dig their right heel into the rump of the horse to gain leverage for getting into the saddle, which is uncomfortable for the horse and precarious for the rider.  
      Other secondary stirrups have been provided in the prior art which hang from the saddle in front of the primary stirrup, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,797. However, with the lower secondary stirrup in front a higher primary stirrup, the rider must cross their legs when mounting the horse.  
      Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an auxiliary stirrup for a saddle which allows for easy mounting of the horse by people of all sizes and physical abilities.  
      Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an auxiliary saddle stirrup which allows a person to easily step with both feet for quick and easy mounting of a horse.  
      A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an auxiliary or secondary stirrup which is secured to a saddle behind the primary stirrup so that the secondary stirrup is behind and below the primary stirrup.  
      A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an auxiliary saddle stirrup which has an adjustable length to accommodate various size riders.  
      Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a saddle having an auxiliary stirrup which can be quickly and easily moved into a safe storage position after the rider has mounted the horse.  
      Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a saddle having an auxiliary stirrup which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, and safe and durable in use.  
      These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The auxiliary saddle stirrup of the present invention is intended to simplify the mounting of a horse by a rider. The auxiliary stirrup attaches to a ring in the rear portion of the saddle so as to hang behind and below the primary stirrup. The length of the auxiliary stirrup may be adjusted depending upon the size of the rider. To mount the horse, the rider simply puts his/her right foot into the auxiliary stirrup which forms a low step. The rider then steps upwardly to place their left foot into the primary stirrup. The rider&#39;s right leg can then be swung over the horse so that the rider can be properly seated in the saddle. The auxiliary stirrup can then be grasped by the rider or an assistant and the lower end is fastened onto the upper end to maintain the auxiliary stirrup in a storage or riding position.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the improved saddle having the auxiliary stirrup of the present invention secured thereto.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the auxiliary stirrup, apart from a saddle.  
       FIG. 3  is a view showing the improved saddle with the auxiliary stirrup on a horse, and a rider placing their right foot into the auxiliary stirrup. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 1  shows a saddle  10  having a seat  12 , a horn  14 , and a primary stirrup  16 . It is understood that the saddle  10  has another primary stirrup on the right side of the saddle that is not shown in the drawings. The saddle  10  also includes a front ring  18  and a rear ring  20 .  
      The saddle  10  has an auxiliary or secondary stirrup  22  on the left side only of the saddle  10 . The auxiliary stirrup  22  includes an upper end  24  and a lower end  26  with a foot loop  28  on the lower end  26 . The upper end  24  of the auxiliary stirrup  22  is secured to a rear portion of the saddle  10 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , so that the foot loop  28  resides behind and below the primary stirrup  16 . Thus, the foot loop  28  provides a shorter step into which a rider  30  can place their right foot  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and then step up and place their left foot  34  into the primary stirrup  16 . The rider  30  can then remove their right foot  32  from the foot loop  28  of the auxiliary stirrup  22  and swing their right leg up and over the rump of the horse to quickly, easily, and safely mount the horse. The foot loop  28  includes dimples  29  to enhance the footing of the rider&#39;s right foot  32  placed in the foot loop  28 .  
      A preferred embodiment of the auxiliary stirrup  22  is shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . In this preferred embodiment, the auxiliary stirrup  22  includes an elongated strap  36  comprised of an upper member  38  and a lower member  40  which are buckled together with a buckle  42 , such that the length of the strap  36  can be adjusted for different sized riders. It is understood that other types of fasteners can be substituted for the buckle  42 . For example, a simple hook fastener as used in a rappelling harness or a snap fastener as used on life jackets may be substituted for the buckle  42 . A further alternative is the provision of Velcro on the upper and lower members  38 ,  40  to allow for adjustable securement between the members.  
      In the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary stirrup  22  shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper end of the strap  36  includes a small loop which is adapted to pass behind and over the rear ring  20  of the saddle  10 . The foot loop  28  can then be threaded through the loop  44  so as to secure the strap  36  to the rear ring  20 . It is understood that the auxiliary stirrup  22  can be secured in any other convenient manner. For example, the strap  36  can be extended through a slit (not shown) in the saddle  10 . Also, other types of snaps, hooks, or fasteners may be used to attach the auxiliary stirrup  22  to the saddle  10 . The auxiliary stirrup  22  can be made of any suitable material, including leather and vinyl. A handle (not shown) may also be provided midway along the strap  36  to assist people who are unable to reach the seat  12  or horn  14  initially.  
      As seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper and lower ends of the strap  36  also include snaps  46 ,  48  which can be snapped together after the rider has mounted, so that the auxiliary stirrup  22  can be maintained in a raised storage or riding position. Other types of connectors or fasteners can also be utilized to retain or attach the lower end of the strap  36  to the upper end of the strap, such as a buckle, a snap, a hook, or Velcro.  
      Thus, the auxiliary stirrup  22  provides a lift aid devised for mounting horses. The foot loop  28  provides an easy step up into the main stirrup  16 . With the foot loop  28  located below and behind the main stirrup  16 , a rider can face the horse for mounting, which can be quickly and easily accomplished without a crossover step or crossing the legs. The auxiliary stirrup  22  on the saddle  10  allows both feet to be used in the mounting of the horse. The auxiliary stirrup  22  and primary stirrup  16  allow the rider  30  to mount the horse in two small steps, rather than a big step as in a conventional saddle without the auxiliary stirrup  22 . The improved saddle  10  with the auxiliary stirrup  22  enhances safety and enjoyment of horseback riding by overcoming the common physical limitations or barriers normally involved in mounting the horse using a conventional saddle. The improved saddle  10 , with the auxiliary stirrup  22  also substantially reduces the skill, coordination, and strength otherwise required in mounting a horse with a conventional saddle. The auxiliary stirrup  22  is portable, collapsible, lightweight, weatherproof, and quickly and easily installed or removed from the saddle  10 .  
      The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiment, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.