Patent Publication Number: US-10773946-B2

Title: Saddle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to devices for mounting or loading the back of an animal and provides improvements in the way that loads are distributed from the rider or other load to the animal. In particular the invention broadly offers improvements in saddlery and especially provides a new saddle structure design which allows the horse and rider full range of motion. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional saddles have a solid backbone or “tree”, traditionally made of wood (more recently materials have included fiberglass, metal and plastic), round which a leather (or synthetic equivalent) is mounted. Inevitably placing such a rigid structure on a moving surface such as horse&#39;s back can give rise to difficulties with the fit of the saddle to the horse. In the case of some traditional saddles this is partially addressed by using a thick saddle blanket. However with close contact saddles the issue is addressed by attention to fit, either by having a bespoke saddle made for the horse (which is very expensive), or by careful selection from a range of off the peg designs. It is estimated that a saddlery wishing to carry a basic range of off the peg saddles, covering the three main saddle styles (dressage, jumping, general purpose), in one single colour option, and to fit most sizes of horse and rider, would have to stock in excess of 72 different saddles. 
     Even when a rider invests in a bespoke saddle, the traditional, static design based on a rigid tree does not allow for the changes in a horse&#39;s shape that occur as it moves, or as there are variations in its fitness. Even the best fitting saddle cannot distribute the pressure evenly throughout the range of a horse&#39;s movement, and even a well fitting tree saddle will inevitably create pressure points on the horse&#39;s back, especially when turning tightly, when the saddle tree acts as a longitudinal splint on the spine, or when riding up or down hill or jumping, when the load is transmitted by the tree towards the front or back of the saddle. This can cause pain and restrict movement of the horse, and can potentially leading to a range of physiological and behavioural problems such as bucking, rearing, lameness, bruising of the muscles, muscular atrophy and in more severe cases, tissue necrosis. 
     New designs of saddle have been developed, both to try to address the problems described above, and to facilitate newly evolved riding disciplines such as endurance and vaulting. All still use a static method of mounting the saddle on the horse. Many of these new designs are described as “treeless”, but in practice most are “semi-treed”, in that they have a rigid internal fitting at either the pommel or the cantle of the saddle. This can lead to weight being distributed over fewer points than a standard tree, which, in some circumstances, can exacerbate the problem. Saddles that have no tree at all do nothing to spread the pressure of the girth and the stirrups, the full force of which is therefore concentrated immediately over the mounting points. There is also a perception that such saddles are not as secure on the horse, as many treeless designs do not include a gullet, which has the effect of reducing lateral stability. A further disadvantage of many such saddles is that it is difficult to design them to look like the traditional English saddle, a look that is very popular in the market. 
     An additional issue with traditional close contact saddle design is that the mounting position of the stirrups can be quite critical to the ability of the rider to effectively balance on their horse. Many buyers&#39; choice of saddle is primarily based on this factor, in an attempt to ensure that they are able to sit in the ideal position “over” the stirrups. There is little or no allowance in most saddles for any adjustment of the stirrup bar mounting position, so that this factor can quite severely restrict the choice of saddle, and associated ability to ensure a good fit. 
     WO2010/079354 describes a “treeless” saddle which has a dynamic load distribution system. The saddle includes several load-bearing sections positioned upon two flexible inner side panels. Line guides are fixed to the sections, and load distribution lines pass through the guides, and loop around free-running pulleys of the stirrup hanger system. A stirrup hanger bar includes diverter pulleys and cooperates with a pulley block to transfer loads through the load-distribution lines to the load-bearing sections around the saddle. The girthing system of the saddle includes webbing members attached to the load-bearing sections. The webbing members are connected to the ends of girth straps so that load is transferred from the girth straps to the load-bearing sections on each side of the saddle. The dynamic load distribution system reduces localised load pressure points and permits flexing of the animal&#39;s spine. 
     In the following discussion, the invention will be generally described in relation to equestrian uses of the invention. However, the invention is broadly applicable to pack animals as well as mounts for personal transport. 
     It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforesaid problems by providing improvements in saddle design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a saddle for use on the back of an animal whereby localised load pressure points are reduced while allowing flexure of the animal&#39;s spine, and whereby load is distributed more evenly along the length of the saddle. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a saddle structure comprising: 
     first and second opposed side panels, 
     a plurality of resilient transverse rib members connecting the first and second opposed side panels, each rib member having a central crown portion, and an elongate spine member extending longitudinally between the first and second side panels, 
     wherein the spine member is connected to the crown portions of the rib members. 
     The saddle structure may comprise one or more independent transverse rib members which connect the first and second opposed side panels, but which are not connected to the spine member. The saddle structure may have a front end adapted to be located towards the front of an animal and a rear end adapted to be located towards the rear of an animal. One or more of said independent transverse rib members may be provided at the front end of the saddle structure. One or more of said independent transverse rib members may be provided at the rear end of the saddle structure. 
     Preferably there are at least three resilient transverse rib members connecting the first and second opposed side panels and connected by the spine member. More preferably there are at least four resilient transverse rib members connecting the first and second opposed side panels and connected by the spine member. 
     Preferably the first and second opposed side panels are spaced apart from each other, and the spine member is located centrally in a space between the first and second opposed side panels. 
     Preferably the rib members are arched. Preferably the rib members are resilient, such that they can deform under load but revert to their undeformed shape when the load is removed. Preferably the rib members are sufficiently flexible to allow relative movement of the first and second opposed side panels, but are sufficiently rigid to prevent the rib members from contacting the back of an animal when the saddle structure is loaded in use. The ribs may vary in flexibility between rib members. Each rib member may have varying stiffness along its length. 
     The arched rib members are preferably adapted to maintain a space between the first and second opposed side panels and the back of an animal to which the saddle structure is mounted. 
     The saddle structure may further comprise a load support surface. The load support surface may be a saddle seat. The load support structure may be attached to the rib members and/or spine member in any appropriate manner, for example by lacing, by straps, by releasable clips, or by apertures in the load support structure which engage with the spine member. 
     The plurality of arched rib members may include one or more arched rib members which comprise an upper flange and a lower flange. The upper flange may be spaced from the lower flange at the crown portion. The upper flange may be fixed to the lower flange at each end of the upper flange remote from the crown portion. 
     The arched rib members may be of a material selected from the group comprising carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, glass reinforced plastic, plastic and wood. 
     The spine member may be formed integrally with the rib members, for example by moulding. and may be made from the same material. 
     The spine member may comprise an elongate member of sufficient flexibility to flex with the flexure of the spine of the animal. Preferably the spine member can flex about one or more, most preferably three, of the following: a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member, a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member and a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member. Preferably the spine member can flex at a plurality of intermediate points along its length in at least one, and preferably all, of three modes, being a twisting mode about a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member, a bending mode about a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member and a bending mode about a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member. The intermediate points may correspond to connection points between adjacent rib members or between rib members and discs. 
     The elongate spine member may include a rod or a tube. The elongate spine member may engage structurally with each of the plurality of arched rib members. The elongate spine member may engage with an aperture in a mounting block provided at the crown portion of each of the plurality of arched rib members. 
     The elongate spine member may be of a material selected from the group comprising carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, glass reinforced plastic and plastic. 
     The spine member may further comprise a plurality of inter-segmental members, preferably discs, each member being arranged to contact two adjacent arched rib members. The inter-segmental members may be connected to the rod or tube of the elongate spine member. Each member may be a disc arranged so that it is substantially coplanar with the adjacent arched rib members. The disc may be arranged to allow at least some relative rotation of the adjacent arched rib members and disc about one or more, preferably three, of the following: a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member, a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member and a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member. 
     In an alternative embodiment the elongate spine member may comprise a plurality of elongate connecting portions, each connecting portion connecting two adjacent inter-segmental members. 
     The discs may be of any suitable shape, but preferably include one or more circumferential surfaces of a substantially circular cylindrical form. 
     The adjacent arched rib members may comprise recesses adapted to engage with a circumferential surface of the adjacent disc, thereby allowing relative rotation of the arched rib member and disc about a vertical axis. 
     The discs may be of a material selected from the group comprising carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, glass reinforced plastic and plastic. 
     In another alternative embodiment the spine member may comprise a plurality of connecting members, each connecting member connecting two adjacent rib members. Each connecting member may include a universal joint allowing relative movement in three modes, being a twisting mode about a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member, a bending mode about a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member and a bending mode about a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member. Each connecting member may be connected to mounting portions on the ribs. The mounting portions may be lugs or flanges. 
     The connecting members may be of one or more materials selected from the group comprising carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, glass reinforced plastic, plastic, steel, stainless steel and metal alloy. 
     The saddle may include fasteners for attaching the saddle to the back of an animal. The fasteners may comprise one or more girth straps. 
     The saddle structure may include at least one loading member with an associated load distribution line and corresponding line guides configured to permit loadings applied to the loading member to be distributed between the plurality of rib members. 
     This reduces localised pressure points upon the back of the animal, while permitting the animal&#39;s back to flex. 
     The opposed side panels may be padded or reinforced. 
     The saddle structure may further comprise stirrups, each stirrup having an associated loading member. The loading member may be a stirrup hanger. The line guides may include a pulley system to permit distribution of the loading from the stirrups through the load distribution line to the rib members. The stirrup hanger may be a bar of an elongate shape having a length, and intermediate that length is provided an aperture e.g. a horizontal slot for receiving a stirrup leather, and at either end of the bar is provided line guide means. The line guide means may comprise sheaves or other roller devices to allow the line to be diverted where necessary whilst remaining essentially free to move back and forth across the guide means. 
     Although a conventional stirrup bar may be used in embodiments of the invention, the stirrup hanger may take a variety of suitable shapes, but an oblong flat bar shape may be suitable, with the longer dimension generally being aligned between the head and tail of the animal. The bar is preferably of a suitably strong material such as metal, e.g. stainless steel, or carbon fibre, or a composite material, the said bar being formed with appropriate lightening holes to reduce weight without detriment to strength. At least one aperture in the bar is adapted for suspension of a stirrup leather. 
     The ends of the stirrup hanger may be adapted to serve as guides for one or more lines. The ends may be angled to hold a line outwardly and away from the saddle to facilitate free-running of the line, and reduce wear and friction thereupon. The ends of the stirrup hanger may incorporate roller devices or a contoured configuration adapted to guide a line in a preferred orientation. 
     The line may be of wire, cable, rope, or strap of sufficient tensile strength, wear resistance and durability to suit the purpose. The line may be a continuous loop. 
     In particular the use of a line provides a means of adjustably attaching the stirrup hangers to the saddle, and in normal use of the stirrup hangers by a rider whose weight is transferred to the hangers by stirrups dependent therefrom the line, which serves to distribute the various loadings thereon across the saddle by appropriately positioned guides preferably including at least one at the front and one at the back of the saddle. This type of rig for the stirrups also provides a rider with assistance in maintaining balance due to the additional free movement of the stirrup hanger which will tend to assist the stirrup to naturally fall under the rider&#39;s foot. 
     More than one line may be employed in the system to adjust the positioning of the stirrup bar, and improve control and distribution of different loadings. The line guides are conveniently made of, or coated with, a low friction or slip promoting material to allow the line to freely move over the guide surface, but may include rolling elements e.g. pulleys around which the line may be freely drawn to respond to loadings upon the line. The line guides or runners may include D-rings, O-rings, and tubular sleeve or sheath elements. Smooth or polished metal, ceramics or plastics and resinous materials may be used to form the guides. Such may be made from or optionally coated with slip enhancing materials such as polyamides (Nylon), fluorinated plastics (Teflon), molybdenum disulphide etc. 
     The use of a line to distribute loadings along the length of the saddle structure permits a more flexible and dynamically responsive saddle to be designed without the need to include a tree or the like support frame elements. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, girth straps may be attached to the side panels of the saddle structure by means of webbing configured to distribute loadings from the girth over the flexible side panels. The webbing may be connected to selected rib members of the plurality of rib members, for example to the lower ends of the rib members. Adoption of a “W” configuration for at least part of the webbing is convenient for load distribution from two girth straps. 
     The side panels may be provided with extensions or skirts and may include flexible gussets or separable or stretchable sections to enhance flexibility and mobility. 
     The saddle seat may be of any suitable material. Leather or a hard-wearing synthetic fabric is traditionally used as the outer surface material, and wool or synthetic filler materials such as polymer resin foams e.g. polyurethanes, may form the basis for inner layers. Optionally, metal or plastics stiffener elements may be incorporated to improve the shape of parts of the saddle structure, including the saddle seat, without unduly compromising the overall flexibility of the saddle derived from use of a load distribution line system instead of a traditional tree. A suitable flexible material which may be used in the saddle is the material described in WO2005000966, the contents of which are incorporated by reference, and generally comprise a composite material which is elastic, which exhibits a resistive load under deformation which increases with the rate of deformation, which is unfoamed or foamed, comminuted or uncomminuted and which comprises i) a first polymer-based elastic material and ii) a second polymer-based material, different from i), which exhibits dilatancy in the absence of i) wherein ii) is entrapped in a solid matrix of i), the composite material being unfoamed or, when foamed, preparable by incorporating ii) with i) prior to foaming. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view from above and from the front to one side of a saddle structure according to one embodiment of the invention, with the saddle seat omitted; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  show a side elevation view and a plan view respectively of the saddle structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side elevation view of the saddle structure of  FIG. 1  with the saddle seat and a schematic representation of the load distribution line; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view from above and from the front to one side of the saddle structure of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of the saddle structure of  FIG. 1  with a schematic representation of the load distribution line; 
         FIG. 7  shows a partial view of the structural elements of the load distribution line shown schematically in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view from above and from the front to one side of a saddle structure according to another embodiment of the invention, with the saddle seat omitted; 
         FIG. 9  shows a side elevation view of the saddle structure of  FIG. 1  with a “W”-style girthing support system of webbing attached to the rib members, which is suitable for use in any of the embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows an elevation from the rear of the saddle structure of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view from above of a saddle structure according to another embodiment of the invention, with the saddle seat and side panels omitted. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , there is shown a saddle structure  10  for use on a load carrying animal. The saddle structure  10  includes first and second opposed side panels  12 ,  14 , which are connected to each other by five resilient transverse rib members  16 . Each rib member  16  is bonded at each of its lower ends  18  to one of the side panels  12 ,  14 . The bonding can be by adhesive, riveting, welding or any other suitable means. The rib members  16  are arched, and each rib member  16  has a crown portion  20  intermediate the ends  18 . 
     In the illustrated example each rib member comprises an upper flange portion  22  and a lower flange  24 . The upper flange portion is bonded at its ends to the lower flange portion, to provide a suitably stiff and resilient arched rib member  16 . In  FIG. 1  the upper flange portion  22  are shown as transparent, so that the spine member  30  is visible. The spine member  30  extends longitudinally between the first and second side panels  12 ,  14 , and in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  comprises a spine rod  32  and a plurality of inter-segmental discs  34 . The spine rod  32  extends through apertures provided in mounting blocks  36  attached at the crown portion  20  of each rib member  16 . In this way the spine member  30  is connected to the crown portions  20  of the rib members  16   
     In the example of  FIG. 1  the spine member  30  connects all five rib members  16 . However there may be provided more or fewer rib members  16 , and the spine member  30  may connect only a number of the rib members  16 . For example, the saddle structure  10  may comprise one or more independent transverse rib members  16  which connect the first and second opposed side panels  12 ,  14 , but which are not connected to the spine member  30 . One or more independent transverse rib members may be provided either at the front end  26  of the saddle structure  10 , or at the rear end  28  of the saddle structure  10 , or at both ends  26 ,  28 . 
     The rib members  16  are sufficiently flexible to allow relative flexural movement of the first and second opposed side panels  12 ,  14 , but are sufficiently rigid to prevent the rib members from contacting the back of an animal when the saddle structure  10  is loaded in use. Although in the illustrated example the rib members  16  are shown having a sandwich structure, with upper and lower flanges  22 ,  24  in order to reduce weight, the rib members  16  may be solid and one-piece, as long as they exhibit the required resilience and stiffness. The arched rib members  16  maintain a space between the opposed side panels  12 ,  14  and the back of an animal to which the saddle structure is mounted, so that the spine of the animal is free to move and flex. The spine member  30  of the saddle structure can move with the spine of the animal, while ensuring that the load carried by the saddle structure  10  is adequately transferred to the animal through the side panels  12 ,  14 . 
       FIGS. 4, 5 and 10  show a load support structure in the form of a saddle seat  40  fixed to the saddle structure  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The saddle seat  40  includes a load support surface, which in this embodiment is the upper surface  42  of the saddle seat  40  on which a rider sits. The load support structure  40  may be attached to the rib members and/or spine member in any appropriate manner, including those attachment means known in the art. By way of example only, the saddle seat  40  may be attached by lacing, straps, releasable clips or other fasteners (not shown) to one or more of the rib members, or to separate attachment means provided on the rib members  16 . Alternatively the rib members  16  may be provided with projecting portions (not shown) which engage with recesses (not shown) on the saddle seat  40 . 
     Alternatively the underside of the saddle seat  40  may be provided with projecting portions (not shown) which engage with recesses (not shown) on the rib members  16  or spine member  30 . Alternatively the spine rod  32  may be threaded through apertures provided in projecting portions on the underside of the saddle seat  40  to securely attach the saddle seat  40  to the spine member  30 . 
     The arched rib members  16  may be of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, metal alloy, glass reinforced plastic, plastic, wood, any other suitable material or a combination of these. 
     It is important that the spine member  30  has sufficient flexibility to flex with the flexure of the spine of the animal. Since the spine of the animal can flex in three degrees of freedom, by bending about a horizontal axis, by bending about a vertical axis and by twisting about its own longitudinal axis, it is preferable that the spine member  30  can also flex about one or more, most preferably three, of the following: twisting about a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member  30 , bending about a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member  30  and bending about a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member. The components of the spine member  30  should thus be chosen to permit this flexibility. In the illustrated example the spine member  30  includes a single elongate member in the form of a spine rod  32 , which may be tubular or solid. However the spine member  30  may be formed segmentally, or it may be formed as one-piece with the rib members  16 , for example by moulding. The elongate member may be of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, metal alloy, glass reinforced plastic, plastic, any other suitable material or a combination of these. 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5  the spine member  30  includes a plurality of inter-segmental discs  34 . Each disc  34  is arranged to contact two adjacent arched rib members  16 . The discs  34  help control the flexural stiffness of the spine member  30 . The discs  34  are substantially coplanar with the adjacent arched rib members  16 . The discs  34  allow at least some relative rotation of each disc  34  and its adjacent arched rib members  16  about one or more, preferably three, of the following: a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member  30 , a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member  30  and a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member  30 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment the spine rod  32  passes through a longitudinal aperture in each disc  34 , so that the spine rod  32  has alternate rib members  16  and discs  34  threaded thereon. 
     The discs  34  in the illustrated embodiment are substantially elliptical in plan, although they can be of any suitable shape, for example circular or even quadrilateral. However it is advantageous if the discs  34  have circumferential bearing surfaces of a substantially circular part-cylindrical form with which they are in contact with a recess of corresponding substantially circular part-cylindrical form, so that the two surfaces can rotate one against the other to permit relative rotation of the disc  34  and its adjacent arched rib member  16  about a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member  30 . Alternatively the discs  34  may have a small contact area with the adjacent arched rib member  16 , such that the contact area acts substantially as a point contact and permits relative rotation. 
     The discs  34  may be of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, Kevlar, steel, aluminium, metal alloy, glass reinforced plastic, plastic, any other suitable material or any combination of these. 
     It is to be understood that the discs  34 , spine member  30  and rib members  16  may all be formed as one piece, for example by moulding. Alternatively the discs  34  may be omitted, and the rib members  16  may contact each other at the crown portions, for example by having a wider crown portion  20  than the remainder of the rib member  16 . In such an arrangement the spine member  30  and rib members  16  may be formed and connected separately, or they may be formed as one piece, for example by moulding. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate an embodiment of a dynamically rigged stirrup hanger system  50  which can be used with the saddle structure  10  of the present invention. 
     The saddle structure may include at least one loading member with an associated load distribution line and corresponding line guides configured to permit loadings applied to the loading member to be distributed between the plurality of rib members. This reduces localised pressure points upon the back of the animal, while permitting the animal&#39;s back to flex. 
     First and second high tensile load distribution lines  52 ,  54 , which may be wire cable or fine nylon rope, are each secured at their ends to the lower ends of the rib members  16 . Any suitable means of attachment can be used, for example by tying to fixing points  56 , such as the eyelets  56  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . If required further line guides (not shown), for example eyelets, may be provided on the rib members  16  below the fixing points  56 . The lines  52 ,  54  loop around free-running pulleys of the stirrup hanger system  50 . 
     Two diverter pulleys  58  for the first line  52  are provided within a stirrup hanger or stirrup hanger bar  60 , including sheaves or the like roller devices. A tandem pulley block  62  of known design is provided with lower and upper pulleys  64 ,  66  for the first and second lines  52 ,  54  respectively, including sheaves or the like roller devices. The pulleys and lines are shown schematically in  FIG. 6 , while  FIG. 7  shows the arrangement of the stirrup hanger bar  60  and tandem pulley block  62 . 
     The stirrup hanger bar  60  includes attachment means (in the illustrated example a slot  68 ) to which stirrup straps  70  can be attached. Any load applied to the stirrup straps is thus divided between the four fixing points  56 , no matter what the state of flexure of the saddle structure. This reduces localised pressure points upon the back of the animal, while permitting the animal&#39;s back to flex. 
     Although this embodiment has been described with reference to stirrup hangers, the invention is equally applicable to use with other loading members, when used with an associated load distribution line and corresponding line guides configured to permit loadings applied to the loading member to be distributed between the plurality of rib members. 
     A greater or lesser number of pulleys and line guides may be used in other embodiments of the stirrup hanger system  50 . Many variants of the dynamic load distribution system are possible within the scope of the invention. Reference is made to WO2010/079354, which discloses other arrangements of lines and pulleys which may be used with the saddle structure  10  of the present invention. 
     The use of lines to attach the stirrup hanger in this way allows the stirrup hanger to be moved forwards or backwards on the saddle structure to suit the size of the rider, while still distributing the load from the stirrups along the length of the saddle structure. 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a saddle structure  110  according to the invention. The side panels  112 ,  114  have a different shape. The spine member  30  has been omitted for clarity. However in all other respects the saddle structure  110  functions in the same way as that of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a girthing system for use with the saddle structure  10 ,  110  described above comprises webbing  80 ,  82 ,  84  attached to the rib members  16  so as to depend therefrom and form a generally W-shaped configuration to which the ends of the girth straps  86  can be fastened through buckles  88 , and the load transferred at least in part through the webbing  80 ,  82 ,  84  and intermediate buckles  90 ,  92  to the rib members  16  on each side of the saddle structure  10 . If required the third webbing member  84  and the second buckle  92  can be omitted, and the first webbing member  80  attached directly to the fourth rib member  16 D, so that there is no tension transferred from the girth straps  86  to the fifth rib member  16 E. 
     Any tension in the girth straps is thus divided between the five (or four) fixing points  94 , no matter what the state of flexure of the saddle structure. In the example of  FIG. 9  the webbing is shown connected to the rib members  16  by ring connectors  94  at the fixing points, which permit relative rotation of the webbing and rib member. However any suitable connection means can be used, for example the slot connectors  96  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In use, the pressure applied through the girth straps and load distribution line system in conjunction with padding (not shown) provided on the underside of the side panels  12 ,  14  selectively maintains the gullet at the desired clearance of the withers on a wide variety of horses. This clearance defined between the ceiling of the gullet and side walls of the padding and above the spine of the horse spaces the saddle seat from the horse, and avoids the direct weight of the rider being localised upon a few vertebrae which would otherwise cause severe discomfort to the horse and shorten its working life. 
       FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of a saddle structure  210  according to the invention. The saddle seat and the side panels, which are similar to those illustrated in the embodiments of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 8 , are omitted for clarity. The rib members  216  are arched, and each rib member  216  has a crown portion  220  intermediate the ends  218 . The ends  218  are secured to the side panels (not shown). 
     The spine member  230  in this embodiment comprises a number of four connecting members  232  which connect mounting blocks  236 A,  236 B provided at the crown portion  220  of each rib member  216 . Each connecting member  232  includes a rod portion  280  fixed to a lug-shaped mounting block  236 A on a first rib. The rod portion  280  has a universal joint socket  282  on its end. A universal joint ball  284  is provided on the end of a fixing bolt  286  fixed to a flange  288  on a mounting block  236 B on a second rib. The universal joint ball  284  engages with the universal joint socket  282  to provide the required flexure in three modes, namely a twisting mode about a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the spine member  230 , a bending mode about a horizontal transverse axis perpendicular to the spine member  230  and a bending mode about a vertical axis perpendicular to the spine member  230 . 
     Although in this embodiment the spine member  230  comprises a number of separate connecting members  232  each connecting the ribs together, it functions in the same way as the continuous spine member described in previous embodiments. Hence the saddle structure  110  functions in the same way as that of  FIG. 1 . 
     In equestrian use, the rider mounts and rides as with a conventional saddle structure, but the improved load distribution of the saddle structure of the present invention improves the comfort of the rider and the comfort and performance of the horse, due to improved mobility of the horse&#39;s spine, and reduced likelihood of injury and discomfort provided by the saddle structure of this invention. 
     Various advantages are evident due to the invention including the following. The invention spreads the load imposed by the girth and/or stirrups bearing the weight of the rider. This invention addresses the problem of pressure points caused by ill-fitting saddles, allows for easier and less bespoke saddle fitting, improves freedom of movement in the horse or other animal to which the saddle is fitted, reduces the likelihood of behavioural problems arising due to discomfort, and increases the range of stirrup mountings where the rider is properly positioned ‘over’ the stirrups. 
     The avoidance of a rigid frame or tree, and the adoption of a spine member and rib members into the saddle structure, in a manner which echoes the animals own spine and rib structure, allows the saddle to move more sympathetically and harmoniously with the horse and rider movements, thereby greatly reducing inhibitions upon horse movement, mitigating fatigue, reducing injury and behavioural issues, while allowing improved responsiveness to rider control, ultimately increasing rider safety. 
     The invention is not restricted to use on horses, and will work equally well in any other circumstances e.g. for use on mules, donkeys or other pack animals where a saddle or backpack is used and it is desirable to distribute the pressure of the mounting or of stirrups as appropriate. This would include girthing of pack saddles and mounting of packs themselves. Thus the preferred girthing and stirrup mountings can be independently used to benefit with a suitably adapted load distribution line and guide system of this invention.