Improvements in Girths for Saddles, and in Side Saddles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Girths for Saddles, and in Side Saddles.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MAYHEW of 41 Seymour Place Bryanston Square
London in the County of Middlesex Saddler do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention in the first place is to remove the girth straps
and girth buckles from under that portion of the flap of the saddle upon which
the legs of the rider press, or grip, when riding. I attach to the tree of the
saddle, upon either side, a metal loop by means of a leather chape or other
preferable fastening, such metal loops being of an elongated shape and made
with a roller upon one side. A main girth of web, or other material, is then
made with one or
A short girth is
more straps attached to it at either end.
also made with buckles at either end to correspond with the straps upon the
main girth, this short girth lies upon the main girth and is connected thereto
When in use this short
by passing through leather loops near the centre.
girth lies under the belly of the horse upon the main girth the strapped ends
of which then go up on either side of the saddle under the flaps and pass
through the metal loops, over the rollers then return to the buckles upon the short
girth, which being below, or under the lower portion, of the flaps cause no lumps
under the leg of the rider. Instead of using a short girth the buckles may be
sewn a certain distance from the centre upon the main girth the straps upon the
same returning to the buckles after passing through the metal loops upon the
saddle.
The portion of a side saddle which the right leg and knee rests upon known as
the safe I make as follows.
I cut the forepart of the safe through a convenient distance from its outer edge
about opposite the top, or near side, pommel, such incision being continued in a
downward direction, towards the horses feet, in a curved or other line of the
necessary length. I connect the two edges thus separated with a strip of flexible
leather of a suitable width to form what is termed a gussett, so that when the
weight of the leg of the rider presses upon the safe, a hollow space is immediately
formed for the calf of the leg to rest in, this secures a firmer grip and greatly assists
the rider to a square position and increases the comfort of the lady riding.
Dated this 1st day of September 1893.
FREDERICK WILLIAM MATHEW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Girths for Saddles, and in Side Saddles.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MAYHEW of 41 Seymour Place Bryanston Square
London in the County of Middlesex Saddler do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of these inventions in the first place, is to remove the lumps, caused
by the girth straps, and buckles upon the girths, from under that portion of the
flap of the saddle upon which the legs of the rider grip or press when riding. I

page_text: attach to the tree of the saddle, upon either side, in a suitable manner a metal loop
which is of an elongated shape and made with a roller upon one side. A main
girth of web or other material is then made with one or more straps attached to it
at either end, a short girth is also made with buckles at either end to correspond
with the straps upon the main girth, this short girth lies upon the main girth and
is connected thereto by passing through leather loops. When in use this short
girth lies under the belly of the horse upon the main girth, the strapped ends of
which then go up on either side of the saddle under the flaps and pass through the
metal loops, over the rollers then return to the buckles upon the short girth which
being below or under the lower portion of the flaps cause no lumps under the leg of
the rider.
Instead of using a short girth the buckles may be fixed a certain distance from
the centre upon the main girth the straps upon the same returning to the buckles
after passing through the metal loops upon the saddle.
I cut out a portion of the safe of a side saddle a convenient distance from its
outer edge about opposite the top or fixed pommel such cut being continued in a
downward direction, towards the horses feet, in a curved or other line of the
necessary length and width. I connect the two edges thus separated with a strip
of flexible leather of a suitable width to form what is termed a gusset, so that
when the weight of the leg of the rider presses upon the safe the gusset causes an
elbow to be made in the safe and a hollow space is immediately formed for the calf
of the leg to rest in, this secures a firmer grip and greatly assists the rider to a
square position and increases the comfort of the lady riding. A like result may be
obtained without the gusset by cutting a portion away, only, or by wetting and
blocking the leather, of the safe, in the form or shape of the desired elbow at the
spot where the gusset, or cut, is put or made, as the object of this invention is to
form a hollow space to allow the leg, below the knee, to get nearer to the horse to
assist the body to a square position.
In the drawings Figures 1. and 2. refer to the girths and Figures 3-4-5-6–7
to the side saddle.
Fig. 1. represents the elongated loop, with roller, the top portion of which is
attached to the tree of the saddle. The roller is marked, a.
Fig. 2. shews the girth fastened to the loop by being passed over the roller and
buckled to the narrow or short girth, 7, the main girth, c, the short girth, d, the
strap, e, the leather loop which holds the short girth upon the main girth.
Fig. 3 represents the near or left hand side of a ladies saddle in side elevation,
F, being the safe or leg support, G, the gusset or portion cut away and over which the
gusset lays, when used, it is well here to state that the amount cut out of the safe
depends upon the amount of room required to be obtained. The dotted line
shews about the position of the front of the tree under the safe.
Fig. 4. shews the saddle in front elevation with the edge of the safe marked, h,
before the weight of the leg is upon the safe, the dotted line shews the position of
the edge after the weight is upon it.
Fig. 5 shews the saddle in the same position with the weight upon the safe and
with the gusset, or cut, extended, the same result would gained by cutting away the
safe only, or by blocking it, but the gusset is preferable because it is a support to a
great extent.
Fig. 6. shews a section of the safe, F, and gusset, G, without the weight upon it.
Fig. 7. a section of the safe, F, and gusset, G, with the weight upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tions and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The manufacture and use of an improved girth as hereinbefore described and of
the principle shewn in the accompanying drawings.
The improvement in a side saddle as described and of the principle shewn in the
drawings, the feature of novelty being to bring the leg, especially the calf, nearer

page_text: to the horse to assist the body to a square position by the formation of a hollow
space for the leg to rest in either by means of an elbow formed by the insertion of
a gusset, or by the cutting away or the discontinuance of any portion of the
forepart of the safe below or opposite the near head to allow the leg of the rider to
get nearer to the horse.
The formation of an elbow, hinge joint, or recess in a side saddle, either by means
of an addition to, or by the discontinuance of, any portion of the forepart of the
safe below or opposite the near head, the object of which is to bring the leg of the
rider nearer the horse, by any means, but preferably those mentioned.
Dated this 21st day of February 1894.
FREDERICK WILLIAM MAYHEW.