Improvements in Saddle-trees.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Saddle-trees.
I, ALPHONSE ADRIEN CAMILLE, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris in the
French Republic, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in saddle-trees for horse-riding purposes and
has for objects to obtain by a simple and appropriate construction increased elasticity
and flexibility in the saddle-tree while ensuring the necessary rigidity in use.
In order to secure these objects I propose to construct the body of the saddle-tree
entirely of leather stiffened with suitably shaped metallic stays arranged as hereafter
described. Preferably I make the stavs of nickel-steel, a metal possessing the
advantages of being lighter and less liable to oxydation than steel, combined with
greater resisting qualities.
I may form the bow and two side-bands of the saddle-tree of a single piece of
leather cut-out, folded and sewn by ordinary means to the requisite shape. The
two side-bands are joined together at. their rear ends where they are partially
covered by the cantle, which is also formed of leather cut out, folded and sewn to
the shape desired. This latter part is rigidly secured to the side-bands by a sufficient
number of rivets, or by seam stitching.
To impart the proper form to the bow, side-bands and cantle, the leather is folded
and bent to correspond with the outer conformation of the saddle-tree, and the several
parts are maintained in shape by suitably wrought saddle-irons or metal stays
secured over and under the leather by means of rivets driven through them and
through the intervening material. The bow is in this way stiffened with an upper
stay or collar-bar, a wither-bar underneath, and also with a counter-bar immediately
behind the wither-bar. Only the wither-bar extends down the legs of the bow, near
the extremities of which it is secured by rivets, whilst at its central part it is riveted
to the collar-bar. To allow the legs of the bow to bend inwards or outwards to
fit the horse, they are made to a certain extent flexible. The counter-bar is riveted
directly to the leather side-bands. The collar-bar is so arranged as to admit under it,
and form recesses for the forward ends of the upper metal stays of the two side-bands.
Both side-bands are stiffened by upper and under metal stays, which at their rear
ends extend respectively over the cantle, and under a loin-bar of suitably
curved form which is arranged to allow them a free sliding movement. The loin-
bar may be placed over or under the cantle and be riveted to the upper stays of the
side-bands; or it may form a continuous piece with the said upper stays.
By the above described construction the stays of the side-bands are capable of
sliding freely under those of the bow and of the cantle; the general form of the
saddle-tree moreover is such that the side-bands come closer together at the sides of
the withers so as to contract the width for the legs of the rider and afford him a
better grip, whilst the side-bands are widest apart on each side of the cantle thus
allowing room for the rider to rest upon the cushioned part of the saddle instead
of on the side-bars as in the ordinary arrangement. The several parts are arranged
so that only the legs of the bow exert pressure upon the horse and that the
side-bands are withdrawn from contact until the girth is tightened: The introduction
of leather forming the body of the saddle-tree in combination with the resistance

page_text: obtained by the use of nickel-steel stays, bars or plates renders the saddle virtually
unbreakable.
The saddle-tree constructed as above is completed by the addition of stirrup-holders
of any suitable description, and can then be converted into a saddle by the usual
padding and other necessary accessories.
In lieu of the foregoing I may make the bow of sheet steel or other suitable metal,
and place the wither-bar over it instead of under; the part of the bow between the
side-bands is in this case bent over the wither-bar, the legs of the bow being free to
expand outwards or contract inwards according to the size and strength of the horse.
The side-bands are of leather stiffened by upper and under metallic stays as in the
arrangement previously described. The cantle is furnished only with a loin-bar,
between which and the cantle the rear ends of the under stays of the side-bands are
arranged to slide. The leather of the side-bands at their forward ends extends over
and under the bow, and the metal stays extend over and under the leather, rivets being
passed through the whole to secure them together. On the underside of the bow where
the ends of the side-bands are secured, small metal shields are attached to cover,
and form an even surface underneath the same.
"
I, ALPHONSE ADRIEN CAMILLE, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière Paris, in the
French Republic, Merchant, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in saddle-trees for horse racing purposes
and has for object to obtain by a simple and appropriate construction increased
elasticity and flexibility in the saddle-tree while ensuring the necessary rigidity
in use.
On the accompanying drawings représenting my improved saddle-tree-
Figure 1 is a plan of a saddle-tree constructed according to my invention, seen
from above;
Figure 2 is a plan of the same seen from below;
Figure 3 is a section through line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5 are sections respectively through line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and through
line 5-5 of the same;
Figures 1 and 2 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modification;
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sections of Fig. 1 on lines 6-6, 7-7,
8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 respectively.
The saddle-tree shewn on Figures 1 to 5 has the body formed entirely of leather
stiffened with suirably shaped metal stays arranged as hereafter described.
The bow A and the side-bands B and C of the saddle-tree are constructed of a
single piece of leather cut out, folded and sewn to the shape required for those parts.
The two side-hands are joined together at the back at where they are partially
covered by another piece of leather cut out, folded and sewn to form the cantle D.
This latter part is rigidly secured to the back of the side-bands B and C by a suitable
number of rivets, y. These parts may otherwise be attached together by a seam.
To form the bow, the side-bands and the cantle, the leather is folded to the outer

page_text: conformation of the saddle-tree. The shape of these. several parts of the leather:
saddle is produced by forged saddle irons arranged above and below, and attached
together by rivets passing through the leather body. The bow A is thus backed by.
an upper stay or collar-bar a, a, Figure 1, lower stay or wither-bar a', a¹, Fig. 2 and
a counter-bar a 2, a 2 Fig. 2. Only the lower stay a extends to the extremities of the
bow, and it is rivetted at its centre to the upper stay and at its extremities to the
legs of the how which are sufficiently flexible to allow of their bending outwards or
inwards to fit the horse.
The counter-bar a 2 is rivetted directly to the leather, (see Fig. 4). The arrange-
ment of the collar-bar a is such as to allow the front ends of the upper stays of the
side bands to engage under it and to form a socket for them. The side-bands B and C
are severally lined, with upper stays b, c, and lower stays b, c, respectively (see
Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The upper stays b, c, extend partially over the cantle D, whilst the
lower ones b, c, engage at their rear ends under the loin-bar d and slide freely
therein. The cantle D' is lined underneath with a metal stay d' (Figs. 1 and 2)
for the purpose of rivetting to it the upper stays &, and e and forming a connection
between them; or this metal stay d' may otherwise be placed above the cantle, or it
may be formed in a continuous piece with the upper stays b and c of the side-bands.
In all the foregoing cases the stays are made of nickel-steel, a metal lighter.
than steel and less liable to oxydation while possessing greater resisting quality. In '
the construction above described it will be particularly observed that the stays of the
bow and of the cantle are practically independent of those of the side-bands
which are capable of sliding in sockets on the stays of the bow and of the
cantle.
It will further be seen that the general form of the saddle-tree is such that the
side-bands come close together at the sides of the withers so as to contract the
width for the legs of the rider and afford a better grip, whilst the side-bands are
considerably widened out on either side of the cantle and so allow room for the rider
to rest upon the padded seat or cushion of the saddle instead of on the saddle-bar as
in ordinary constructions. The shape of the several parts is such that only the legs of
the bow bear against the horse and the side-bands are removed from contact with the
animal until the moment of tightening the girth. The use of leather for the body of
the saddle-tree and the great resistance of the nickel-steel bars or plates forming the
stays practically render the saddle unbreakable.
Finally the saddle-tree is completed by the attachment of stirrup-carriers E and F
of any suitable description, after which it is stuffed and furnished with the necessary
accessories to fit it for use."
In the modification illustrated on Figures 1 and 2 and 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and
12, the bow A is formed of sheet steel or other suitable metal, the wither-bar a¹ is
placed above instead of below, as in the construction before described; the bow.
between the side-bands B and C is bent over the wither-bar (see Fig. 8). It will be
seen that the legs of the bow are left free so as to allow of their being extended apart
or hrought closer together according to the strength of the horse. The side-
hands B and C are made of leather and stiffened respectively with upper and under
metal stays-, r, and b, e¹ (see Fig. 6). The cantle D is provided only with the
loin-bar d (Fig. 12) between which and the cantle the free ends of the lower
stays b, e' slide (Fig. 11). The leather stiffened with bars encloses the bow A, and
the upper and lower stays extend above and below it and are rivetted securely thereto
(Figs. 7 and 9). Small metal shields e and (Figs. 2bs and 7) are secured on the
underside of the bow so as to make the surface uniform at the position of the bars;
these small shields are rivetted upon the bow at the same time as the stays of the
side-bands.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is:
1. An improved saddle-tree characterised generally by a body of leather and upper-

page_text: and lower metal stays to stiffen such body and give the requisite form to the several
parts, substantially as described.
2. In the construction of a saddle-tree, the combination of a body formed of
leather bars cut out, folded and sewn to correspond to the shape of the bow, the side
bands and the cantle; with metal stays b, c, b, c, to stiffen said body and arranged
to slide at the side of the bow (above) as well as at the side of the cantle (below);
upper and under metal stays or side bar irons joined together by rivets at the position
for the legs of the rider; the use of nickel-steel for the stays as being lighter than
ordinary steel and possessing the same resisting quality together with a minimum
liability to oxydation; and the general form of the saddle-tree in which the side-
bands B and C are brought close together at the sides of the withers whilst they are
widened out or expanded at the sides of the cantle D as described.
3. The particular construction of a saddle-tree characterised by leather side-
bands B and C stiffened above and below by suitably rivetted irons or metal
stays b, b, c, c, a leather cantle D stiffened by a metal stay or loin-bar d underneath,
the lower stays b, c, of the side-bands being arranged to slide under said loin-bar, a
metallic bow A and a wither-bar a' placed above the bow which is bent over or
arched between the side-bands as and for the purposes described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2hts and 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of accompanying drawings.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.