IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF AND ATTACHMENTS TO EQUESTRIANS' WATERPROOF CLOTHING."
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Abbott at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th August 1881.
WILLIAM ABBOTT, of Culleigh, Frithelstock, in the County of Devon,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF AND ATTACHMENTS TO
EQUESTRIANS' WATERPROOF CLOTHING."
The object of this Invention is a contrivance for obviating the unpleasantness
experienced by equestrians during wet weather, and consists in the arrangement of
waterpoof coats or cloaks in combination with straps, in order that the lower parts
of equestrians may be better protected, and thereby considerably adding to their
comport in the saddle. For the purpose of securing so desirable a result, the front
edges of the waterproof coat or cloak are provided with studs or buttons at a
convenient part near the knees, and strips of whalebone, or other suitable material
may be temporarily or permanently let into the front edges of the coat or cloak.
A small collar strap is provided and made to encircle the neck of the horse, having
fixed on each side and at that part which rests against the horse's shoulder a stud
or button, to which are attached short connector straps, so arranged that when not
in use the free ends can be made fast to studs or buttons fixed at convenient
distances on the collar strap, so that the connector straps lay tightly against it.
The collar and connector straps are so made that they can be readily extended or
shortened to suit the girt of the horse's neck or the requirements of the equstrian.
When the connector straps are in use their free ends are attached to the studs or
buttons on the front of the coat or cloak, by which means the coat or cloak is
drawn well forward over the horse's withers, and thereby preventing the wind or
motion of riding from displacing it, whilst at the same time the coat or cloak is
made so protective a covering that the rain or snow is thrown well clear of the
equestrian's legs and feet. Instead of having a strip of whalebone, two or more
studs or buttons may be fastened on the front edges of the coat or cloak, and the
free ends of the connector straps may be provided with the same number of loops,
which will answer the same purpose of extending the front edges of the coat or
cloak as the strip of whalebone. The connector straps are provided at about their
centre or near one end with friction clips, the object of which is to provide a ready
means of detachment in case of need, and in which case one half of the connector
11

page_text: straps would remain attached to the coat or cloak, and the other halves to the
studs or buttons on the collar strap.
.
When a breast plate carrying the martingal forms part of the horse's harness, it
is not necessary to provide a collar strap, as the studs or buttons required to hold
the connector straps may be fixed at the proper places to the breast plate. The
collar and connector straps need necessarily only be light, and when not in use
they may be carried in the pocket; or they may be made, as in the case of mounted
troops or police, permanent attachments to the horse's accoutrements.