IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY SADDLES AND IN STIRRUP IRONS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William M.Donald, of the Hyde Park Barracks,
Knightsbridge, in the County of Middlesex, a Corporal in Her Majesty's
2nd Life Guards, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY
SADDLES AND IN STIRRUP IRONS TO BE USED THEREWITH.”
Sealed the 6th November 1860, and dated the 8th May 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mc Donald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
May 1860.
I, WILLIAM MCDONALD, of the Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, in
the County of Middlesex, a Corporal in Her Majesty's 2nd Life Guards,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MILITARY SADDLES AND IN STIRRUP IRONS TO BE USED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to lessen as much as possible the weight
of the saddle, and to render more ease and comfort both to the horse and rider,
these being effected in the following manner :-In the first place I entirely
dispense with the saddle tree, and form the pommel of iron for the sake of
strength; the upper part or seat of the saddle may be formed in one piece
of leather and attached to the side or knee flaps. A pad is made to fit
cach side of the back of the horse, the ends of which turn under the tail piece
of the seat, thus adjusting themselves to the seat of the rider. The stirrup
irons are also intended to lessen the weight, as only one strap is required
instead of two as ordinarily used; I propose fastening the strap to a square

page_text: cross-piece, which unites the upper part of the iron, but which moves in a
square slot cut one on each side of the upper part of the iron, said slots having
circular holes of the same diameter as the points of the square cross-piece,
so that when the straps are required to be shortened, the cross-pieces have
but to be drawn down into the circular holes, when they will revolve freely
by the motion of the fingers, thus shortening or lengthening the straps as
required. The "kit" may also be placed or arranged in a flexible wallet,
which carries the shoes and tools in its centre, and which with the bear skin
can be carried in the front or on the pommel of the saddle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Mc Donald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MC DONALD, of the Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex, a Corporal in Her Majesty's 2nd Life Guards, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Mc Donald, Her special licence that I, the said William
Mc Donald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William M. Donald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should nt
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MILITARY SADDLES AND IN STIRRUP-IRONS TO BE USED THEREWITH,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William McDonald, my.
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William McDonald, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement; that is to say :-
.
The objects of this Invention are to lessen as much as possible the weight
of the saddle, and to afford more ease. and comfort both to the horse and
rider.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect as follows:-
In the first place, I entirely dispense with the saddle tree and form the
gullet with a piece of iron to give the necessary purchase in mounting and
dismounting, also to keep the various parts of the saddle in their proper places,
and for the sake of strength, the upper part or seat of the saddle may be
formed in one piece of leather blocked to the shapo required, and attached
(by sewing or otherwise) to the sides or knee flaps; a pannel is made to fit
each side of the back of the horse, the ends of which extend under the cantle
of the saddle, thus adjusting themselves to the seat of the rider; the stirrup irons
are also intended to lessen the weight, as only one strap is required instead of
two as ordinarily used with the same amount of strength; I propose fastening
the strap to a square cross pieco, which unites the upper part of the stirrup
iron, but which moves in a square slot, cut one on each side of the upper part
of the iron, said slots having circular holes at their bottoms of the same
diameter as the points of the square cross piece, so that when the straps are
required to be shortened or lengthened, the cross pieces have but to be drawn
down into the circular holes when they will revolve freely by the motion of
the fingers, thus shortening or lengthening the straps as required. The "kit"
is to be arranged in a loose flexible valise, which may also carry the horse-
shoes and necessaries in its centre or the same may be attached to the iron
gullet of the saddle to which also the saddle seat is laced, the valise being
placed over the entire front; the upper end of the stirrup strap is turned over
and sewn down, thus forming a loop through which passes a metal D hook;
upon this also is placed the girth strap and breast plate straps, the ends of
said kook dropping into holes in two stud pins on cach side of the iron
gullet piece. The girth itself is composed of a wide band of leather or other
suitable strong material separated up the centre at each end about one-third
of its length, thus forming straps, one to fasten to the front and the other to
the back of the saddle, and thus preventing the girth slipping under the arm-
pits of the horse.
The great advantages of this arrangement over that of the ordinary saddles
are that they are considerably lighter, easier, and more comfortable both

page_text: to the horse and rider, will fit any horse; the extra weight is placed
in front instead of the back, the horse having more power of sus-
taining the weight in the fore part than behind, the only article carried
behind being the cloak, and lastly, the totally dispensing with the saddle
tree.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention of "Improvements
in Military Saddles and in Stirrup Irons to be used therewith," and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion,
that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein described,
as many slight modifications and variations may be made without in any way
departing from the principle of my Invention; but what I claim as my
Invention intended to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent is, the manufacture of saddles more particularly adapted to military
purposes, and the stirrup irons to be used therewith, in the manner berein
described for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William McDonald, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM M° DONALD. (L.s.)
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.