Improvements in and in connection with Saddles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1900
Improvements in and in connection with Saddles.
PETER MAURICE STAUNTON, Dalmeny, Howth, Co. Dublin, Barrister-at-Law, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is chiefly intended for use in racing saddles and for flat racing, my object
being to reduce the tendency of the riders legs to swing backwards and forwards
with each stride of the horse, and to minimise the tiring effects on horse and rider
incidental to such motion. With this object I so construct the frame of the saddle
as to admit of a suitable "crutch" being fastened on each flap, in such a position
that the legs of the rider may press back against them, when his weight is resting
on the stirrup, as in racing, and with a view to increase such backward pressure I
may have the stirrup leathers, so attached as to admit of their being passed behind
such "crutches" when in use. In lieu of "crutches" I may use "pads" or other
suitable arrangement, and I may alter the size and shaping of the saddle flaps so
as to meet the requirements of the riders legs thus placed, and to dispense with
unnecessary weight. I may attach such pads to the racing surcingle.
Dated this 27th day of December 1899.
PETER MAURICE STAUNTON, Dalmeny, Howth, Co. Dublin, Barrister-at-Law, 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 and in connection with men's saddles,
and is chiefly intended for use in saddles suitable for flat-racing purposes, for
which it has special advantages, its main object being to provide suitable means
(as hereinafter set out) whereby the tendency of the rider's legs to move or
"swing" backward and forward on such saddles with each stride of the horse may
be reduced, and the tiring effects on horse and rider incidental to such movement
may be avoided.
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With this object I use "crutches" or pads" or other suitable "supporting
contrivance, so situate on each of the saddle flaps that when the rider's weight
rests in the stirrups (as in racing) such weight-seeking its centre of gravity-will
press his legs backward against such "crutches" or other support and thereby
reduce the aforesaid tendency to swing."

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With a view to enabling such backward pressure to be increased I may so
attach the stirrup leathers as to admit of their passing and "pulling " from behind
such crutches" when in use. For the purpose of avoiding weight and of meeting
the requirements of the riders legs-when they are placed in that forward position
and with shortened stirrup leathers-which best suits the purposes of my inven
tion I may alter the size and shaping of the saddle flaps or the angle at which
they are attached to the saddle, so as to bring them more forward on the horses
shoulders. I now proceed to more fully describe the nature and extent of my said
invention and the manner in which the same may be put in practice, with the aid
of the annexed sheet of drawings. Fig. 1 shows an ordinary saddle, with the
"leathers" attached in the usual manner, my improvement consisting in the
application to each of the flaps of a "crutch d in such a position that when
the saddle is fastened on the horse's back and the riders weight rests in the
stirrups the "leathers" of which I would suitably shorten the calves of his
legs will be thereby pressed back against such crutches and the aforesaid
tendency to "swing" will be thus reduced or avoided. Such saddles may be used
in steeple-chasing flat-racing, polo or the like. Fig. 7 shows a suitable frame
for such crutches" those I would make of bent steel, cover with leather and
attach in required position by means of the plates, a, a. I would also have the
surcingle passed over one of such plates, so as to relieve the flaps from undue
strain. Fig. 3 is specially designed for flat-racing purposes, the
leathers are
attached in the usual manner, but the "crutches," d, are placed well in front of
the "hang "of such leathers," which pass and "pull" from behind them. The
flaps are likewise well forward so as to bring the rider's weight well on to the
horses shoulders, this combined action of the knee rolls, "crutches" and backward
pull of the leathers" will enable the rider to assume and maintain a practically
immovable seat on the saddle, to keep his weight well in front, to retain full
control over his mount; to freely use both whip and spurs and to bend over so as to
reduce "wind resistance" to a minimum, without shifting or loosening his "
in the saddle. Such an arrangement-I find-best suits the purposes of my inven-
tion, but it may be modified, by, for instance attaching the
crutches" to the
surcingle, using supporting straps passed around the riders legs, and attached to
the front of the saddle or pads in lieu of
"
crutches or by dispensing with the
knee rolls and using the combined backward pull of the "leathers" and the
"crutch" arrangement. Fig. 2 is similar to the saddle shown at Fig. 1, but the
stirrup leathers are attached so that the aforesaid backward "pull" may be got,
such leathers "I would preferably make of web-attaching the end-, Fig. 2 to
the frame of the saddle, the other end passing through a suitable buckle at a
with such an attachment I would have a "clip" or other fastening arrangement
at g, whereby the "irons" would be prevented from changing their position on the
leather, after they had been adapted to suit the position of the riders feet, when
he is placed in the saddle with his knees pressing against the knee rolls and the
back of his calves against the crutches d. Such leathers" may also be attached
to iron loops or to buckles, fastened to the frame by suitable means at the points a
and b, in which case I would preferably have the leathers sewn together at g, so
as to prevent the "irons" from shifting, the adjustment of such stirrups being
then got by altering the length of each leather at the buckles or otherwise. In
lieu of such arrangements-which I find best suit the purposes of my invention-
the ordinary leather" attachment may be used with a second strap attached to
the saddle at b, Fig. 2 and to the stirrups or "leathers." In Fig. 4 I use small
pads in place of the "crutches," the "leathers" may be attached as shown in
Figs. 1 or 2, that shown in Fig. 2 being most suitable for flat-racing purposes, as
thereby the rider is enabled to assume and maintain a fixed and practically motion-
less position well in front on the saddle. I find that such an arrangement has
considerable advantages over the ordinary racing saddles, both as regards the speed
and the training of horses and that this is especially so in the case of young horses
and with those having "tempers." Fig. is similar to that at Fig. 3 but the
"
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seat

page_text: flaps a are cut away as shown, with such saddles I would preferably use surcingles
having forked ends fastened to the frame of the saddle as shown, the sides 61 1
would also attach to the edges of the saddle flaps, and c I may pass over the seat.
Such surcingles I would buckle under the horses belly. In Fig. 6 I dispense with
flaps, and use the "leather attachment as shown and already described, the
crutch & being sewn on or otherwise fastened to the surcingle a, as shown. The
crutches", may be supported in position by thin steel bands hinged on to the
frame of the saddle.
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A modified but much less convenient application of my invention may be got
by using the knee-rolls of a saddle as a support in lieu of the aforesaid crutches
and by providing a saddle-cloth or other suitable arrangement which will project
sufficiently in front of such knee-rolls as to admit of pads being attached thereto-
against which the riders knees may be pressed when his legs are prevented from
backward swing by such knee-rolls.
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:-
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(1) The application to saddles of "crutches," "pads" or other suitable support-
ing arrangement in such a position on the saddle flaps as to be pressed back against
by the riders calves when his weight rests in the stirrups as in racing, substantially
as and for the purpose described and as illustrated at Figs. 1 and 4.
(2) The application to saddles suitable for flat-racing of "crutches," "pads" or
other supporting contrivance whereby the riders legs may be held or supported in
so forward a position on the saddle flaps as to admit of the stirrup leathers, when
attached in the usual manner, passing and supporting the riders weight from
behind such
<6 crutches or other supporting contrivance, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
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(3) The improvements claimed in Claim 2 in combination with knee rolls or
other support for the riders knees substantially as and for the purpose described.
(4) The use and application in connection with saddles suitable for racing
purposes of knee-rolls or other such contrivance attached to the saddle-cloth or
otherwise held on the horses shoulders in front of the saddle flaps whereby the
tendency of the riders knees to slip forward, when the ordinary knee rolls of the
saddle are used as a support for the. back of his legs may be avoided, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
(5) The use and application to saddles of "leathers" with their ends hung apart,
in combination with "crutches," pads or other suitable support whereby the
backward swing of the riders legs may be avoided, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
(6) The construction of racing saddles having their flaps cut away and fitted
with crutches," or other support and with "forked" (surcingles) substantially as
and for the purpose described.
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(7) The construction, and application to racing saddles of surcingles having
crutches" or pads attached thereto, whereby the back of the riders legs may
be supported, substantially as and for the purpose described.
(8) The arrangement and combination of the parts going to make up my said
improved saddles substantially as described.
Dated this 24th of Cantamh 1000
PETER MAURICE STAUNTON.