Saddle girth

Abstract

The invention relates to a saddle girth comprising two low-stretch side sections (1, 2) and exactly one elastic central section (3) connecting the two side sections (1, 2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle girth, and thus to both long girths and short girths. Saddle girths are used to secure a horse's saddle to the horse. When worn, the girths extend over the horse's belly or chest and generally have at least one buckle or similar at each end, by means of which the girth is connected to the saddle. Typically, one or two buckles are located at each end of the girth, via which the girth can be connected to the saddle on one side. The saddle is attached to the girth buckles with its straps.

[0002] There are various saddle girths that ensure a secure hold of the saddle and are adapted to the horse's physiognomy for good wearing comfort.

[0003] When worn, the girth typically rests on the horse's sternum. Common girths are made of a low-stretch material like leather, limiting the horse's chest expansion when worn by the saddle and girth. To increase comfort for the horse with such low-stretch girths, the girth could be tightened more loosely, but this negatively impacts the saddle's hold.

[0004] DE 203 18 813 U1 therefore proposes connecting the buckles for attaching the girth to the saddle to the low-stretch section of the girth via rubber-elastic spacers to increase comfort for the horse. It is also known to attach the buckles directly to an elastic material (e.g., neoprene) using inelastic / low-stretch straps, so that the entire section that fits the horse is made of an elastic material.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the disadvantages described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide an alternative solution as to how the wearing comfort for a horse can be increased.

[0006] A solution to this problem is provided by the saddle girth having the features of independent claim 1, wherein further solutions and advantageous developments are specified in the above and following description as well as in the subclaims, wherein individual features of the advantageous developments can be combined with one another in a technically expedient manner.

[0007] The problem is solved in particular by a saddle girth which has two low-stretch side sections and exactly one elastic central section, whereby the exactly one elastic central section connects the two side sections.

[0008] In other words: The basic concept of the invention is that the elastic central section, an elastic element of the girth, is positioned in the area of ​​the horse's sternum when the girth is fastened, with the two low-stretch side sections adjoining the elastic central section. The two low-stretch side sections are thus positioned to the sides of the horse's sternum when the girth is fastened. The elastic central section extends over the entire length of the girth (i.e., from front to back along the horse when fastened). It has been shown that such a girth stays in place more evenly while riding and thus offers better support while simultaneously increasing comfort.

[0009] Because this type of girth stretches evenly as the horse's chest expands due to breathing, it increases comfort for the horse. The horse's comfort is increased so significantly that its heart rate is reduced by up to 20% compared to conventional girths.

[0010] The two side sections are made of a material that is considered inelastic, with leather usually being used as the material.

[0011] The side sections are also specifically designed to connect the girth to the saddle. For this purpose, at least one buckle is attached to at least one side section, to which, for example, a saddle can be attached using a strap. Preferably, at least one buckle is attached to each side section, so that the saddle can be secured to the girth on both sides. However, it can also be provided that two buckles are attached to each side section for securing the saddle.

[0012] In this context, it can also be provided that the at least one buckle is fastened to the associated side section by means of a strap made of a low-stretch material (for example leather).

[0013] The elastic central section connects the two low-stretch side sections over the entire length (in the horse's longitudinal direction) in the central area of ​​the saddle girth. The distance between the side sections is determined by the elastic central section when the girth is not fastened. The elasticity of the central section is preferably designed such that the distance between the side sections increases by at least 0.5 cm, preferably by at least 1 cm and particularly preferably by at least 2 cm when the horse breathes when the girth is fastened. The elasticity of the central section is also dimensioned in particular such that the distance between the side sections can be increased by no more than 5 cm, preferably no more than 7 cm, without plastic deformation or destruction of the central section occurring.

[0014] The elastic central section can, for example, be formed by an elastic material and in particular by a textile, such as a woven or knitted fabric, which connects the two side sections to one another. However, it can also be provided that the central section comprises several (two or more) layers, each of which has at least one elastic textile, such as a woven or knitted fabric. A layer made of an elastic material extends in particular over the entire length of the girth. However, it can also be provided that each layer has two or more fabrics adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction. The elasticity of the central section can be adjusted by the number of layers and / or the properties of the elastic material. In particular, the overall elasticity of the central section can be adjusted by the number of layers.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, the two side sections can be connected by at least two elastic bands. In particular, the side sections can be connected by four elastic bands. The bands thus form a component of the elastic central section. An elastic element can be considered a band in particular if its length from one side section to the other side section is greater than its width.

[0016] In a particularly preferred embodiment, two elastic bands intersect between the two side sections. It has been found that the intersecting arrangement of two bands in the elastic central section can particularly effectively prevent the girth from slipping, while simultaneously increasing comfort for the horse.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, at least two straps can run parallel to each other from one side section to the other side section. If both intersecting and parallel straps are provided, the parallel straps are arranged at the front and rear in the elastic central section, while the intersecting straps are arranged between the parallel straps. This configuration of the elastic straps further reduces the possibility of the girth slipping.

[0018] In this context, it is preferably provided that in addition to the two or four elastic bands forming a layer, two layers of at least one elastic material are provided in the central section.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic central section spaced the two side sections apart by at least 1.5 cm, preferably at least 2.5 cm, when the girth is not fastened and is otherwise not subjected to any force. The elastic central section thus significantly spaced the low-stretch side sections apart, while simultaneously providing sufficient stretchability when worn.

[0020] On the other hand, the side sections are spaced apart from each other by a maximum of 7 cm, preferably a maximum of 5 cm, when not in use due to the elastic central section.

[0021] In particular, the elastic central section covers 1.5% to 10%, preferably 2% to 6%, of the girth width in the direction transverse to the horse's longitudinal direction, so that the two side sections together cover 90% to 98.5%, preferably 94% to 98%, of the girth width. The elastic central section thus forms only a relatively small part of the girth.

[0022] The two side sections are preferably mirror-symmetrical to each other.

[0023] In a further embodiment, it is proposed that a distance between the two side sections predetermined by the elastic central section increases from front to back (relative to the longitudinal direction of the horse when the saddle girth is fastened).

[0024] The invention and the technical environment are explained below using the figures as examples. They show schematically Figure 1: a top view of a saddle girth, Figure 2: a detailed view of the top view of the Figure 1 , Figure 3: a longitudinal view of the girth and Figure 4: a detailed view of the Figure 3 .

[0025] The saddle girth illustrated in the figures comprises a first, low-stretch side section 1 and a second, low-stretch side section 2, which are connected to each other by an elastic central section 3. A first buckle 4.1 and a second buckle 4.2 are each attached to the first leather side section 1 via a strap 5. A third buckle 4.3 and a fourth buckle 4.4 are each attached to the second leather side section 2 via a strap 5. The saddle girth can be connected to a saddle via the buckles.

[0026] The girth also includes an elastic central section 3, which connects the two low-stretch side sections 1 and 2. The elastic central section 3 extends over the entire length of the girth (in Figures 1 and 2 from bottom to top), so that the elastic central section 3 spaces the side sections 1 and 2 apart from each other.

[0027] The elastic central section 3 is designed so that the distance between the side sections 1 and 2 from the rear (in Figure 1 down) forward (in Figure 1 above) decreases.

[0028] The elastic central section 3 comprises a first elastic band 3.4 and a fourth elastic band 3.7, which are arranged parallel to one another and are each firmly connected to the first side section 1 and the second side section 2, wherein the first band 3.4 is arranged in the elastic central section at the front and the fourth band 3.7 is arranged in the elastic central section at the rear.

[0029] Between the first band 3.4 and the fourth band 3.7, a second elastic band 3.5 and a third elastic band 3.6 are arranged, which are also connected to the first side section 1 and the second side section 2, wherein the second band 3.5 and the third band 3.6 cross each other (see in particular Figure 2 ).

[0030] From the Figure 4It also shows that the elastic central section 3 comprises a first layer 3.1 and a second layer 3.2, each made of an elastic fabric. A third layer 3.3 is formed by the four bands 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7.

[0031] When the girth is fastened, with a saddle connected to it via buckles 4.1 to 4.4, the elastic central section 3 of the girth is positioned on the horse's sternum. This allows the girth to expand evenly as the horse breathes, ensuring that the girth and thus the saddle rest evenly on the horse. At the same time, wearing comfort is increased; it has been found that the horse's heart rate can decrease by up to 20% compared to conventional girths. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1First side section 2Second side section 3Central section 3.1First layer 3.2Second layer 3.3Third layer 3.4First strap 3.5Second strap 3.6Third strap 3.7Fourth strap 4.1First buckle 4.2Second buckle 4.3Third buckle 4.4Fourth buckle 5Strap

Claims

1. Saddle girth, comprising - two low-stretch side sections (1, 2) and - exactly one elastic central section (3) connecting the two side sections (1, 2).

2. Saddle girth according to claim 1, wherein the central portion (3) comprises at least two layers (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) each made of at least one elastic material.

3. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the central section (3) comprises at least two elastic bands (3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7) which connect the two side sections (1, 2) to each other.

4. Saddle girth according to claim 3, wherein two bands (3.5, 3.6) cross between the two side sections (1, 2).

5. Saddle girth according to claim 3 or 4, wherein at least two bands (3.4, 3.7) run parallel to each other.

6. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side sections (1, 2) are spaced apart from each other by at least 1.5 cm, preferably at least 2.5 cm, by the elastic central section.

7. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side sections (1, 2) are spaced apart from each other by a maximum of 7 cm, preferably a maximum of 5 cm, by the elastic central section (3).

8. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance between the two side sections (1, 2) predetermined by the elastic central section (3) increases from front to rear.

9. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one buckle (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) is attached to at least one side section (1, 2).

10. Saddle girth according to claim 9, wherein exactly two buckles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) are attached to both side sections (1, 2).

11. Saddle girth according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the at least one buckle (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) is each fastened to the side section (1, 2) by means of a strap (5).

12. Saddle girth according to one of the preceding sections, wherein the side sections (1, 2) are made of leather.

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