The present invention relates to a saddle pad configured to provide pressure relief for a horse's withers and spine.
Conventional saddle pads are made of two panels that are joined down the center. When a saddle is fitted over a conventional saddle pad, the conventional saddle pad may have the ability to stay up off the horse's withers but does not have the ability to stay up off of the horse's spine, especially not for the entire length of the saddle and saddle pad. As a result, the saddle pad, and in particular the central seam in a conventional saddle pad, puts pressure on the horse's spine, which can cause great discomfort to the horse. Improved saddle pads are needed to provide better pressure relief.
Aspects of the present invention relate to providing a horse with improved pressure relief from its saddle and saddle pad. One aspect of the invention may provide a saddle pad configured to stay up off a horse's withers and spine, providing the horse pressure relief from its saddle and saddle pad. The saddle pad may include a first side panel, a second side panel, and a central panel. The central panel may have first and second ends and may be wider at the first end than at the second end. The central panel may be configured to extend into a gullet of the saddle and away from the horse's withers and spine.
In some embodiments, the saddle pad may further include a first seam and a second seam, the first seam may connect the first side panel and the central panel, the first seam may extend from the first end of the central panel to the second end of the central panel, the first seam may be configured to pass through the gullet of the saddle along a gullet end of a first panel of the saddle, the second seam may connect the second side panel and the central panel, the second seam may extend from the first end of the central panel to the second end of the central panel, and the second seam may pass through the gullet of the saddle along a gullet end of a second panel of the saddle.
In some embodiments, the saddle pad may include a cotton twill exterior. In some embodiments, the saddle pad may include a moisture wicking interior. In some embodiments, the saddle pad may include a flannel interior. In some embodiments, the saddle pad may include a slip-resistant interior. In some embodiments, the saddle pad may have an approximately rectangular shape. In some embodiments, the saddle pad may have a shape that approximately matches the shape of all or a portion of the saddle.
Further variations encompassed within the systems and methods are described in the detailed description of the invention below.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some non-limiting embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the exterior of the saddle pad 100 may be made from a durable material. In some non-limiting embodiments, the saddle pad 100 may include a cotton twill exterior. However, this is not required and, in some alternative embodiments, the saddle pad 100 may have an exterior made of a different material. In some non-limiting embodiments, the interior of the saddle pad 100 may be moisture wicking and/or slip resistant. In some non-limiting embodiments, the saddle pad 100 may include a flannel interior. However, this is not required and, in some alternative embodiments, the saddle pad 100 may have an interior made of a different material. In some non-limiting embodiments, the saddle pad 100 may have a dual-density poly-fill construction.
In some embodiments, the shape and/or width of the central panel 106 of the saddle pad 100 may be configured to reduce the occurrence of pressure points from the saddle (e.g., from the panels 814 and 1028 of the saddle 818) and/or the saddle pad 100. In some embodiments, the shape and/or width of the central panel 106 of the saddle pad 100 may be configured based on the shape and/or size of the saddle 818. In some embodiments, the shape and/or width of the central panel 106 of the saddle pad 100 may be configured based on the shape and/or size of the horse 817. In some embodiments, the shape and/or width of the central panel 106 may keep the pad raised into the gullet 916 of the saddle 818 after being set there by the horse's groom. In some non-limiting embodiments, one or more of the first seam 108, second seam 110, and third seam 112 may be configured to alleviate pressure spots (e.g., by being flat seams).
In some embodiments, the first seam 108 may be configured to pass through the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and along a gullet end 824a of a first panel 824 of the saddle 818. In some embodiments, the second seam 110 may be configured to pass through the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and along a gullet end 1028a of a second panel 1028 of the saddle 818. In some embodiments, the central panel 106 may be configured to extend into the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and away from the spine 1030 of the horse 817. In some non-limiting embodiments, the central panel 106 may be configured to extend into the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and away from the withers 825 of the horse 817. In some non-limiting embodiments, the central panel 106 may be configured to stay in the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and away from the entirety of the spine 1030 of the horse 817 when the horse is moving. In some non-limiting embodiments, the central panel 106 may be configured to stay in the gullet 926 of the saddle 818 and away from the withers 825 of the horse 817 when the horse is moving.
In some embodiments, as shown in
Embodiments of the present invention have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figures. Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/665,150, filed on May 1, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62665150 | May 2018 | US |