초록 ▼

An improved handgrip and stirrup support device for bareback horse riding. The device comprises a handgrip having opposing arms to which are attached at an angle side members having openings therein. The handgrip is improved by being made generally straight and elongated and by having ridges formed

An improved handgrip and stirrup support device for bareback horse riding. The device comprises a handgrip having opposing arms to which are attached at an angle side members having openings therein. The handgrip is improved by being made generally straight and elongated and by having ridges formed into the handgrip. The handgrip is further improved by having opposing arms to increase the elevation of the handgrip over the side members. The side members are improved by having a greater surface area. The openings in the side members are improved so that a hand can enter the openings to adjust a girth and so that a breastplate can be attached to the device. The improvements enable the device to be used with any horse and increase the security and comfort of the device for both the horse and the rider. In another embodiment, the rigid handgrip is removably secured to the flexible riding pad by the stirrup straps wherein the assembled combination can be integrally manipulated as a unit like a more traditional saddle.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A rigid handgrip (1) and flexible pad (3) combination with stirrup straps (25) and stirrups (33) for horseback riding, said rigid handgrip (1) having a central grip portion (7) with an inverted, substantially U-shape and a side member ( 9) extending downwardly from each side of the cent

I claim: 1. A rigid handgrip (1) and flexible pad (3) combination with stirrup straps (25) and stirrups (33) for horseback riding, said rigid handgrip (1) having a central grip portion (7) with an inverted, substantially U-shape and a side member ( 9) extending downwardly from each side of the central grip portion, each of said side members having at least first (15) and second (17) slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other, said flexible pad (3) having a side pocket (19) on each side thereof to removably receive one of said side members ( 9) of the handgrip (1), each pocket (19) having an outer portion (21) with at least first (15') and second ( 17') slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other and respectively aligned with the first (15) and second ( 17) slots of the respective side member (9) of the handgrip (1) when said side member (9) is received in the respective pocket (19) of said flexible pad (3), and first and second stirrups (33) and stirrup straps ( 25), each stirrup strap (25) respectively passing through said aligned first (15,15') and second (17,17') slots in the respective outer portion (21) of each pocket ( 19) and side member (9) of the handgrip received therein. 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first (15, 15') and second (17,17') slots in each side member (9) of the handgrip and outer portion (21) of the pocket are elongated and extend substantially horizontally. 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each side member ( 9) of said handgrip further included at least one hole (22) therethough position below the respective first (15) and second (17) slots to receive a cinch strap (37). 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said outer portion ( 21) of each pocket (19) has a cutout section (39) exposing the hole (22) in the side member (9) of the handgrip received in said pocket (19). 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the flexible pad ( 3) has a main body (23) and each respective pocket (19) is formed between the main body (23) of the flexible pad (3) and the outer portion (21) of the pocket and wherein each stirrup strap (25) respectively passes from outside the outer portion ( 21) of each pocket through the aligned first slots (15, 15') of the outer portion (21) of the pocket and the side member (9) of the handgrip received therein, between the side member (9) and the main body (23) of the flexible pad ( 3), and outwardly through the aligned second slots (17, 17') of the outer portion (21) of the pocket and the side member (9) of the handgrip received therein. 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first slots ( 15,15') of each side member (9) and outer portion ( 21) of the pocket are spaced above the respective second slots ( 17,17') therein and said stirrup strap (25) passes downwardly between the side member (9) and the main body (23 ) of the flexible pad (3) and then outwardly through the aligned second slots (17,17') of the outer portion (21) of the pocket and the side member (9) of the handgrip received therein. 7. A method of removably securing a rigid handgrip (1) to a flexible pad (3) with stirrup straps (25) for horseback riding, said method including the steps of: providing a rigid handgrip (1) having a central grip portion (7) with an inverted, substantially U-shape and a side member (9) extending downwardly from each side of the central grip portion, each of said side members having at least first (15) and second (17) slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other, providing a flexible pad (3) having a side pocket ( 19) on each side thereof to removably receive one of said side members (9) of the handgrip (1), each pocket (19) having an outer portion (21) with at least first (15') and second (17') slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other and respectively aligned with the first (15) and second (17) slots of the respective side member (9) of the handgrip (1) when said side member (9) is received in the respective pocket (19) of said flexible pad (3), and providing first and second stirrup straps (25) respectively passing through the respective aligned first (15, 15') and second (17,17') slots in the respective outer portion (21) of each respective pocket (19) and side member (9) of the handgrip received therein to removably secure said rigid handgrip (1) to said flexible pad (3). 8. A method of assembling a rigid handgrip (1) to a flexible pad (3) with stirrup straps (25), said method including the steps of: providing a rigid handgrip (1) having a central grip portion (7) with an inverted, substantially U-shape and a side member (9) extending downwardly from each side of the central grip portion, each of said side members having at least first (15) and second (17) slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other, providing a flexible pad (3) having a side pocket ( 19) on each side thereof to removably receive one of said side members (9) of the handgrip (1), each pocket (19) having an outer portion (21) with at least first (15') and second (17') slots therethrough spaced substantially vertically from each other, spacing the side members (9) of said handgrip (1 ) apart from said pockets (19), providing stirrup straps (25) and looping each stirrup strap (25) respectively through (i) the first slot (15') in the outer portion (21) of the pocket (19), (ii) the first slot (15) in the spaced-apart side member (9) of the handgrip (1), (iii) the second slot (17) in the spaced-apart side member (9), and (iv) the second slot (17') in the respective outer portion (21) of the pocket (19), and drawing each respective stirrup strap (25) relative to said flexible pad (3) away from the respective side member ( 9) of the handgrip (1) to draw said side member (9) into said pocket (19) to align said first (15,15') and second (17,17') slots of the respective outer portion (21) of the pocket (19) and the side member (9) of the handgrip received therein. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein each respective side member (9) is slid into the respective pocket (19) during the drawing step.