Saddles are a critical piece of equipment for the sport of horseback riding and can also represent a significant financial investment. It is imperative that saddles always have adequate support to retain their shape and that the exposed surfaces, particularly on the underside are not damaged. Saddles consist of a number of parts. Those that are most relevant to the discussion of the invention are of the english type saddle. Of particular interest are the saddle tree which is the skeleton of the saddle and is usually made from wood, metal or a molded plastic, the saddle flaps which form the sides of the saddle, the pommel which is the front edge of the saddle, the cantle which is the rear edge of the saddle, and the panels which run the length of the saddle on the underside from the pommel to the cantle.
Generally speaking, when a saddle is not in use it is kept in a house, barn, or outbuilding. When kept in these locations it may be stored on a saddle rack mounted on a wall or other vertical surface or on a free standing saddle rack or stand. In addition, saddles may be placed over railings, on the back of a sofa or chair or sometimes just placed on the floor.
If the saddle is kept in close proximity to where the horse is located, the saddle may simply be carried and placed on the horse. In other instances, the saddle may be carried some distance by a person on foot and then placed in a temporary location until it is placed on the horse. In still other instances, the saddle may be transported in a vehicle and then removed and placed in a temporary location until it is placed on the horse. These temporary places may include a fence rail, a stall door, the side of a truck, a chair or even the ground. When a saddle is transported in a vehicle it is usually placed on a car or truck seat, in the trunk of a car or in the back of a sport utility vehicle, or in the bed of a pickup truck. In most if not all of these cases, there is no proper support available for the saddle.
Horses are oftentimes taken to temporary locations such as those associated with horse shows and trail rides. In these situations, the saddle may be placed on the horse, removed and placed in a temporary location and then placed on the horse again. This occurs frequently at horse shows when a horse is performing in several classes with a length of time between those classes. If a rider has no one else to help attend to the horse, he or she will not want to leave the horse while searching for an appropriate place to put the saddle. It is commonplace at horse shows for riders to place the saddle on the ground or on a fence rail because there is no convenient, suitable place to put the saddle. This is undesirable because the saddle can be damaged quite easily, but riders face the dilemma of not having something convenient to put the saddle on that will hold the saddle properly.
A variety of items have been created to support and store saddles under certain circumstances when the saddles are not being used. Among these is the type of saddle rack which must be attached to a vertical wall or other structure and projects horizontally to support a saddle placed thereon. Some of these are disclosed in prior U.S. patents including U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,252 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 277,989. Another commonly used type of saddle stand or rack is one which rests on the floor and holds a saddle and may hold other horse-related equipment. Some of these are disclosed in prior U.S. patents including U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,459; U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,656; U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,553; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 295,906. These two types of saddle racks or stands represent the most common structures for supporting a saddle when the saddle is not in use.
The first type described above is strictly limited in its utility because of its physical structure which requires that it must always be attached to a vertical structure in order to function. The second type which rests on the floor is more versatile in that it can be moved from one location to another without requiring other support. This type may be considered portable because it can be moved. Most often, this type of saddle rack or stand is manufactured of wood and is meant to be used indoors and not outdoors. Neither one of the types of saddle racks or stands can easily be carried as a single unit with the saddle and then be used as a free-standing saddle stand or holder.
These problems associated with the previous saddle holders have been alleviated with the present portable saddle holder that requires no permanent or temporary attaching apparatus and the portable saddle holder is readily used outdoors and can be transported with the saddle as a unit. The portable saddle holder invention has been formed and fabricated in such a way to properly support the important portions of the saddle at all times and to be carried concurrently with the saddle and then used to properly hold the saddle at any temporary location when the saddle is not being used on the horse. The invention can also be readily used to support the saddle during transport in a vehicle.