A device for seating a rider on an animal, preferably a horse, the device comprising: a first frame member (20) having a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween; a second side frame member (22) having a proximal end, a distal and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between the first and second frame members.

A sports saddle which eliminates the usage of heavy wooden bars extending between the forks and the cantle of the saddle trees through the use of a lightweight underlayment, thereby providing flexibility and balance for the rider. The arrangement includes nylon straps, stitched onto the underlayment and secured to the forks and cantle, which serve as stirrup and girth straps. The sports saddle of the invention is light in weight, affords better contact with the body of the horse, representing manufacturing/assembly advantages and, importantly, permits the "floating" of the saddle trees.

A sensor array pad for sensing the pressure distribution under a saddle on the back of a horse includes a membrane made of first and second, identical substantially non-stretchable, flexible membrane portions. The membrane portions have adjacent facing edges that are joined at two spaced-apart tabs. A plurality of sensors are distributed substantially uniformly on the membrane, with each sensor occupying a predetermined surface area. Conductors are mounted on the membrane to extend between the sensors and a position along the perimeter of the associated membrane portion to provide for external connection with monitoring equipment. The membrane portions further each have a pair of slits extending from a mid-region spaced from the respective facing edge outwardly in diverging directions along lines passing outside the predetermined areas of the membrane occupied by the sensors. The slits define an upper section extending generally along the spine of a horse and a side section extending down the side of the horse away from the spine. When placed on the back of a horse with the facing edges extending along the spine, the membrane generally conforms to the back of the horse with the upper and side sections separating by spreading of the slits. The membrane may also be stretchable between the individual sensors. Pressures sensed by the sensors are input to a computer which generates a display of the pressure distribution.

A miniaturized toy saddle constructed and configured to be adapted for mounting on the back of an adult person positioned on his hands and knees. The saddle is constructed to make it possible for a child to ride in the saddle when it is mounted on the adult's back. The saddle has a unique contour and configuration on its underside, including padding. The contour and configuration provide a substantially flat part to rest on the person's back with padding between the underside of the saddle and the person's back and additional padding of greater lateral extent extending downwardly and on the inside of lower portions of the saddle and contoured to comfortably be engaged by side parts of the adult person's back.

A riding saddle is provided which distributes the weight of the horse and rider over a large surface area on the back of a horse to prevent bruising and soreing of the horse's back and to provide a shock absorbing quality as the result of their resilient, spring-like material. The saddle includes a tree frame having first and second, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars; first and second flexible skirts each having a surface area respectively greater than the surface area of lower face of the side bars; and fasteners coupling the skirts with the lower face of their corresponding bars. The skirts have flexing portions and flex to conform to the contours of the back of the horse on which the saddle is placed and are biased to return to the unflexed position when the saddle is removed from the horse. Preferably, the skirts include a layer of polycarbonate resin or plastic, a layer of foam rubber, and a layer of fleece-like material.