Saddle girth

Claim 2

A saddle girth which passes under the belly of a horse and is connected to saddle billets to hold a saddle in place on the horse's back, the combination comprising: (a) a first elongate fabric member, (b) a second fabric member sewn to each of the end regions of said first member, the ends of said first member butted together forming said first member into a closed loop, (c) a pair of cinch buckles, each comprising a D-ring and a buckle tongue, each said D-ring encircling said first member and said buckle tongues passing through holes formed at opposite points on said loop, said cinch buckles held in place by sections of said first member joined together on each side of said holes and (d) a fleece pad sewn to an outer surface of said second fabric member and extending beyond the sides of said loop and beyond each said cinch buckle for uniformly distributing the tension of said girth on the horse and for protecting the horse from irritation by said cinch buckles.

Claim 3

A saddle girth as recited in claim 1 further including a second pair of D-rings joined to said first member at a center portion between said cinch buckles, said second pair of D-rings disposed at opposite edges of said first member to provide attachment points for other saddlery articles.

Claim 4

A saddle girth as recited in claim 1 further including a fabric stiffener member sewn to said first member within said loop for making the saddle girth more rigid.

Claim 5

A saddle girth which passes under the belly of a horse and is connected to saddle billets to hold a saddle in place on the horse's back, the saddle girth being machine washable, comprising in combination: (a) a first elongate synthetic fabric member, (b) a second synthetic fabric member sewn to each of the end regions of said first member, the ends of said first member butted together forming said member into a closed loop, (c) a pair of cinch buckles, each comprising a D-ring and a buckle tongue, said D-rings encircling said first member and said buckle tongues passing through holes formed at opposite points on said loop, said cinch buckles held in place by sections of said first member joined together on each side of said holes, (d) a synthetic fleece pad sewn to an outer surface of said second fabric member and extending beyond the sides of said loop and beyond each cinch buckle for uniformly distributing the tension of the girth on the horse and for protecting the horse from irritation by said cinch buckles, and (e) padded, removable buckle covers enclosing each of said cinch buckles for protecting the interior of a washing machine from damage by said cinch buckles when said saddle girth is machine washed.

Claim 6

A saddle girth which passes under the belly of a horse and is connected to saddle billets to hold a saddle in place on the horse's back, the saddle girth being machine washable, comprising in combination: (a) a first elongate synthetic fabric member, (b) a second synthetic fabric member sewn to each of the end regions of said first member, the ends of said first member butted together forming said member into a closed loop, (c) a pair of cinch buckles, each comprising a D-ring and a buckle tongue, said D-rings encircling said first member and said buckle tongues passing through holes formed at opposite points on said loop, said cinch buckles held in place by sections of said first member joined together on each side of said holes, (d) a synthetic fleece pad sewn to an outer surface of said second fabric member and extending beyond the sides of said loop and beyond each cinch buckle for uniformly distributing the tension of the girth on the horse and for protecting the horse from irritation by said cinch buckles, and (e) padded, removable buckle covers enclosing each of said cinch buckles for protecting the interior of a washing machine from damage by said cinch buckles when said saddle girth is machine washed.

Claim 7

A saddle girth as recited in claim 4 further including a second pair of D-rings joined to said first member at a center portion between said cinch buckles, said second pair of D-rings disposed at opposite edges of said first member to provide attachment points for other saddlery articles.

Claim 8

A saddle girth as recited in claim 4 further including a synthetic fabric stiffener member sewn to said first member within said loop for making the saddle girth more rigid.