The present invention reiates to horse riding training aids and in particular, but not exclusively, to horse riding training aids for use in jump training.

Several types of horse riding training apparatus are known, However, they are generally for training for fiat racing (e.g. G8 245Q887A and GB 2380140A} or for poio (e.g. GB 2363993A). The existing horse riding training apparatus generally comprise a simulated a horse body movab!y mounted on a supporting framework. The horse body is movable with respect to the framework but the known means of displacing the simulated horse body with respect to the framework only allow a simulation of walking, trotting, cantering and galloping and consequently are not suitable for use in jump training. it is an object of the present invention to provide a horse riding training aid which is suitable for use in jump training. in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a horse riding training aid comprises a dummy horse and a plurality of independently operable actuators for controlling the position of the dummy horse.

This allows the vertical position of the dummy horse to be adjusted thereby allowing simulation of jumping in contrast to the prior art. There may be, for example, from two to six independentiy operable actuators.

The horse riding training aid may further comprise a base portion, the actuators extending between the base portion and the dummy horse. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a horse riding training aid comprises a dummy horse and actuator means for controHing the vertical position of the dummy horse.

This allows simulation of jumping, in contrast to the prior art arrangements.

The horse riding training aid may further comprise a base portion, the actuator means extending between the base portion and the dummy horse.

The actuating means may comprise a plurality of independently operable actuators for controlling the position of the dummy horse.

The horse riding training aid may further comprise guide means for constraining the movement of the dummy horse.

The guide means may restrict or prevent pivoting of the dummy horse about a vertical axis.

Alternatively, or in addition, the guide means may constrain the dummy horse in a vertical direction.

The horse riding training aid may further comprise resiliency deformab!e means for supporting at least part of the weight of the dummy horse, e.g. a spring.

Preferably, the independently operable actuators comprise fluid operated rams, e.g. hydraulic rams. in one embodiment the independently op rable actuators comprise electric motors.

The output of each of the eiectric motors may be connected to the dummy horse by means of a crank arm.

Preferably, the horse riding training aid comprises a connecting rod extending between the crank arm and the dummy horse. In a preferred embodiment, there are two of said eiectric motors.

In one embodiment, the dummy horse is pivotaliy mounted about a fore -aft axis and further comprises means for pivoting the dummy horse about the fore-aft axis. The dummy horse may comprise upper support means pivotaliy mounted to lower support means and means for pivoting the upper support means with respect to the lower support means.

The means for pivoting the upper support means with respect to the lower support means preferably comprises an eiectric motor.

Preferably, the electric motor has a rotary output and a crank arm is connected to the rotary output. Preferably, the end of the crank arm is pivotaliy connected to the upper support means. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a horse riding training aid comprises a pivotally mounted portion and flexible drive means for pivoting the pivotally mounted portion. The horse riding training aid may comprise a body portion, a neck portion and a head portion pivotally mounted with respect to the neck portion, the fiexible drive means being adapted to pivot the head portion with respect to the neck portion.

The neck portion may be pivotally mounted with respect to the body portion,

Preferably, the fiex ble drive means extends between the body portion and the head portion.

The horse riding training aid also preferably comprises a source of movement {e.g. a motor) connected to the fiexible drive means.

The fiexible drive means may comprise a flexible sheathed cable drive, e .g. a Bowden cable, in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a horse riding training aid comprises a body portion, stirrups connected to the body portion and means for measuring the force applied to the stirrups,

Preferably, sensor means are located between the body portion and the stirrups.

The sensor means may comprise a strain gauge. By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with refere ce to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A is a side view, partially cut away, of a first embodiment of horse riding training aid in accordance with the present invention;

Figure IB is a perspective view of the horse riding training aid of figure 1A;

Figure 2 is a view from above of the horse riding training aid of figure i, illustrating the sensors which are responsive to rider input;

Figure 3 A is a side view, partially cut away, of a second embodiment of horse riding training aid in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3B is a perspective view of the horse riding training aid of figure 2A,

Figure 4A is a side view, partially cut away, of a third embodiment of horse riding training aid in accordance with the present invention; Figure 48 is a perspective view of the horse riding training aid of figure 3Ά;

Figure 5A is a side view, partiaily cut away, of a fourth embodiment of horse riding training aid in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5B is a perspective view of the horse riding training aid of figure 4A; and

Figure 6a is a side view, partially cut-away, of a fifth embodiment of horse riding training aid in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6b is a perspective view of the horse riding training aid of Figure 6a.

Referring firstly to figures 1A and IB, a horse riding training aid comprises a simulated horse 10 (hereinafter referred to as a "dummy horse") mounted on a support plate 12. The undersu rface of the support plate 12 is pivotaily connected to the piston rod of each of six hydrau!ica!ly actuated inclined rams 14, the other end of each of the rams 14 being pivotaily mounted on a base plate 16. The hydraulic rams 14 are actuated by an actuating unit illustrated schematically at 18 which is under the control of a computer 20. The computer 20 is also arranged to display on a television screen 22 a simulated course to a rider mounted on the dummy horse. The computer 20 receives input from sensors detecting the control movements of a rider mounted on the dummy horse, as will be explained, and depending upon the inputs the rams 14 are operated to control the movement of the dummy horse and the computer 20 displays corresponding images on the screen 22, The rams 14 can be operated independently of each other (i.e. each one can be controlled individually) which allows the position of the dummy horse to be controlled within wide parameters.

St will also be observed from figure 1A that a neck portion 24 of the dummy horse is pivotaily mounied at pivot 26 to the body of the dummy horse. The neck portion 24 can be pivoted around pivot 26 by means of a further hydraulic cylinder 28 located within the body of the dummy horse and under the control of a computer 20 and actuator 18, The hydraulic cylinder 28 is connected to the base of the neck portion 24 by a connecting rod 30 pivotaily connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 28 and to the neck portion 24,

A head portion 36 of the dummy horse is pivotaily mounted at pivot 38 to the upper end of the neck portion 24. The head portion 36 can be pivoted around pivot 38 by means of an electric motor 40 which transfers its rotary output motion to the head portion 36 by means of a crank 42 and a connecting rod 44 pivotaiiy connected to the crank 42. The movement of the opposite end of the connecting rod 44 is transferred to the head portion 36 by means of a flexible drive means, in the form of a sheathed power transfer cable 46 (e.g. a Bowden cable).

The electric motor 28 is under the control of the computer 20,

As illustrated in figure 2, the dummy horse is provided with numerous sensors which provide inputs for the computer 20. The following pressure sensors are provided: Four saddle sensors 50 on the upper surface of the dummy horse, in the region where a saddie is piaced

Two kick sensors 52 on each fiank of the dummy horse;

A neck sensor 54 on the upper surface of the base of the neck portion 24;

Two head sensors 56, one located on either side of the head portion 3S for connection to reins (not shown);

A bit sensor 58 in a mouth region of the head portion 36, also for connection to reins. An emergency stop button 60 and two buttons 62, 64 to increase and decrease the speed are also provided on the dummy horse adjacent to the lower end of the neck portion 24. in addition, the horse riding training aid is provided with two stirrup sensors 64 _; one for each stirrup 66. The stirrup sensors 64 comprise electronic strain gauges mounted between the body of the dummy horse and the stirrups 66. The outputs from the stirrup sensors 54 are also input to the computer 20, In use, the computer generates an image of a course to be ridden and displays the course on the screen 22, The course will typically include one or more jumps which the rider of the dummy horse has to negotiate. The rider controls the dummy horse in the same way as he or she would control a real horse, for example by use of reins, pressure on the neck, use of the stirrups, shifting the rider's weight in the saddie and kicking the flanks of the horse. Depending on the control exercised by the rider, as detected by the various sensors described above, the computer controls the actuation of the hydraulic rams 14, the hydraulic cylinder 28 and the motor 40 to adjust the position and movement of the dummy horse in response to the rider's control. Depending on the control exercised by the rider, the computer wi!i aiso determine, for example, whether a jump has been successfully negotiated and will display that information to the rider on the screen 22.

The use of six hydraulic rams 14 allows the position of the dummy horse to be controlled accurately and realistically, and within wide parameters. In particular, it allows quick and accurate adjustment of the height of the dummy horse with respect to the base 16 and therefore the ground, thereby allowing realistic jumping simulation to take place, The horse riding training aid of figure 3 is virtually identical to that of figures 1 and 2, except that the hydraulic cylinder 28 within the body of the dummy horse, to control the pivoting of the neck portion 24, has been replaced with an electric motor 70 under the control of the computer 20, whose output is connected to the neck portion 24 by means of a crank 72 and a connecting rod 74 pivotally connected to the crank 72 and to the neck portion 24 to give a reciprocal output which causes the neck portion to pivot, The construction and operation are otherwise identical to those of the first embodiment and the same reference numerals denote the same features. The horse riding training aid of figure 4 is very similar to that of figures 1 and 2, except that the means for displacing the dummy horse is different. As can be seen from figure 3A and 3B, the six hydraulic rams 14 of figures 1 and 2 to have been replaced with three hydraulic rams 78 pivotally mounted to the undersurface of the support plate 12 and to the upper surface of the base plate 16 and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the base plate 16. One ram 78 is mounted at the centre of the front of the support plate 12 and two rams 78 are mounted towards the rear corners of the base plate 12. in addition, a spiined guide shaft 80, mounted by means of a universal joint 82 to the undersurface of the support plate 12, is slidabiy disposed in an internally splined support post 84 which is rigidly secured to the base plate 16. A strong compression spring 86 also extends between the base of the support post 84 and the undersurface of a plate 88 secured to the spiined shaft 74.

The spiined guide shaft 80 guides the dummy hose in a vertical direction and prevents rotation of the dummy horse about a vertical axis and the compression spring 86 supports most of the weight of the dummy horse and rider. Although the three hydraulic rams 78 can only control the vertical position of the dummy horse and can pivot the dummy horse about longitudinally extending and transversely extending horizontal axes (i.e. it cannot adjust the position of the dummy horse about a vertical axis) this is still sufficient to simulate realistic movement of a jumping horse. The construction and operation of the third embodiment are otherwise identical to those of the first embodiment and the same reference numerals have been used to denote the same features. The horse riding training aid of figure 5 is very similar to that of figure 4, However, the splined shaft 80, support post 84 and compression spring 86 have been omitted and instead a horizontal support bar 90 which carries a universal joint 92 connected to the support piate 12 of the dummy horse is connected at each end to one of two verticaily disposed support posts 94. The support posts 94 are provided with runners 95, or other linear bearings, which wili run in a track in a respective one of two support coiumns 98 rigidly secured two, and extending perpendicularly from, the upper surface of the base piate 16, it wili also be observed that the hydraulic ra n 28 for controliing the pivoting motion of the neck portion 24 of the horse has been replaced with the motor 70, crank mechanism 72 and connecting rod 74 of figure 3 described previously. The piston rods of the three hydrauiic cyiinders 78 are also connected to the support plate by means of universal joints 100.

The use of runners 96 in verticaily disposed support posts 98 guides the dummy horse in a vertical direction and prevents a yawing movement {Le. pioviting about a vertical axis) of the dummy horse. The hydraulic rams 78, in conjunction with the vertical guides, allow a realistic jumping simulation to take place,.

The construction and operation are otherwise identical to that of figure 4 and the same reference numerals have been used to denote corresponding featu res.

The horse riding training aid of Figure S is simiiar to that of the previous embodiments and the same reference numerais are used to identify corresponding features.

The fifth embodiment of horse riding training aid shown in Figure 6 comprises a simulated horse 10 (hereinafter referred to as a "dummy horse") mounted on an upper rectangular support plate 12a, The upper support piate is itself pivotaliy mounted with respect to identical lower support plate 12b by means of two mounting plates 110 weeded to the centre of the two end edges of the upper support plate 12a and pivota lly mounted to the centre of the corresponding edge of the lower support plate 12b, The upper support plate 12a can be made to pivot with respect to the lower support plate 12b by means of an electric "roll" motor 112 mounted between the two plates and secured to the upper su rface of the lower support plate 12b. The output of the motor is connected to a cran k arm 114, the outer end of which is pivotally connected at pivot 116 to the u ndersurface of the u pper support plate 12a , The output of the motor is disp laceable th rough a fixed a ngle. By rotating the motor output clockwise {as viewed in Figure 6b , the upper support plate 12a is also rotated clockwise with respect to the lower support plate 12b as a result of the engagement of the crank a rm 112 with the track. Conversely., by rotating the motor output anticlockwise (as seen in Figu re Sb), the upper support plate 12a can be pivoted anticlockwise with respect to the lower support plate 12b. By con trolling the motor, left and right body roll of the d ummy horse 10 mou nted on the upper plate 12a can he induced .

The undersurface of the lower support plate 12b is provided with a clevis 120 to wh ich the upper end of a support post 122 is pivotally mounted about a substa ntia lly horizontal axis 124 ru ning perpendicu larly to the fore-aft direction of the du mmy horse 10. The su pport post 122 is provided with two runners 126 or other linear bearings, which run in a track in a su pport column 128 rigidly secured to, and extending perpendicularly from, the u pper su rface of a base plate 16. Also mounted on the upper surface of the base plate 16 are front and rear motors 130, 132. The output of each of the motors 130, 132 is connected to a cran k a rm 134 which is in tu rn rotata biy mounted to one end of a push rod 136, the other end being secured to the undersurface of the lower su pport plate 12 b by means of a universal joint 138, at a point midway between the two lateral edges of the lower support plate 12b. The two motors 130, 132 can be operated independently of each other (i.e. each one can be controlled individually). The motors 130, 132 are arranged to provide an output to displace the respective crank arm 134 through a predetermined angular range. By suitable operation of the motors, the lower plate 12b (and therefore the dummy horse 10) can be moved vertically upwardly or downwardly, the vertical movement being guided by the engagement of the runners 126 of the support post 122 in the support column 128. Alternatively, or simultaneously, the motors 130, 132 may be operated by different amounts in order to tiit the lower support plate I2b rearwardly or forwardiy about the horizontal axis of the clevis 120.

In this way, an extremely realistic jumping action can be simulated. At the same time, the roll motor 112 located between the upper and lower support plates 12a, 12b can be operated to induce a left or right body roil to the dummy horse.

The three motors 112, 130, 132 are actuated by an actuating unit illustrated schematically at 18 which is under the control of a computer 20. The computer 20 is also arranged to display on a television screen 22 a simulated course to a rider mounted on the dummy horse 10. The computer 20 receives input from sensors {not shown in Figure 8, but identical to those of the embodiment of Figure 2) detecting the control movement of a rider mounted on the dummy horse 10 and depending upon the inputs the motors 112, 130, 132 are operated to control the movement of the dummy horse 10 and the computer 20 displays corresponding images on the screen 22. As for the embodiment of Figure 3, a neck portion 24 of the dummy horse is pivota!iy mounted at pivot 26 to the body of the dummy horse. The neck portion 24 can be pivoted around pivot 26 by means of an electric motor 70 under the control of the computer 20, whose output is connected to the neck portion 24 by means of a crank 72 and a connecting rod 74 pivolally connected to the crank 72 and the neck portion 24 to give a reciprocal output which causes the neck portion to pivot.

As for the Figure 3 embodiment, a head portion 36 of the dummy horse is pivotaHy mounted at pivot 38 to the upper end of neck portion 24, The head portion 36 can be pivoted around pivot 38 by means of an electric motor 40 which transfers its rotary output motion to the head portion 36 by means of a crank 42 and a connecting rod 44 pivoially connected to the crank 42. The movement of the opposite end of the connecting rod 44 is transferred to the head portion 35 by means of a flexible drive means, in the form of a sheathed power transfer cable 46 (e.g. a Bowden cable).

In use, the computer 20 generates an image of a course to be riden and displays the course on the screen 22 , The course will typically include one or more jumps which the rider of the dummy horse 10 has to negotiate, The rider controls the dummy horse in the same way as he or she would control a real horse, for example by use of reins, pressure on the neck, use of the stirrups, shifting the rider's weight in the saddle and kicking the flanks of the horse. Depending on the control exercised by the rider, as detected by the various sensors described above, the computer controls the actuation of the motors 112, 130, 132 to adjust the position and movement of the dummy horse in response to the rider's control. Depending upon the control exercised by the rider, the computer 20 wil! also determine, for example, whether a jump has been successfully negotiated and will display that information to the rider on the screen 22. The use of the fore and aft motors 130, 132 allows the height of the dummy horse 10 to be controlled accurately and rapidly and also allows rapid and accurate adjustment of the inclination of the dummy horse 10 in either the fore or aft direction. The electric "roll" motor 112 situated between the upper and lower support plates 12a, 12b also induces side-to-side body roll in a very realistic manner. In particular, the computer can be arranged to provide a large degree of body roll if the rider is attempting to simulate a tight turn. The construction and operation of the fifth embodiment are otherwise identical to those of the previous embodiments.

The invention is not restricted to the details of foregoing embodiments. For example, other types of actuator could be used instead of, or in addition to, those described and illustrated. For example, the hydraulic rams could be replaced with pneumatically actuated rams, Moreover, actuators other than fluid actuators could be used, for example linear motors.

in addition, as few as two actuators could be used in order to control the position of the dummy horse. Any number from two upwards could be used, although in practice a maximum of six would be used.