TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an improved saddle to be used when riding a horse. BACKGROUND

Traditional riding saddles have stirrups that make it easier for the rider to stay in the sad- die and to stand up during movements such as galloping, jumping and canter. The first evidence of stirrups originates from India immediately before the year 1, AD.

Saddles usually have a saddle flap on each side fitted with a knee roll, which is a thick, sometimes stuffed part of the saddle flap, against which the rider can rest a part of his legs.

Horse racing is typically done galloping, where a jockey is riding the horse. A special form of racing is trot πηοηίέ, where the horse exclusively trots (unlike usual trotting races where a driver controls the horse from a sulky). Riding trot πηοηίέ is bumpier than regular rid- ing and it is especially common for the rider to fall off, or get thrown off, the horse.

EP 1783 093 shows a saddle where the knee roll is formed to match the rider's thigh.

WO 201610430 discloses a safety device which is movably attached by hinges to the sad- die (Page 1 and Fig. 29, Fig. 38B and 38G). The rider has a traditional seat on the saddle where the absolute majority of rider's weight rests on the sitting surface of the saddle and on the stirrups. The purpose of WO201610430 is to provide a safety device.

There is a need for an improved riding saddle for horse racing, in particular trot monte and galloping races. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, there is provided a riding saddle with two saddle flaps characterized in that the front part of each saddle flap is provided with a leg support, adapted to receive at least a part of the rider's lower leg, wherein the leg support is attached to the saddle flap. In a preferred embodiment the leg support holds the lower leg of the rider at an angle of between 0 and 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. In an even more preferred embodiment the leg supports hold the rider's lower leg at an angle of between 0 and 30 degrees relative to the horizontal plane.

In a preferred embodiment the front part of each saddle flap is provided with a bowl- shaped leg support, adapted to receive at least a part of the rider's knee and at least a part of the front of the rider's lower leg, where the leg support is attached to the saddle.

The design of the saddle causes the rider's own weight to be carried by the leg supports instead of as traditionally by the seat and the stirrups of the saddle. The leg supports cause the rider to get a lower stance, enabling the rider to assume a stance that can be referred to as a Z-stance, which gives lower air resistance - a major advantage in horse racing. Furthermore, the leg supports provides better control for the rider. The rider will be positioned lower than with usual saddles, which gives a lower centre of gravity, which gives a better balance. Furthermore, the saddle helps the rider to keep the correct stance. In particular it helps the rider to avoid to lean forward. Leaning forward may cause the horse to injure the front leg ligaments. It also provides a more restful stance for the rider.

In one embodiment the leg support is adapted to receive at least a part of the rider's thigh. In one embodiment the leg support is adapted to receive the knee of the rider.

The support may have the shape of a bowl or basket of a substantially even thickness material. The leg support may have an upper part that prevents the rider's legs from moving upwards and a lower part on which the rider's lower leg rests, where the upper and lower parts can move relative to each other.

The leg support may comprise a release mechanism which may be able to release the rider from the leg support, for example at a certain predetermined force.

The saddle with leg supports is particularly useful for riding trot monte but is useful for other types of riding as well, such as horse racing with galloping horses.

In a second aspect of the invention it is provided a leg support for a saddle as described above.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for riding a horse comprising using a saddle with leg supports as described above.

DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a rider, horse and saddle.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a saddle.

Fig. 4 shows a leg support.

Fig. 5 shows the seat of a rider.

Fig. 6 shows a rider, horse and saddle.

Figs. 7-8 show a saddle.

Fig. 9 shows a saddle.

Fig. 10 shows a saddle.

Fig. 11 shows a saddle with the stirrup leathers attached under the saddle flap.

Generally, Figures 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show stirrups and stirrup leathers stretched backwards, i.e. in the position they have when the rider uses them. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows rider 1, horse 2, the riding saddle 3 with the left saddle flap 4 provided with a leg support 5a. Parts of the saddle 3 may have a traditional design and be made from traditional materials. The seat 6 may, however, in some embodiments, be made simpler or, in some embodiments, even eliminated, since the rider 1 in use of the saddle 3 does usually not rest against the seat 6. Furthermore, the saddle flaps 4 can be made considerably simpler and smaller than in conventional saddles. Further, the stirrup leathers 7, in which the stirrups 8 are fastened, can be different in comparison to conventional saddles, as explained in more detail below.

Figs. 2-3 show a saddle 3 with two leg supports 5a, 5b. Below, for simplicity, reference is made to the leg support 5, but it is assumed that the saddle 3 has two leg supports 5a, 5b. The leg support 5 is adapted to receive at last a part of the lower leg 11 of rider 1. This means that the support has a shape that can receive the shape of the lower leg 11, such that the rider 1 can rest a substantial part of his weight on the leg support 5, preferably in a comfortable manner. The leg support 5 may be bowl-shaped to receive at least a part of the rider's knee and a part of the front of the rider's lower leg 11, and in a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the front of the rider's thigh 21. The leg support 5 receives at least a part of the lower leg 11 of rider 1, and in addition and at least a part of the thigh 21 of rider 1 or a part of the knee of rider 1. This prevents the rider from moving forward. In one embodiments leg support 5 receives both a part of the knee and a part of the thigh 21. The leg support 5 shown in Figs. 1-5 receives about the same length of the thigh 21 and the lower leg of the rider 1, but it may be appropriate that the part receiving the lower leg 11 is longer than the part receiving the thigh 21, as this distributes the weight of the rider 1 onto larger part of the rider's lower leg 11 in the manner shown in Figs. 6-10. However, it is important that an excessive amount of rider's thighs 21 and lower legs 11 are not enclosed by leg support 5 because it makes it difficult for the rider 1 to release from the horse 2 in a dangerous situation and also makes it difficult to get the legs into the leg support 5 when the rider 1 mounts the horse 2. The part of the leg support 5 supporting the lower legs 11 may preferably have a length of between 2 and 35 cm, more preferably between 5 and 30 cm and most preferably between 7 and 25 cm. The part of the leg support 5 receiving the thigh 21 may preferably have a length of from 0 to 18 cm, more pref- erably from 2 to 10 cm, and most preferably from 3 to 8 cm.

The rider 1 moves in relation to the horse 2 during the various gaits of the horse 2 and during jumping the horse 2. Leg supports 5a, 5b should be adapted to carry all or part of the rider's 1 weight during at least some operations of a horse riding. In some conditions, the rider may, in some embodiments, choose to sit in a more regular pose on the seat 6. In a preferred embodiment, leg supports 5a, 5b carry a major part of the weight of the rider 1. In an even more preferred embodiment the leg supports 5a, 5b carries the entire weight of the rider 1. In conventional saddles, stirrup leathers 7 and the stirrups 8 are designed to carry the full weight of the rider 1 during at least some parts of riding (such as e.g. light trot, gallop or jumping). In saddle 3, stirrup leathers 7 and stirrups 8 will carry a much smaller part of the rider's weight. Stirrups 8 and stirrups leathers 7 can therefore be made simpler and with a slightly simpler attachment than in traditional saddles.

Leg support 5 shall receive the rider 1 so that the rider's knees and legs do not move much relative to the leg support 5 during riding. The rider 1 should be able to quickly detach from the leg support 5 if necessary, for example when the rider 1 wants to demount, or in dangerous situations. In a preferred embodiment, leg support 5 covers at least a part of the outside of the rider's knee or lower leg 11, and in an even more preferred embodiment, also a part of the outside of the rider's 1 thigh 21. By the "outside" it is meant that part of the rider's leg that is faces away from the horse, i.e. the left side of the rider's left leg and the right side of the rider's right leg. In an alternative embodiment, leg support 5 has open sides and the outside of the lower leg 11, the knee and the thigh are not covered by leg support 5. The leg support 5 can be designed as a bowl or basket, and may be bowl-shaped. The leg support 5 can be formed in a material of substantially even thickness as shown in Figs. 1 to 10. Suitable materials may be fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other polymeric materials such as plastic; or aluminium, steel or leather. Leg support 5 may be partially formed in a mesh material, for example a strong nylon mesh. The leg support 5 may be designed as elongated protrusions from the saddle flap 4 which are curved to receive the lower leg 11 or the knee of the rider 1, for example rings or claws, which may be flexible.

The leg support 5 must withstand the weight of the rider 1 and movements during riding but can suitably have a certain inherent flexibility to cushion the rider's 1 movements during riding, and also to facilitate demounting from the saddle 3 and the leg sup- ports 5. The material can be selected to achieve the desired flexibility.

Parts of leg support 5 can be padded to increase the comfort of rider 1. The padding may contain a resilient material. Leg support 5 may also be formed in whole or in part as a bowl-shaped cushion or the like. In one embodiment, the leg support comprises a bowl-shaped cushion that receives the knee of the rider 1.

Leg support 5 may be divided into an upper part 14 and a lower part 15, where the lower part 15 receives at least part of the rider's lower leg 11, thereby receiving the weight of the rider, and an upper part 14 which prevents the rider's leg , such as the rider's thigh 21, from moving upwards. The upper part 14 may be adapted to receive the rider's thigh or the part where the knee passes goes over to the thigh. The upper part 14 may be shaped like a strap, such as strap 18.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper part 14 and the lower part 15 may move relative to each other. Preferably, these parts can move vertically relative to each other.

As shown in Figs. 1-5, the leg support 5 may be provided with a substantially horizontal slot 13. Slot 13 divides leg support 5 in an upper part 14 and a lower part 15. The upper part 14 and the lower part 15 may be associated with at least one substantially vertical motion limiting member 16, which may be a nylon band or heavy rubber band or strap or similar which crosses the slot 13. Fig. 4 shows two members 16a, 16b. The upper part 14 and the lower part 15 may suitably be flexible relative to each other or may be joined at hinge 17 in the front end of leg support 5. Figure 9 shows an embodiment in which the up- per part 14 and the lower part 15 of the leg support 5 is connected with a hinge 17 in the front of the leg support 5.

Leg support 5 may have a release mechanism that releases at a predetermined force, for example when the horse 2 brakes so that the rider 1 is thrown forward. Especially so- called rotational falls, where the rider 1 is thrown forward over the horse 2, are dangerous. A rotation fall may occur, for example, if the horse 2 stops so that the rider 1 is thrown forward over the horse's 2 neck. The release mechanism may be arranged such that the leg support 5 opens so that the rider 1 is released. The release mechanism may for example open vertically or horizontally, or both, where a release mechanism that opens at least vertically is preferred since it protects from rotary falls. In a preferred embodiment, the rider 1 can move upwards or forwards or both upwards and forwards relative to the horse 2 upon release. The release mechanism can be arranged, for example, comprising a part which breaks at a certain force (sacrificing part) or a flexible member, such as a rubber strap, that can snap away. The release mechanism may preferably be able to assume a retention state and an open state, where the rider 1 is more attached to the saddle 3 in the open state than the retention state. Release may be able to cause the upper part 14 moving away from the lower part 15. The release mechanism may be arranged so that it will release at a certain class of events, e.g., if the horse breaks to a complete stop or falls to the side. The force that triggers release can be tested in experiments. The force that triggers release may for example the force that an average (or low weight) rider 1 causes in relation to the saddle 3 if the horse 2 stops during galloping.

FIG. 6-9 show embodiments in which the release mechanism comprises one or more belts or straps 18, such as rubber straps, fastening across the thigh 21 of a rider 1. The belt or straps 18 releases at a predetermined force, so that the rider can release himself or is released when thrown off. Fig. 9 shows an embodiment in which the belts or straps 18 have been combined with a hinge 17 where the hinge 17 and the straps 18 cooperate upon release. The hinge 17 allows the upper part 14 of the leg support 5 to move relative to the lower part 15 of the leg support. Preferably, the hinge 17 enables vertical movement, as shown in Figure 9, but in some embodiments the hinge 17 enables horizontal movement of a part of leg support 5. The rider 1 may in some embodiments also be detached from the leg support 5 using an inherent flexibility of the leg support 5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the release mechanism may comprise the motion limiting member 16 which may disengage or break so that the upper part 14 is released from the lower part 15.

At mounting, the rider 1 may prefer to arrange the release mechanism, e.g. by tensioning on the strap 18 or motion limiting member 16 so that it is tight.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment similar to the embodiments of Figs. 6-9, but without hinge 17 or straps 18.

The leg support 5 is attached or attachable to the saddle 3, preferably attachable to the saddle flaps 4. The leg support 5 is attached so that it does not move significantly during riding in relation to the rest of the saddle 3, or the saddle flap 4. The leg support 5 can be attached with rivets, straps, straps, steel wire or the like. The leg support 5 may be reversibly attached to the saddle 3. In Figs. 7, 9 and 10 it is shown how the leg support 5 is attached to the saddle 3 with a plurality of rivets 19. Leg support 5 may be attached to an internal yoke 20 in the saddle. Yoke 20 distributes the weight of the rider 1 from the leg supports 5 to the horse's 2 back.

The potential inherent flexibility of the leg support 5 can cause parts of the leg support 5 to move slightly relative to the rest of the saddle 3 (or saddle flap 4) during riding because of any inherent flexibility in the leg support 5, the saddle 3 and the saddle flap 4. The attachment does not rule out that the leg support 5 may be adjustable in relation to the rest of the saddle 3. For example, there may be a need to raise or lower the leg support 5 on the saddle flap 4. However, such adjustment is typically not done during riding, but is preferably done when rider 1 is demounted.

That the leg support 5 is fastened means that the leg support 5 as a whole does not move considerably in relation to the rest of the saddle 3. In particular it means that the fixation points of leg support 5 that is attached to the rest of the saddle 3 does not move relative to the saddle.

The leg support 5 may preferably cause the rider 1 to have a position where the lower leg 11 has a substantially smaller angle to the horizontal plane 9 than in conventional saddles. This is evident from Figs. 1, 5 and 6. The part of the leg support 5 which receives the lower leg 11 may thus be attached to the saddle cover 4 at such an angle that the lower leg 11 of rider 1 has the desired angle. Fig. 5 shows the angle a between the horizontal plane 9 and the direction 10 of the rider's lower leg 11. In one embodiment, the leg sup- port 5 holds the rider 1 such that the angle a between the rider's lower leg 11 and the horizontal plane is at most 45 °, more preferably at most 30 ° and most preferably at most 20 °. In conventional saddles, a is usually between 90 ° and 70 °. The leg support 5 cooperates with stirrup leather 7 and stirrup 8 such that the stirrup leather 7 and stirrup 8 makes it possible for the rider 1 to use his foot 12 to press his knee forward in the leg support 5. Thereby fixing himself in the stance. The stirrup leathers 7 may preferably have an angle of at most than 45 °, more preferably most 30 ° and most preferably at most 20° relative to the horizontal plane 9. The direction of the stirrup leathers 7 may be substantially parallel to the direction 10 of the lower leg 11, as seen in Fig. 5. The stirrup leather 7 is attached to the saddle 3. In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 11, the stirrup leathers 7 run behind the saddle flap 4. This may reduce the risk of chafing between the lower leg 11 and the stirrup leather 7. The stirrup leather 7 is attached inside the saddle flaps 4, for example attached to the yoke 20 or other part of the saddle 3. The stirrup leathers 7 hang straight down if they are not used and he figures show the posi- tion of stirrup leathers 7 when used by a rider 1. The leg supports 5 may be provided separately from the saddle 3. Alternatively, the leg supports 5 may be provided together with the saddle 3 as a kit. The kit may also provide fastening devices for fastening the leg supports 5 to the saddle 3. The leg supports 5 may be provided in different sizes to fit the body of different riders.