The present invention includes a mechanical roping apparatus and method for practicing animal roping, the apparatus comprising: a animal assembly that provides an up and down motion and simulates a hopping motion by the animal; a leg assembly mounted at the rear of the frame wherein the leg members are movable with respect to the frame and stimulate a running motion; an actuation assembly to move the leg members from a forward position to a rear position; and one or more indicia that indicates to the user when the leg members are in an optimal position for roping, and then they are not accessible for roping and then the legs are accessible for roping.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a balance exercise training equipment having a planar platform with a ballast assembly that lowers its center of mass below a ball-and-socket joint. In an illustrative example, the planar platform may couple to a support assembly through the ball and socket joint to pivot and rotate relative to the support assembly. The ballast assembly may include laterally extending members to releasably receive and retain ballast plates. In response to the laterally extending members receiving and retaining ballast plates, the center of mass may descend below a pivot point of the ball-and-socket joint. In a mount or dismount mode, a locking mechanism may lock the planar platform in a predetermined position to facilitate mounting and dismounting onto the planar platform. Advantageously, a user may adjust the center of mass in accordance with a user's skill level or exercise preference.

A horse shaped riding trainer and method of constructing a horse shaped riding trainer. The riding trainer includes a horse shaped riding structure, a convex shaped, rotating platform, and a post for mounting the horse shaped riding structure to the convex shaped, rotating platform.

A horse shaped riding trainer and method of constructing a horse shaped riding trainer. The riding trainer includes a horse shaped riding structure, a convex shaped, rotating platform, and a post for mounting the horse shaped riding structure to the convex shaped, rotating platform.

The present invention relates to a highly-simulated horseback riding machine, comprising supporting horse feet, a horse head, a horse hide, and a saddle. A movement mechanism is disposed within the horse hide, which comprises a base, a motor, a crank, a connecting rod, and a swing arm. Two ends of the connecting rod are hinged to the crank and the swing arm, respectively. The sum of length of the crank and the length the swing arm is less than the length of the connecting rod, and the length of the crank is less than that of the swing arm; the lower end of the swing arm is fixed to the base, and the fixed position of the lower end of the swing arm is higher than the position of the highest point of the crank in the process of rotation; the saddle is fixed to the connecting rod by means of a vertical rod; and the base is supported by the horse feet. The horse feet are in a double-splayed form so as to ensure that the horseback riding machine may not bounce unexpectedly in motion. With the movement mechanism in the horseback riding machine of the present invention, the motion trajectory at the saddle is made similar to an ellipse slantwise downwards with achieved characteristic of being slow at the highest and lowest positions in the process of motion. Speed varies between the highest and lowest speeds; thus, as compared with the actual horseback riding, the simulation similarity is above 80% when a horse is running.

The present invention relates to a highly-simulated horseback riding machine, comprising supporting horse feet, a horse head, a horse hide, and a saddle. A movement mechanism is disposed within the horse hide, which comprises a base, a motor, a crank, a connecting rod, and a swing arm. Two ends of the connecting rod are hinged to the crank and the swing arm, respectively. The sum of length of the crank and the length the swing arm is less than the length of the connecting rod, and the length of the crank is less than that of the swing arm; the lower end of the swing arm is fixed to the base, and the fixed position of the lower end of the swing arm is higher than the position of the highest point of the crank in the process of rotation; the saddle is fixed to the connecting rod by means of a vertical rod; and the base is supported by the horse feet. The horse feet are in a double-splayed form so as to ensure that the horseback riding machine may not bounce unexpectedly in motion. With the movement mechanism in the horseback riding machine of the present invention, the motion trajectory at the saddle is made similar to an ellipse slantwise downwards with achieved characteristic of being slow at the highest and lowest positions in the process of motion. Speed varies between the highest and lowest speeds; thus, as compared with the actual horseback riding, the simulation similarity is above 80% when a horse is running.

An exercise equipment with an improved connecting bar connecting an exercise foot retaining device to a resistance, wherein a first longitudinal pedal bar is connected to a first bent longitudinal pedal connector bar and a second longitudinal pedal bar is connected to a second bent longitudinal pedal connector bar, the first and second bent longitudinal pedal connector bars each having a bent angle greater than zero and less than ninety degrees to thereby prevent an occurrence of a dead angle.

A physical fitness device that simulates the motion of horseback riding. Innovative features of the present invention include a horseback riding simulation post which extends both vertically, at a vertical angle toward a rider seated on the device, and an upwardly extending longitudinal section which extends toward a rider on the exercise device seat and terminates in a transverse handle which enables the user to grasp the handle with both hands or one hand. There are a pair of parallel crank arms with a respective one of the crank arms adjacent opposite sides of the exercise device with each crank arm having an upwardly extending section extending forwardly or rearwardly.

A physical fitness device that simulates the motion of horseback riding. Innovative features of the present invention include a horseback riding simulation post which extends both vertically, at a vertical angle toward a rider seated on the device, and an upwardly extending longitudinal section which extends toward a rider on the exercise device seat and terminates in a transverse handle which enables the user to grasp the handle with both hands or one hand. There are a pair of parallel crank arms with a respective one of the crank arms adjacent opposite sides of the exercise device with each crank arm having an upwardly extending section extending forwardly or rearwardly.

A physical fitness device that simulates the motion of horseback riding. Innovative features of the present invention include a horseback riding simulation post which extends both vertically, at a vertical angle toward a rider seated on the device, and an upwardly extending longitudinal section which extends toward a rider on the exercise device seat and terminates in a transverse handle which enables the user to grasp the handle with both hands or one hand. There are a pair of parallel crank arms with a respective one of the crank arms adjacent opposite sides of the exercise device with each crank arm having an upwardly extending section extending forwardly or rearwardly.