A comfort bridge for use with an English saddle. The bridge is formed of sole bend leather of a particular size, shape, and thickness positioned between a tree point and the back of the saddle tree. The bridge is placed on each side of the saddle and either placed within a panel or attached thereto. The bridge increases the structural support area by carrying the rider's weight over a larger area under the rider's leg. Each bridge is tapered around the edges to provide a smooth connection to the saddle panel, and provide for the comfort of the rider by avoiding the large material stuffing mass that has been traditionally used in the saddle panels of early designs.

A comfort bridge for use with an English saddle. The bridge is formed of sole bend leather of a particular size, shape, and thickness positioned between a tree point and the back of the saddle tree. The bridge is placed on each side of the saddle and either placed within a panel or attached thereto. The bridge increases the structural support area by carrying the rider's weight over a larger area under the rider's leg. Each bridge is tapered around the edges to provide a smooth connection to the saddle panel, and provide for the comfort of the rider by avoiding the large material stuffing mass that has been traditionally used in the saddle panels of early designs.

An adjustable gullet plate with interchangeable, adjustable portions and joints which are connected and secured to one another using interlocking elements and fasteners. The adjustable gullet plate may include interlocking elements equally spaced at or at about known increments and terminal portions connected successively to create points of adjustment. The gullet plate may be adjusted into an asymmetric configuration to fit a horse with an asymmetric body shape. The adjustable gullet plate can be installed in a saddle and then be adjusted to fit a horse's body shape by accessing at least one fastener securing an adjustable joint, loosening the fastener to disengage interlocking elements to permit radial movement, adjusting the radial displacement and interior angle of at least one adjustable portion to fit a horse's body shape, and tightening the fastener to reengage the interlocking elements and prevent further radial movement.

An adjustable gullet plate with interchangeable, adjustable portions and joints which are connected and secured to one another using interlocking elements and fasteners. The adjustable gullet plate may include interlocking elements equally spaced at or at about known increments and terminal portions connected successively to create points of adjustment. The gullet plate may be adjusted into an asymmetric configuration to fit a horse with an asymmetric body shape. The adjustable gullet plate can be installed in a saddle and then be adjusted to fit a horse's body shape by accessing at least one fastener securing an adjustable joint, loosening the fastener to disengage interlocking elements to permit radial movement, adjusting the radial displacement and interior angle of at least one adjustable portion to fit a horse's body shape, and tightening the fastener to reengage the interlocking elements and prevent further radial movement.

A locking headplate of the configuration of the saddle tree of a riding saddle comprises two rigid headplate arms, each suitable for being fixed to a respective lateral front portion of the saddle tree. The two headplate arms have mutual connection end portions which form a headplate hinge for a rotation of one headplate arm with respect to the other about an axis of rotation. The end portions are further fitted with facing blocking surfaces shaped in a complementary manner so as to block, when placed in mutual contact, the rotation of the headplate arms. The headplate is further provided with arm translation means operable to translate one arm with respect to the other along the axis of rotation so as to cause the engagement and disengagement of said blocking surfaces, said arm translation means being accessible through a front access opening coaxial to the axis of rotation.

A locking headplate of the configuration of the saddle tree of a riding saddle comprises two rigid headplate arms, each suitable for being fixed to a respective lateral front portion of the saddle tree. The two headplate arms have mutual connection end portions which form a headplate hinge for a rotation of one headplate arm with respect to the other about an axis of rotation. The end portions are further fitted with facing blocking surfaces shaped in a complementary manner so as to block, when placed in mutual contact, the rotation of the headplate arms. The headplate is further provided with arm translation means operable to translate one arm with respect to the other along the axis of rotation so as to cause the engagement and disengagement of said blocking surfaces, said arm translation means being accessible through a front access opening coaxial to the axis of rotation.

Saddle with passively morphing interface panels and method of use, wherein passively morphing interface panels morphs in surface profile to be reshaped upon contact with a supporting surface of a horse's dynamic back and of horses of varying sizes and shapes, so that a direct load path is created from the riders concentrated downward weight on a chassis through a pair of symmetrically opposed line of contact edges, aligned with tilted sagittal plane sections through the horse's back surface, and making contact with the midline area of opposed pair of elements made of rigid materials that are caused to tip out of plane until moment forces are balanced, which occurs when the element's entire length makes contact with the supporting horse's back causing the elements interface's surface profile to be reshaped, without directed input, to momentarily match the varying supporting surface profiles of a horse's dynamic back.

Saddle with passively morphing interface panels and method of use, wherein passively morphing interface panels morphs in surface profile to be reshaped upon contact with a supporting surface of a horse's dynamic back and of horses of varying sizes and shapes, so that a direct load path is created from the riders concentrated downward weight on a chassis through a pair of symmetrically opposed line of contact edges, aligned with tilted sagittal plane sections through the horse's back surface, and making contact with the midline area of opposed pair of elements made of rigid materials that are caused to tip out of plane until moment forces are balanced, which occurs when the element's entire length makes contact with the supporting horse's back causing the elements interface's surface profile to be reshaped, without directed input, to momentarily match the varying supporting surface profiles of a horse's dynamic back.

A saddle having a pair of rockrail edges along each lateral side of the saddle, where the rockrail edges serve as fulcrums, that bear on multiple, rigid load bearing arms that teeter totter with the horse in motion, instantly morphing to match the horse's back in order to better distribute the weight of a rider. A saddle pad having multiple, rigid load bearing arms that teeter totter about a fulcrum with a conventional saddle, instantly morphing to the horse's back in order to better distribute the weight of a rider and reduce peak loads.

A saddle having a pair of rockrail edges along each lateral side of the saddle, where the rockrail edges serve as fulcrums, that bear on multiple, rigid load bearing arms that teeter totter with the horse in motion, instantly morphing to match the horse's back in order to better distribute the weight of a rider. A saddle pad having multiple, rigid load bearing arms that teeter totter about a fulcrum with a conventional saddle, instantly morphing to the horse's back in order to better distribute the weight of a rider and reduce peak loads.