A horseman-securing device is configured in order to prevent a horseman sitting on the back of a four-legged animal from falling off, or being able to fall off the animal. It comprises securing device by means of which the horseman, in use, is releasably secured to the animal. The securing device is configured to secure the horseman secured to the animal in such a way that the horseman retains the freedom of movement to hinge his knee joints.

A method of changing the angle of the seat of a saddle used for riding horses. This invention requires a removable or detachable seat cover under which is a flexible seat, front of which may be raised or lowered for maximum rider comfort. This is achieved by using spacers under the front of the seat structure, which is called a ground seat, in saddle making nomenclature. This invention allows saddle seat configuration to be optimized for different riding conditions or disciplines, which traditionally use saddles that have differing seat angles, to optimize rider position and comfort for that discipline.

A kit-of-parts configured to adjust a fit of an English saddle includes a base and a shim having a predetermined thickness. The shim is releasably connected to the base to allow selective replacement thereof, and the base is affixable to, or integrated with, one of left and right tree points of a rigid saddle tree. The releasable connection includes a guide for providing a reproducible and predetermined locking engagement of the shim relative to the base to guarantee that the shims are arrangeable on the same position and orientation relative to the respective one of the left or right tree points. A saddle including such a kit-of-parts and corresponding method for adjusting the fit of a saddle.