Why 'flat to the strap'

[vespaboy]

?

[Quizmonster]

As a day has passed without a response, Vespaboy, could you give us an example of the circumstances in which you have heard the phrase used?
Does it mean something along the lines of "to the max" as "to the floor" does in motoring terms...ie that's where the accelerator pedal is?

[vespaboy]

Thats the one Quizmonster.

Towards the end of our shift a colleague turned to me and said 'thank god that ones finished we have been 'flat to the strap all night''

I knew what he meant but neither off us new the origins of the phrase.

Cheers

[Quizmonster]

In that case, here's a possibility. The following is an extract from a website about horse-riding...
"One guideline universal to all seats is the perpendicular line through the ear, shoulder, hip, and heel. When a rider�s body deviates from this line, the rider will have to compensate with another part of his body. This weakens the aids in several areas. As a rider strives to meet the line with heels down and foot flat on the stirrup iron, a strength and balance is achieved that locks the rider into a strong, balanced position."
I just wonder whether your colleague might have misheard 'strap' for 'stirrup' as 'flat to the stirrup' seems a likely phrase in equestrianism.