Abstract:
A headpiece for a bridlery item for use with a horse or other equine animal is disclosed, which provides for improved communication between a horse and a rider, and/or improved comfort for the horse. Such a headpiece is connectable to a browband and has a first side piece and a second side piece wherein the first and second side pieces are connected by an articulated linkage above a connection between the headpiece and said browband. Articulation provides a degree of freedom of movement so that the first side piece and second side piece may move relative to one another and in doing so reduce the amount of tension transmitted between them and thus between reins, in use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an equestrian headpiece, such as is employed in bridlery items such as head collars, halters, bridles or lunging cavessons for example, for a horse or other equine animal, as well as to a bridlery item including such a headpiece. 
         [0002]    In the following description, the invention will be described with reference to a bridle. As noted above, it is equally applicable to other forms of equestrian headpieces for use as part of bridlery items such as head collars, halters, and lunging cavessons, which shall be considered as included within the term “bridle”. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Communication between a horse (or other equine animal such as a donkey) and a rider can be established by the use of a bridle, and (where incorporated) a bit which is generally placed in the horse&#39;s mouth, in use.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional arrangement in which the horse (of which only the head  10  is shown) has a bit  12  located in its mouth  32  between its teeth (with just the end of the bit being visible, therefore). Force or pressure can be applied to the bit  12  by the rider by manipulating one or more reins (not shown), which are connected to the bit  12  via bit rings  14  and extend rearwardly to be held by a rider seated on the horse&#39;s back. Typically, there is a bit ring  14  at either end of the bit  12  and the reins are joined to the bit rings  14 . Traditionally, the bit  12  is held in place and prevented from falling out of the horse&#39;s mouth by a bridle  16 , which generally comprises a headpiece  18 , a noseband  20   a ,  20   b , a browband  22 , cheekpieces  24  and a throatlash  26 . The cheekpieces  24  extend generally upwards from the bit rings  14  on either side of the horse&#39;s head  10  alongside its cheeks  28 , and are connected to or integral with the headpiece  18  that extends over the top of the horse&#39;s head  10  behind its ears  30 . Thus, the bit  12  cannot fall downwards and out of the horse&#39;s mouth  32  while the cheekpieces  24  and headpiece  18  are in place. To keep them in the correct position, the browband  22  extends forward across the horse&#39;s brow from the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24 , between the eyes  36  and ears  30 . This prevents the bridle  16  from slipping backwards. Likewise, the throatlash  26  extends downwardly and rearwardly from the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24 , and passes under the horse&#39;s throat, preventing forward movement of the upper part of the bridle. 
         [0004]    Further stabilisation is usually provided by the noseband  20   a ,  20   b , which passes around the horse&#39;s head  10  below the eyes  36  and in the vicinity of the bit rings  14 ; one or more nosebands  20   a  and  20   b  may be provided and are linked back to the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24  by noseband attachment straps  38 , in this case one on either side that run substantially alongside the cheekpieces  24 . Having separate cheekpieces  24  and noseband attachment straps  38  allows the bit rings  14  and cheekpieces  24  to move forward and back relative to the horse&#39;s head  10  in response to changes of forces exerted on the reins by way of manipulation by the rider. 
         [0005]    Many different arrangements of bridlery items have been used or suggested, which are configured differently, but to which similar principles apply and thus may have the principles of the present invention applied to them. For example, a bitless bridle provides communication from the rider to the horse by way of changes of forces exerted by the reins (by manipulation by the rider) on the noseband. The same principles apply to such an arrangement as to the examples described herein. 
         [0006]    Bridle design is usually concerned with two key factors: clarity of communication between the rider and the horse; and comfort of the horse. Known bridle arrangements can suffer from distorted communication because tension can be transmitted through the bridle from a rein on one side of the bit to the other side of the bit via the headpiece. Uncomfortable bridles may also reduce the ability of the horse to work effectively and reduce the clarity of communication between rider and horse. Significant efforts have been invested in designing padding and shaping of headpieces so as to fit the headpiece to commonplace horse characteristics, with the aim of directing pressure away from the most sensitive areas of the horse&#39;s head. This is of course made more complex by the fact that different horses have different sizes and shapes of head. 
         [0007]    However, there is sometimes a tension between the provision of a bridle which is comfortable for the horse and one which provides clear communication from the rider to the horse. For example, with the aim of reducing pressure which can occur on the poll of a horse&#39;s head, i.e. just below the headpiece, padding is sometimes added to a part of the headpiece which rests on the horse&#39;s head. This may then add rigidity to the headpiece and thus aid, if not increase, transmission of tension across and through the bridle. 
         [0008]    In recent years there has also been a trend in this field towards using non-traditional synthetic materials and/or differently-produced traditional materials in bridles. This is in response to a decline in the availability of traditionally-produced leathers in favour of leathers that, for the same strength, need to be thicker and are therefore more stiff. There are also accessory products available for attachment to existing headpieces. Use of such materials or accessories may have various advantages, but generally the properties of the materials used do not match those of traditional high-quality leathers used in the past. For example, neoprene-padded headpieces and headpiece accessories have been associated with additional thickness and stiffness compared with traditional leather headpieces. These factors can result in a headpiece transmitting more tension through the bridle than may be desirable, and the headpiece may also tip forward and back when the horse is working. Both these factors can cause discomfort to the horse especially if, during any tipping, the headpiece encroaches on the horse&#39;s ears or other sensitive area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention aims to provide a headpiece for a bridle which provides for improved communication between a horse and a rider, and/or improved comfort for the horse. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a headpiece for a bridle (or the like), the headpiece connectable to a browband, the headpiece having a first side piece and a second side piece wherein the first and second side pieces are connected by an articulated linkage and wherein the articulated linkage is above a connection between the headpiece and said browband, in use. 
         [0011]    The articulated linkage may comprise a first joint between the first side piece and a central piece and a second joint between the second side piece and the central piece. 
         [0012]    Articulation provides a degree of freedom of movement so that the first side piece and second side piece may move relative to one another and any central piece and in doing so reduce the amount of tension transmitted between them and thus between reins, in use. 
         [0013]    The first and second side pieces may connect with the rest of a bridle, for example cheekpieces, throatlashes, a browband, etc., by any suitable means. One or both of the side pieces may be formed integrally with another element of a bridle such as the cheekpiece, for example. 
         [0014]    This arrangement reduces the movement of the part of the headpiece which rests at the poll of the horse&#39;s head, when one or more reins are tensioned by the rider. Thus, in addition to improving communication between rider and horse, the horse&#39;s comfort is also improved. The size and shape of horses&#39; heads vary; it is known to provide a variety of shapes and sizes of headpiece to cater for commonplace shapes and sizes. However, known headpieces are unlikely to be a precise match for an individual horse due to variation within commonplace groupings of shape and size. The present invention addresses this by allowing greater freedom for the headpiece to settle into the best possible position on a particular horse&#39;s head, even when the horse is moving. 
         [0015]    One or more of the joints may comprise a ring, although other forms of join or transition that allow the necessary articulation are also possible. One alternative to a joint envisaged herein may comprise a piece of elastic material, linking two pieces and joined thereto by, for example, stitching. 
         [0016]    Rings may provide for a degree of articulation in several dimensions. This allows a degree of freedom of movement of the side pieces relative to one another while enabling the central piece to remain substantially in its desired position. 
         [0017]    This arrangement aids both improved communication and improved comfort. As an example, a backward pull on one rein will not be transmitted to the same extent to the central piece or to the side piece on the opposite side from the rein being pulled, under this arrangement compared with previous arrangements. 
         [0018]    The rings may be connected to the side pieces and/or the central piece by way of a loop, or by loops formed in said pieces, or by a stitched fold in a part of the side piece or central piece, or by other suitable means. 
         [0019]    One or more of the rings may be a D-ring. The D-rings may be arranged so that the substantially straight portion of the “D” is joined to a side piece and the substantially curved portion is joined to the central piece. 
         [0020]    The use of D-rings arranged in this way encourages the central piece to remain stationary when one or more side pieces are moved. 
         [0021]    At least a portion of the central piece may be formed of a flexible resilient material. Flexibility is important for the absorption of at least some tension which may be imparted to the central piece by one or more of the side pieces. Resilience is important for the return of the central piece to an original state after any deformation which may arise as a result of tension which may be imparted to the central piece by one of more of the side pieces. 
         [0022]    Preferred materials for the central piece include leather such as but not limited to cow&#39;s leather or deer-skin, knitted or woven materials or a suitable synthetic material. The piece may be solid or may be an outer layer enveloping a padding material, for example. 
         [0023]    A further aspect of the present invention arises as bridles may be modular, in that they are provided in discrete parts for assembly by a user before being placed on a horse. Bridles may also be provided as an integrated product including a headpiece as described above. Alternatively, some parts may be provided as an integrated product and others as discrete parts, the sum being suitable for assembly by a user. 
         [0024]    The present invention thus also relates to a bridlery item comprising a headpiece having a first side piece and a second side piece wherein the first and second side pieces are connected by an articulated linkage. The bridlery item may comprise any of the other features of the headpiece as described herein. 
         [0025]    The bridlery item may be provided as a sequence of: a first side piece, an articulated join, a central piece, a further articulated join, and a second side piece, the bridlery item adapted for connection to a browband below the articulated joins, in use. 
         [0026]    The bridlery item may have one or more further elements joined to the sequence including a throatlash and a noseband. 
         [0027]    The headpiece, bridlery item or sequence may be provided as a kit of parts. 
         [0028]    The present invention is applicable to many designs of bridle, for example the traditional bridle as well as a double bridle such as may have further strap and cheekpieces linking to a second or “Weymouth” bit operated by a second pair of reins. Within the scope of suitable bridles there are many types of noseband, browband, cheekpiece and throatlash which are suitable for use with the present invention. The present invention can also apply to head collars, halters, bitless bridles and lunging cavessons and other forms of bridlery item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which; 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional arrangement of a bridle including a headpiece; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a headpiece according to the present invention in use on a horse&#39;s head, but without the other parts of a bridle shown to aid clarity; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows the headpiece of  FIG. 2  in use, with a side piece in a different position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  shows the headpiece of  FIG. 2  in use, with both side pieces in a different position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative arrangement of a headpiece according to the present invention in use on a horse&#39;s head, but without the other parts of a bridle shown to aid clarity; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a further alternative arrangement of a headpiece according to the present invention in use on a horse&#39;s head, but without the other parts of a bridle shown to aid clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional arrangement in which the horse (of which only, the head  10  is shown) has a bit  12  located in its mouth  32  between its teeth (with just the end of the bit being visible, therefore). Reins (not shown) are connected to the bit  12  via bit rings  14  and extend rearwardly to be held by a rider seated on the horse&#39;s back. Typically, there is a bit ring  14  at either end of the bit  12  and the reins are joined to the bit rings  14 . Traditionally, the bit  12  is held in place and prevented from falling out of the horse&#39;s mouth by a bridle  16 , which generally comprises a headpiece  18 , a noseband  20   a ,  20   b , a browband  22 , cheekpieces  24  and a throatlash  26 . The cheekpieces  24  extend generally upwards from the bit rings  14  on either side of the horse&#39;s head  10  alongside its cheeks  28 , and are connected to or integral with the headpiece  18  that extends over the top of the horse&#39;s head  10  behind its ears  30 . Thus, the bit  12  cannot fall downwards and out of the horse&#39;s mouth  32  while the cheekpieces  24  and headpiece  18  are in place. To keep them in the correct position, the browband  22  extends forward across the horse&#39;s brow from the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24 , between the eyes  36  and ears  30 . This prevents the bridle  16  from slipping backwards. Likewise, the throatlash  26  extends downwardly and rearwardly from the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24 , and passes under the horse&#39;s throat, preventing forward movement of the upper part of the bridle. 
         [0037]    Further stabilisation is usually provided by the noseband  20   a ,  20   b , which passes around the horse&#39;s head  10  below the eyes  36  and in the vicinity of the bit rings  14 ; one or more nosebands  20   a  and  20   b  may be provided and are linked back to the junction  34  between the headpiece  18  and the cheekpieces  24  by noseband attachment straps  38 , usually one on either side that run substantially alongside the cheekpieces  24 . Having separate cheekpieces  24  and noseband attachment straps  38  allows the bit rings  14  and cheekpieces  24  to move forward and back relative to the horse&#39;s head  10  in response to pressure exerted on the reins by the rider. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a headpiece according to the present invention, which may be used with a bridle substantially as described above or as shown in  FIG. 1 . The headpiece  18  is formed of an elongate looped central piece  40  having an upper loop portion  40   a  and lower loop portion  40   b . The central piece  40  encompasses curved portions of two D-rings  42 ,  44 , with a first D-ring  42  at a first end of the central piece  40  and a second D-ring  44  at a second end of the central piece  40 . The D-rings  42 ,  44  are in turn connected to respective side pieces  46 ,  48 : the first D-ring  42  is connected to a first side piece  46  and the second D-ring  44  is connected to a second side piece  48 . The connections between the side pieces  46 ,  48  and the respective D-rings  42 ,  44  are made by a loop formed in each side piece which engages with a straight portion of each D-ring  42 ,  44 . The side pieces  46 ,  48  may be connected to, extend into, or form part of the cheekpieces, throatlash and/or noseband. The lower portion  40   b  of the central piece  40  lies substantially flat on the horse&#39;s head  10 , in use. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows the headpiece of  FIG. 2 , in a position where the first side piece  46  has been moved from its position shown in  FIG. 2 , shown as dashed lines  46   a  in  FIG. 3 . The change of position of the first side piece  46  is reflected in a rotation of the D-ring  42  with respect to the central piece  40 , in that the straight portion of the D-ring  42  has not moved relative to the first side piece  46  but instead the curved portion of the D-ring  42  has been caused to slip within the looped central piece  40 , so that the central piece  40  has not moved. Thus, while the first side piece  46  has been moved, the rest of the headpiece  18  has not moved: the central piece  40  remains in the same position in respect of the horse&#39;s head  10 , as does the second side piece  48 . The movement of the first side piece  46  thus has not transmitted tension to the second side piece  48  and, in turn, to an end of a bit (not shown) which may in turn be connected via components of the bridle (not shown) to the second side piece  48 . The lower portion  40   b  of the central piece  40  remains lying substantially flat on the horse&#39;s head  10 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows the headpiece of  FIG. 2 , with the first side piece  46  in the same position as shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4 , the second side piece  48  has been moved from its position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , shown as dashed lines  48   a  in  FIG. 4 . The change of position of the second side piece  48  is reflected in a rotation of the D-ring  44  with respect to the central piece  40 , in that the straight portion of the D-ring  44  has not moved relative to the second side piece  48  but instead the curved portion of the D-ring  44  been caused to slip within the looped central piece  40 , so that the central piece  40  has not moved. Thus, while the second side piece  48  has been moved, the rest of the headpiece  18  has not moved from its position shown in  FIG. 3 : the central piece  40  remains in the same position in respect of the horse&#39;s head  10 , as does the first side piece  46 . The movement of the second side piece  48  thus has not transmitted tension to the first side piece  46  and, in turn, to and end of a bit (not shown) which may in turn be connected via components of the bridle (not shown) to the first side piece  46 . The lower portion  40   b  of the central piece  40  remains lying substantially flat on the horse&#39;s head  10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a headpiece according to the present invention, which may be used with a bridle substantially as described above or as shown in  FIG. 1 . The headpiece  18  is formed of an elongate central piece  40 . The central piece  40  has been folded back on itself and stitched at either end to form loops  50 ,  52  which encompass curved portions of two D-rings  42 ,  44 , with a first D-ring  42  at a first end of the central piece  40  and a second D-ring  44  at a second end of the central piece  40 . The D-rings  42 ,  44  are in turn connected to respective side pieces  46 ,  48 : the first D-ring  42  is connected to a first side piece  46  and the second D-ring  44  is connected to a second side piece  48 . The connections between the side pieces  46 ,  48  and the respective D-rings  42 ,  44  are made by a loop formed in each side piece which engages with a straight portion of each D-ring  42 ,  44 . The side pieces  46 ,  48  may be connected to, extend into, or form part of the cheekpieces, throatlash and/or noseband. The central piece  40  lies substantially flat on the horse&#39;s head  10 , in use. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a headpiece according to the present invention, which may be used with a bridle substantially as described above or as shown in  FIG. 1 . The headpiece  18  is formed of an elongate central piece  40 . The central piece  40  has joined to each end an elastic piece  54 ,  56  which is in turn joined to respective side pieces  46 ,  48 . The side pieces  46 ,  48  may be connected to, extend into, or form part of the cheekpieces, throatlash and/or noseband. The central piece  40  lies substantially flat on the horse&#39;s head  10 , in use. 
         [0043]    It will of course be understood that many variations may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.