Abstract:
An instructional system for placing headgear on an animal such as a horse including a headgear assembly such as a halter or bridle, wherein the headgear assembly further includes multiple interconnected structural components; and a plurality of individual color-coded sleeves releasably mounted on certain of the independent interconnected components, wherein the color of each of the color-coded member corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing the headgear assembly on the head of the animal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/208,492 filed on Aug. 12, 2011 and entitled “Bridle and Halter Instructional System”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. utility patent application for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The described invention relates in general to devices and methods for guiding or handling animals, and more specifically to a color-coded instructional system for properly placing headgear on an animal such as a horse. 
         [0003]    The safe handling of large animals such as horses and/or other livestock typically involves the use of a headgear assembly such as a halter or a bridle. While these devices are very common, proper placement of a halter or a bridle on the head of a horse is not intuitive and if not done correctly may result in injury to the animal, the person working with the animal, or both. Few educational devices or methods are available for providing would-be equestrians with effective training with regard to haltering and/or bridling a horse. Therefore, there is an ongoing need for an easy to use and easy to understand instructional system for accomplishing these or similar tasks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The following provides a summary of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an instructional system for placing headgear on an animal is provided. This system includes a headgear assembly such as a halter or bridle, wherein the headgear assembly further includes multiple interconnected structural components; and a plurality of individual color-coded members releasably mounted on certain of the independent interconnected components, wherein the color of each of the color-coded member corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing the headgear assembly on the head of the animal. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an instructional system for placing headgear on an animal such as a horse is provided. This system includes a headgear assembly such as a halter or bridle, wherein the headgear assembly further includes multiple interconnected structural components that include a crownpiece, first and second cheekpieces, a noseband, a throatlatch, and a connecting strap disposed between the noseband and the throatlatch; and a plurality of color-coded members releasably mounted on certain of the interconnected components, wherein the color of each of the color-coded member corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing the headgear assembly on the head of the animal. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect of this invention, an instructional system for placing headgear on an animal such as a horse or other livestock is provided. This system includes a headgear assembly such as a halter or bridle, wherein the headgear assembly further includes multiple interconnected structural components that include a crownpiece, a browband, a throatlatch, a noseband, a first cheekpiece having a first bit ring attached thereto, a second cheekpiece having a second bit ring attached thereto, a first rein attached to the first bit ring, and a second rein attached to the second bit ring; and a plurality of color-coded members releasably mounted on certain of the interconnected components, wherein the color of each of the color-coded member corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing the headgear assembly on the head of the animal. 
         [0008]    Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a horse halter in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a horse bridle in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
         [0013]    A halter is typically used to lead or tie up livestock and other animals. This device fits behind the animal&#39;s ears and around its muzzle. A lead line or leash is typically attached to the halter and is used to lead or tie the animal. The purpose of a halter is to catch, hold, lead and tie an animal; however, a halter is not intended for use in riding an animal such as a horse. The primary difference between a halter and a bridle is that a halter is used by a handler on the ground to lead or tie up an animal, but a bridle is generally used by an individual who is riding an animal. Most if not all halters include a crownpiece; a throatlatch; at least two cheekpieces; a noseband; a tie ring; and various buckles and metal connecting rings that function as articulation points in most versions of the item. 
         [0014]    With specific reference to  FIG. 1 , horse halter  100  includes crownpiece  120  that further includes left and right buckles  122  and  124 , respectively. Crownpiece  120  is connected to left cheekpiece  130  by left connecting ring  126  and to right cheekpiece  132  by right connecting ring  128 . Left cheekpiece  130  is connected to left connecting ring  134  and right cheekpiece  132  is connected to right connecting ring  136 . Noseband  137  includes nosepiece  138  and left and right chinpiece segments  140  and  142  respectively. Left connecting ring  134  also connects nosepiece  138  to left chinpiece segment  140  and right connecting ring  136  also connects the opposite side of nosepiece  138  to right chinpiece segment  142 . Tie ring  144  connects the two chinpiece segments to one another. Connecting strap  146  runs between tie ring  144  and left and right throatlatch segments  148  and  150  respectively. Right throatlatch segment  150  connects to right connecting ring  128 . Left throatlatch segment  148  broadens into segment  152  which is attached to snap or clasp  154 , which in turn attaches to left connecting ring  126 . In this exemplary embodiment, a green member or sleeve is mounted on crownpiece  120  (the phrase “behind ears” may be printed on this sleeve); a red sleeve is mounted on right cheekpiece  132  (the word “right” may be printed on this sleeve); a blue sleeve is mounted on left cheekpiece  130  (the word “left” may be printed on this sleeve); a yellow sleeve is mounted on nosepiece  138  (the word “nose” may be printed on this sleeve); an orange sleeve is mounted on connecting strap  146  (the word “chin” may be printed on this sleeve); and a grey sleeve is mounted on throatlatch segment  152  (the word “hook” may be printed on this sleeve). The individual colors of the color-coded sleeves and any instructional text printed thereon may be varied or substituted for one another in any number of combinations in alternate embodiments of this invention. 
         [0015]    As previously indicated, the color of each sleeve corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing halter  100  on the head of the animal. Using the color-coded scheme described above, an exemplary method for placing halter  100  on the head of the animal includes a trainee executing the steps of: (i) standing on the left side of a horse, pony, or foal, unbuckle halter  100 ; (ii) placing the green sleeved portion in the right hand; (iii) the animal&#39;s mouth and nose go down and through so that the yellow sleeved portion fits over the nose; (iv) at the same time and with the right hand holding the green sleeved portion, sliding up the front of the animal&#39;s face, and pulling crownpiece  120  over behind ears; (v) engaging the clasp at the end of the grey sleeved portion; and (vi) attaching a lead rope to tie ring  144 , which is located at the forward end of the orange sleeved portion. The red (right) and blue (left) sleeves mounted on the cheekpieces assist with proper orientation of halter  100  relative to the animal&#39;s head. 
         [0016]    A bridle is used to direct a horse while seated on the animal. While there are a number of different configurations for a bridle, most horse bridles include a crownpiece that is placed over the horse&#39;s head just behind the animal&#39;s ears for holding the remaining parts of the bridle in place; at least two cheekpieces that attach to either side of the crownpiece and run down the side of the horse&#39;s face, along the cheekbone and attach to the bit rings; a throatlatch that runs from the horse&#39;s right ear, under the horse&#39;s throat, and attaches below the left ear for preventing the bridle from coming off over the horse&#39;s head; a browband that runs from just under one ear of the horse, across the forehead, to just under the other ear for preventing the bridle from sliding onto the animal&#39;s upper neck; a noseband that encircles the nose of the horse for keeping the animal&#39;s mouth closed; reins that attach to the bit, below the attachment for the cheekpieces; and a bit that goes into the horse&#39;s mouth, resting on the sensitive interdental space between the horse&#39;s teeth. 
         [0017]    With specific reference to  FIG. 2 , bridle  200  includes crownpiece  220 , to which browband  221  is attached. Attached to browband  221  are left cheekpieces  230  and  231  and right cheekpieces  232  and  233 , as well as throatlatch  246 . Cheekpieces  230  and  232  are attached to noseband  237 , which includes nosepiece  238  and chinpiece  242 . Right bit ring  260  is connected to right cheekpiece  233  and left bit ring  262  is connected to left cheekpiece  231 . Bit  264  runs between and is connected to bit rings  260  and  262 . Right rein  266  is connected to right bit ring  260  and left rein  268  is connected to left bit ring  262 . The left and right reins are joined at region  270 . In this exemplary embodiment, a green member or sleeve is mounted on crownpiece  220  (the phrase “behind ears” may be printed on this sleeve); a red sleeve is mounted on one of the right cheekpieces  232  or  233  (the word “right” may be printed on this sleeve) and a blue sleeve is mounted on one of the left cheekpieces  230  or  231  (the word “left” may be printed on this sleeve); a yellow sleeve is mounted on browband  221  (the word “forehead” may be printed on this sleeve); an orange sleeve is mounted on a chinpiece  240  (the word “chin” may be printed on this sleeve); a grey sleeve is mounted on throatlatch  246  (the word “buckle” may be printed on this sleeve); a red sleeve is mounted on right rein  266  (the word “right” may be printed on this sleeve); a blue sleeve is mounted on left rein  268  (the word “left” may be printed on this sleeve), and a purple sleeve is mounted on the terminal portion of each rein near region  270 . The individual colors of the color-coded sleeves and any instructional text printed thereon may be varied or substituted for one another in any number of combinations in alternate embodiments of this invention. 
         [0018]    As previously indicated, the color of each sleeve corresponds both to a predetermined location on the head of the animal and to a particular step in a predetermined method for placing bridle  200  on the head of the animal. Using the color-coded scheme described above, an exemplary method for placing bridle  200  on the head of the animal includes a trainee executing the steps of: (i) standing on the left side of a horse, pony, or foal; (ii) placing the green sleeved portion in the right hand and bringing bridle  200  up in front of horse&#39;s head/face; (iii) pulling bridle  200  up to the top of horse&#39;s head, placing and resting the right arm and hand between the horse&#39;s ears, giving the bridle slack and lowering it down; (iv) holding bit  264  with the left hand and guiding the bit into the horse&#39;s mouth; (v) orienting the orange sleeved portion behind the animal&#39;s chin and not in its mouth; (vi) while sliding bit  264  in the animal&#39;s mouth, at the same time pulling upward with the right hand on the green sleeved portion; (vii) pulling the green sleeved portion over and behind the ears, where it will rest; and (viii) buckling the grey sleeved portion. The red (right) and blue (left) sleeves mounted on the cheekpieces assist with proper orientation of bridle  200  relative to the animal&#39;s head. 
         [0019]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.