Patent Publication Number: US-2005126133-A1

Title: Training aid for a large domestic animal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/530,468, filed Dec. 16, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      Various training aids may be used in the process of training a large domestic animal, such as a horse, to respond to voice commands, to be desensitized to sharp and/or loud noises, etc. One type of training device includes a rigid or semi-rigid shaft having a length of a few feet, a handle or grip disposed on one end of the shaft, and a short length of a flexible material, such as a leather strap, attached to the opposite end of the shaft as the grip. The handle has a straight configuration with no bends, much like a golf club grip.  
      When training a horse with such a training device, a trainer typically stands near the horse while holding the horse by a lead line. The lead line is held in one hand, and the training device in the other. The trainer then gives a verbal command to the horse, such as “forward,” and gently taps the horse with the training device to get the horse to move in a desired direction. However, lead lines are relatively short, and after several feet of movement in one direction, the trainer will have the horse change directions and walk the other direction.  
      Once the horse changes direction, the training device and the lead line may each be in the wrong hand for easiest use. Therefore, the trainer must exchange the rope and training device between hands. It is important that the trainer not drop the lead line during a training session. However, when exchanging the lead line and the training device between hands, the trainer generally must hold both the lead line and the training device in a single hand at some point during the exchange process. Thus, there is a risk that the trainer may drop either the lead line or the training device during the exchange. The risk may be especially high if the horse makes a sudden and/or unexpected movement during the exchange process. Furthermore, if either the lead line or the training device is dropped during the exchange process, the trainer may have to bend down to pick up the dropped item. This may expose the trainer&#39;s hand, arm and/or head to kicks, etc. from the horse, and also removes the trainer&#39;s eye from the horse for a period of time.  
      Instead of holding the lead line and the training device in the same hand while exchanging the items between hands, the trainer may prop the training device against a wall, fence, the trainer&#39;s body, or other object during the exchange. However, due to the straight configuration the handle, the training device may not remain in a stable position against the object, but instead may roll or slide along the object and fall onto the ground.  
     SUMMARY  
      One embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to accept attachment of a training aid, and a handle extending from the second end of the shaft, wherein the handle is configured to be placed over an object to suspend the training device from the object.  
      Another embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, a training aid coupled with the first end of the shaft, and a nonlinear handle extending from the second end of the shaft.  
      Yet another embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flexible member coupled with the first end of the shaft, and a grip coupled with the second end of the shaft, wherein the grip has at least one of a bent configuration and a curved configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       FIG. 1  shows a first exemplary embodiment of a training device.  
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a training aid attachable to the training device embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a user&#39;s hand.  
       FIG. 4  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1  suspended from the user&#39;s hand upon being released from the user&#39;s hand.  
       FIG. 5  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1  suspended from the user&#39;s wrist in dashed lines, and shows the user&#39;s hand reaching downwardly to grasp the shaft of the training device in solid lines.  
       FIG. 6  shows the user&#39;s hand reaching downwardly to grasp the shaft of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 7  shows the user grasping the shaft of the training device.  
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a training device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  shows, generally at  10 , a training device for large domestic animals, including but not limited to, horses, mules, donkeys, and other such animals. Training device  10  includes a shaft  12 , a handle or grip  14  disposed at one end of the shaft, and may include a desired training aid (for example, a length of rope, small leather strap or rubber/polymer member, etc.) disposed at the opposite end of the shaft as the grip. Unlike prior training devices, which have linear handles (i.e. that do not deviate from the long axis of the shaft), handle  14  of training device  10  includes a curved or bent (i.e. non-linear) portion  18 . Curved portion  18  allows training device  10  to be hung over an arm when changing a lead line from one hand to another, thus alleviating the problems associated with simultaneously changing prior training devices and lead lines between hands. Furthermore, curved portion  18  may be securely hooked over a fence, corral panel, or any other suitable structure. Curved portion  18  further provides a more stable contact point for leaning training device  10  against a wall or other object, and may help to prevent the training device from falling down when it is propped against an object. Furthermore, when hung over a user&#39;s arm, training device  10  may be quickly and simply re-grasped with either hand.  
      Training device  10  offers several advantages over prior training devices. For example, training device  10  may be used to drive a dangerous and disrespectful horse out and away from a handler, and to keep the horse at a safe distance while working on a lead line and/or in a round pin. End  16  of training device  10  may also be used to urge the horse to change directions in such an environment, thus gaining control and respect through these exercises. Curved portion  18  of handle  14  allows the handler to keep training device  10  securely attached over the trainer&#39;s arm (or over a nearby fence, corral panel, etc.), as described in more detail below, during these dangerous activities, and therefore greatly increases the safety of the handler.  
      Training device  10  may also be used to train a horse that does not want its feet handled. A user of training device  10  may first desensitize the horse to having its feet touched by touching the horse&#39;s feet with the training device. Training device  10  acts as an extension of the arm of the user, allowing the user to touch the horse&#39;s feet while to keeping head, hands and other vulnerable body parts well away from the horse&#39;s feet. The user can repeat this exercise until the horse doesn&#39;t mind having its feet touched. Then, the user may use curved portion  18  of handle  14  to pick up the horse&#39;s feet, and repeat until this no longer upsets the horse. Thus, training aid  10  allows the user to train the horse to have its feet picked up while remaining at a safe distance until the user feels it is safe to handle the horse&#39;s feet by hand.  
      Furthermore, training aid  10  may aid in attaching a saddle to a horse. When saddling a young horse for first few times, it can be dangerous to reach beneath the horse to grab the loose end of a cinch. This is because the motion places the user&#39;s head and upper body in a very vulnerable position in close proximity to horse&#39;s hind feet, where the user may get kicked. Curved portion  18  of training device  10  may be used to reach under a horse to get cinch, thereby keeping the user in a safe position.  
      Curved portion  18  of handle  14  may have any desired configuration. For example, the curvature of curved portion  18  may be smooth and continuous, as depicted, or may have one or more angular bends along its length. Furthermore, curved portion  18  may have both angular bends and smoothly curving portions. Likewise, curved portion  18  may curve any desired degree from the long axis of shaft  12 . It may be desirable for curved portion  18  to have sufficient curvature and length to stay securely on the user&#39;s arm without requiring any effort by the user to prevent it from falling off. Handles that bend or curve at least ninety degrees away from the long axis of shaft  12  may be easier to retain over a user&#39;s arm than handles that bend or curve less than ninety degrees. In the depicted embodiment, curved portion  18  bends approximately one hundred eighty degrees from the long axis of the shaft, and extends sufficiently far to prevent the end of curved portion  18  from working its way over the user&#39;s arm when the training device is hanging from the user&#39;s arm. However, it will be appreciated that this configuration is merely exemplary, and that curved portion  18  may have any other suitable degree of curvature. Curved portion  18  may optionally be formed from, or partially or fully covered with, a non-slip material and/or a padded material.  
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of training aid  16  in more detail. Training aid  16  is configured to be attached to an end of shaft  12 , and to provide a soft, pliant surface suitable for tapping an animal in a desired direction during training. The depicted training aid  16  includes a flexible end  20  for tapping the animal, and a connector, such as a cap  22  or sleeve, for connecting training aid  16  to the end of shaft  12 . Cap  22  has an inner diameter sized to fit snugly on the end of shaft  12 . An adhesive or fastener may be used to attach cap  22  to the end of shaft  12  more securely, if desired. In the depicted embodiment, cap  22  and flexible end  20  are unitary. This may allow training aid  16  to be constructed of a plastic or polymer material via a simple injection molding process. However, cap  22  and flexible end  20  may be formed from separate pieces if desired. Furthermore, flexible end  20  may be attached to shaft  12  by any suitable mechanism other than cap  22 .  
      Training aid  16  may be configured to accept the attachment of an additional training aid. Examples of additional training aids include, but are not limited to, ropes, straps, and cords, as depicted at  24 . In the depicted embodiment, flexible end  20  of training aid  16  includes an opening  26  configured to accept insertion of a rope, cord or other like object. However, flexible end  20  may include any other suitable feature for attaching additional training aids.  
      Additional training aids may be attached to training aid  16  for a variety of uses. For example, length of rope  24  may be attached to training aid  16  to form a simple tool for desensitizing a horse to loud and/or sudden noises. A user may snap rope  24  against the ground in the vicinity of the horse to create a sudden, sharp sound while holding the horse&#39;s lead line (and an appropriate tip  25  may be provided to make the sound louder and/or sharper). If the horse panics at the sound, the user may quickly hang the training tool over an arm and use the free hand to control and/or soothe the horse, to get a firmer two-handed grip on the lead line, etc. Training device  10  may likewise be quickly grasped once the situation is under control without the user having to bend down to pick the training device off the ground. Thus, the user does not expose head, arms, hands, etc. to dangerous kicks from the horse when re-grasping the training device.  
      As mentioned above, a user may easily transfer a training device  10  gripped in the user&#39;s hand to a hanging position on a wrist or forearm on the same side of the body, without the user having to use the other hand.  FIGS. 3-7  illustrate an exemplary sequence of motions for transferring the training device from a hand to a hanging position on a forearm, and then back to the same hand. First,  FIG. 3  shows training device  10  being gripped in a user&#39;s hand  30 . Training device  10  is depicted as being gripped on curved portion  18  of handle  14 , but the user may also grip training device  10  at a location along shaft  12 .  FIG. 3  also shows, in dashed lines, the user beginning to open the hand  30 . This allows training device  10  to slide through or pivot on the user&#39;s hand  30  until reaching a stable position on curved portion  18 . Upon reaching the stable position on curved portion  18 , training device  10  simply hangs from the user&#39;s hand  30 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . If desired, the user can then tuck the thumb below handle  14  and work the training device to a position on the forearm, as shown in  FIG. 5 , by appropriate wrist and arm motions. At this point, the user is free to use hand  30  for other tasks, yet training device is securely positioned on the user&#39;s arm where it can be accessed immediately if needed.  
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate an exemplary sequence of movements for transferring training device  10  from the user&#39;s arm back to the user&#39;s hand. First referring to  FIG. 5 , the user can reach down with hand  30  and grasp shaft  12  of training device  10  while the training device is hanging over the over the user&#39;s arm. Next, the user can move wrist and forearm beneath handle  14 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . This places training device  10  fully in the user&#39;s hand, ready for use, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Training device  10  likewise may be grasped just as quickly with the other hand.  
      Curved portion  18  of handle  14  also allows training device  10  to be hung over a user&#39;s arm while riding a horse, and thus may allow the user to grasp the reigns more securely without risking dropping the training device. In this case, the user may quickly grasp the training device with either hand, should the need arise while riding.  
      The principles described herein may also be extended to other tools similar to training device  10 . For example,  FIG. 8  shows a dressage whip  100  having a curved handle  102 . Like training device  10 , whip  100  may be hung over a user&#39;s arm while riding a horse, or while on the ground working with a horse, and may be quickly re-grasped as described above.  
      Although the present disclosure includes specific embodiments of training devices for large animals, specific embodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The description and examples contained herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but are included for illustration purposes only. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention can be developed and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and claims.  
      The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.