Improvements in Bits and Reins for Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May. 1891
Complete Specification Left. 16th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bits and Reins for Horses and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER KERR, of 31, East Parade, Rhyl, in the County of
Flint, North Wales, Retired Cavalry Captain, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to bits and reins for horses and other animals.
According to my invention 1 construct the bit with two pairs of cheeks or
branches carrying the usual snaffle-rings, and on which turn the two cannons of the
mouth-piece which are united by an arch or port jointed loosely thereto, the
exterior of the said arch or port conforming to the shape of the dome or palate of
the animal's mouth and the interior to the shape of the upper surface of its tongue,
whereby ample space is afforded for the latter no matter what amount of tension
may be put upon the bridle.
"
The cannons and port are of a shape and size to suit the sensitiveness of the
horse's mouth; and in cases where the mouth is "
or malformed I make one
one sided
of smaller diameter than the other or one smooth and the other twisted, so as to
compensate for the unequal sensitiveness of the two sides of the animal's mouth and
consequently give an equal control over both sides.
For driving purposes I provide the top branch of each pair with an eye or loop
at its end.
For hard-mouthed horses, runaways, and borers I provide small rings or loops
within the snaffle-rings for the passage of a long nose-rein in addition to the rein
attached to the snaffle-rings. Inside part of this rein which acts as a nose-band I
secure a short length of curb-chain, the links of which are proportionate to the strong
headedness of the horse and to the sensitiveness of the nasal bone and cartilage.
The rein which is rounded where it passes through the rings or loops may be
crossed under the horse's chin, passed through a ring or keeper or carried direct to
the rider's hand.
.
Ր ᎪᎷ . 1001
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bits and Reins for Horses and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER KERR, of 31, East Parade, Rhyl, in the County of
Flint, North Wales, Retired Cavalry Captain, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to snaffle-bits and reins for horses and other animals.
According to my invention I construct the bit with two pairs of cheeks or
branches carrying the usual snaffle or cheek-rings, and on which turn the two
cannons of the mouth-piece which are united by an arch or port jointed loosely
thereto.
For hard-mouthed horses, runaways, and borers I provide small rings or loops
within the snaffle or cheek-rings for the passage of a nose-rein or drawing-rein in
addition to the rein attached to the snaffle-rings. Inside part of this rein which
acts as a nose-band I secure a short length of curb-chain, the links of which are
proportionate to the strongheadedness of the horse and to the sensitiveness of the
nasal bone and cartilage.

page_text: Or the nose-band may be made separate from the drawing rein or be used in
conjunction with an ordinary driving rein in which case it would be attached to
rings or loops on the front of the butts of the bit and the rein would pass through
or be attached to the cheek-rings.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a snaffle-bit constructed according to my invention
and intended for use without my nose-band and drawing rein, the parts being shewn
opened out to their fullest extent.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same bit but shewing the position assumed by the
parts when the bit is in the horse's mouth and the rein attached to the cheek rings
is tightened.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 but shewing the snaffle-bit adapted for
use with my nose-band and drawing rein.
Figure 4 is a view illustrating the application of my improved snaffle-bit and
nose-band and drawing-rein when used with a riding-rein.
Figures 5 and 6 are views illustrating the application of the said bit and band
when used in conjunction with a driving rein.
Figure 7 is a view illustrating a modified arrangement of the nose-band and
drawing-rein.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a b, a b are the two pairs of cheeks or branches
of the bit (which I term a "double jointed port snaffle") and c, care the usual
snaffle or check-rings formed thereon; d, d are the two cannons of the mouth piece
(which in this case are shewn plain or smooth) adapted to turn on the cheeks or
branches a b, a b, at their points of junction with the check-rings c; e is the arch
or port uniting the two cannons d, d and loosely jointed thereto the exterior of the
arch or port conforming to the shape of the dome or palate of the animal's mouth
and the interior to the shape of the upper surface of its tongue, whereby ample
space is afforded for the latter, no matter what amount of tension may be put upon
the bridle.
"
The cannons and port are of a shape and size to suit the sensitiveness of the
horse's mouth; and in cases where the mouth is "
one sided or malformed I
make one of the cannons of smaller diameter than the other; or one smooth and
the other twisted, so as to compensate for the unequal sensitiveness of the two sides
of the animal's month and consequently give an equal control over both sides.
For horses having tender mouths the cannons may be covered with tasteless
india-rubber, leather or other suitable yielding material, or, if the horse's mouth be
extremely sensitive, I make the cannons of a series of links preferably consisting of
a number of connected ball and socket joints covered with the said material.
Referring now to Figure 3, f, f are the small rings or loops which provide
within the cheek-rings c, & for hard mouthed horses, runaways and borers, to
receive a nose rein or drawing reing, Figure 4, in addition to the usual riding
suaffie-rein attached to the cheek-rings. The rein passes through the loops f
and over the horse's nose so as to form a nose-band within which I secure a short
length of curb chain as herein before described. The rein which is rounded
as shewn where it passes through the loops may run on the outer side of the
branches a, as shewn, or on the inner side and above or below the cannons.
The rein g may pass direct to the rider's hands or be first crossed under the
horse's chin through a loose ring or runner.
In order to keep the bit in the proper position relatively to the horse's tongue I
connect the ends of the top branches a, a by small leather loops j. j to the head
pieces of the brille which are attached to the cheek-rings c, c.
The bit (Figure 3)
is shewn provided with twisted cannons.
When using my bit and nose-band without a drawing rein but in conjunction
with an ordinary driving rein as shown in Figures 5 and 6, I attach the nose band i
to loops on the front of the butts of the bit and either attach the head pieces k
l

page_text: of the bridle to the cheek-rings e as shewn in Figure 5, or to loops n formed on the
ends of the top branches a of the bit as in Figure 6, in which case the lower
branches 6 can be cut short or entirely dispensed with. The nose-band is prevented
from slipping down over the horse's nostrils by a narrow adjustable face-strap o
attached to the head of the bridle: p indicates the ordinary direct driving snaffle-
rein attached to the cheek-rings c, the tension of which rein acts on the nose-.
band i.
When, in driving, greater control is required over a horse than would be afforded
by an ordinary snaffle-rein attached to the cheek-rings of the bit, I make use of my
nose-band and drawing-rein but I forn them separately (as shewn in Figure 7),
that is to say, I attach the nose-band to loops as in Figures 5 and 6, but instead
of employing a direct driving rein p, I pass my drawing rein g through the cheek
rings c and secure one end of the same to the breeching, the other end passing
through the terret g of the pad or saddle to the driver's hands. By this arrangement
great power can be exercised over a runaway horse or bolter as, by placing tension on
the drawing rein g, the horse's head and hind quarters are drawn together thereby
preventing the free use of his limbs. At the same time the driver can instantly
relax his hold over the horse when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A snaffle-bit for horses and other animals having the two cannons of the
mouth-piece united by an arch or port jointed loosely thereto, the said cannons
being adapted to turn on the cheeks or branches carrying the usual snaffle or cheek-
rings and the exterior of the said arch or port conforming to the shape of the dome
or palate of the animal's mouth and the interior to the shape of the upper surface
of its tongue, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1,
2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a drawing rein for horses and other animals, of a nose-
band forming part of the said rein and having secured therein a short length of
curb chain, the rein when in use passing through small rings or loops within the
snaffle or cheek-rings of the bit, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a bit for horses and other animals and a driving rein
attached to the snaffle or cheek-rings thereof of a nose-band having secured therein
a short length of curb chain as described and attached to loops on the front of the
butts of the bit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth with reference to
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with a nose-band having secured therein a short length of
curb-chain as described and attached to loops on the front of the butts of a horse's
bit, of a drawing-rein passing through the snaffle or cheek-rings of the bit and
having one of its ends secured to the breeching, and its other end passing to the
driver's hands, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 16th day of February 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.