Improvements in or Additions to Rein-bridles for Riding and Driving Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Rein-bridles for Riding and
Driving Purposes.
I, JOHN SUMNER the younger, of 98, High Street in the City of Birmingham,
Member of the Firm of John Sumner and Son, Grocers, Brewery Agents, and
Wine Merchants; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in, or additions to, rein bridles or an
attachment for the heads of horses for governing and restraining, and consists
essentially of a head stall, bit and reins, and sundry other appendages according to
its particular form and use.
Now my invention relates both to the bit part and also to the rein part, and has.
for its object, the more efficient controlling and governing of horses than has
heretofore been accomplished.
My invention is particularly adapted for improving the paces and general
carriage of horses, controlling and restraining horses who are hot and fretful with
hounds, pullers and bolters, rearers and buck-jumpers, hunters and steeplechasers
who swerve and refuse fences, harness horses who shy, kickers and plungers, uneasy
and vicious horses, and for mounting and breaking colts and riding and driving
purposes, of all kinds, and further, my said improvements will in skilled hands,
cure nervous and vicious horses, whilst to a great extent they neutralize bad and
heavy handling of horses by persons who have not good hands and can be used on
horses who previously have resented a curb in any shape.
When in use, the mouthbar of the bit exercises an even and direct pressure upon
both sides of the mouth, and such pressure may be adjusted to such a nicety and
delicacy that a horse instantly obeys the touch of the rein, and further, after
continuous use of this invention, horses are easily controlled by the reins and bits
of ordinary harness.
In carrying out one bridle system or one form of my invention, I proceed as.
follows:-
I take a head-stall with bit of the usual or other construction, that is to say,
having the mouth bar directed between the upper parts of the cheeks, and with
opposite loops directed from the said cheeks adjacent to the ends of the bar and
also at one or more points below the said bar, thus making a bit having side
cheeks constituting levering arms, provided or fitted with loops, to which runner
attachments or frames are connected or buckled.
These frame attachments are mounted with rollers or runners, over which the
continuous reins, which are of a compound order, pass, and are capable of running
therethrough with an easy give and take action.
The reins are arranged in four folds, somewhat alike in principle to the disposition
of the ropes of a sheave pulley and by which a considerable mechanical gain is and
a powerful hold on a horse obtained, inasmuch as each of the four folds of the reins
bear an equal proportion of controlling power.
Thus in a riding bridle, the terminal ends of the reins are connected to the saddle
preferably to the fore part of it, at fixed points and with the said folds or courses
respectively passing through and over the runners of the attachments, that is to
Bay, commencing on the right hand terminal end of the reins, which is fixed to the.
saddle, the same then proceeds forwardly through the right top runner of one of
the attachments, lignable with the bar of the bit, and then proceeds laterally at the
back of the bit across to the upper attachment on the other side of the bit, and after

page_text: passing through or over the runner of this said attachment upon the left-hand side,
it then continues itself backwards and then forwards into continuous holding reius
which are held in the usual way by the rider.
The inner one of the said reins then proceeds through a lower runner frame of a
right hand attachment on the right hand side of the cheek of the bit, and theu
crosses over to and passes through the frame of a left hand lower runner
attachment, and then proceeds backwardly, and has its end connected fixedly to
the saddle.
From the description thus given it will be seen that the fixed points of connection
constitute as it were, a weight, and the hand of a rider becomes, on the system,
the power, and by such arrangement, the mechanical gain is considerable, and
allows a rider to have a most powerful purchase or hold over an animal in charge,
as the whole system is direct acting, and that the gain is two multiplied by itself
as many times as there are movable runners.
The rein may be made up if necessary by two or more straps joined together by
buckling.
"
Now assuming that a still more powerful purchase or hold is required to be
obtained over the animal, then the compound rein may be passed in addition over
another set of pulleys, either mounted in the same frame as the others, or formed
separate from the others, and connected, like them, to the cheeks or levering arms.
of the bit.
Or the folds or courses of the compound rein having a give and take action may
have portions of them passed through lower attachments located at the extreme
ends of the bit checks or levering arms, so as to give a greater purchase in the
bit only.
-
A check rein, very useful in breaking or mouthing horses, or for nervous.
horsemen, ladies or children, may be used by affixing the special check rein to a
point in front of the saddle, and by means of a buckle at the end furthest from the
saddle through which passes the loose end of one of the running reins.
This running rein may be secured so as to retain the horses head in any position
and for as long as the rider may desire, thus forming a bearing rein which may be
used for riding or driving purposes and be loosed by the hand at any moment.
without dismounting, and unlike all other bearing reins, will allow the horse full.
liberty to turn his head with ease on either side but not to raise or lower it.
The martingale differs from ordinary ones inasmuch that it has a somewhat.
larger strap than usual proceeding from the ring at the junction of the breast plate
and girth strap, which strap is terminated at its upper end by a ring from which.
branch two movable straps or horns, each having at its end a flat runner frame,
through which the reins from the pulley on the bit may pass for use just as an
ordinary martingale, to which it is superior, inasmuch as it affords a much firmer,
hold on a horse which rears and throws up its head.
That is, the breast plate strap has a large loop to which is connected . &:
supplementary loop terminated by frames having rollers or pulleys.
In addition to controlling reins, I might add that the usual guiding, bridoon.or
snaffle reins are or may be used.
In a still further form of my invention, I take a like system as the first, but..with
an extra fold or course, and an extra runner and with three ends of the system of
folds connected fixedly to saddle, and with one of the runners carried by one of the
folds, still making only one pair of reins, or same arrangement on each side.
Thus I take one strap length or course, attach one end of the same to a right
hand position on the saddle. The same then proceeds forwardly through a right
hand top runner frame and then crossing a like left-hand top runner frame, and:
then after passing through the same is returned backwards, at about the middle of
the courses or folds, is terminated by a supplementary runner, through the frame of
which another strap passes, and returns, and has its left hand end fixed to the.
saddle. The right-band end then proceeds backwards and then forwards again.
into the endless and holding part of the reins, and with the right hand side then...
1

page_text: proceeding forwards and passing through the lower frame of a lower right hand
runner, and then crossing from the one side lower loop to that of the other and
left-hand side, and then proceeding backwards, with its extreme end attached to
the saddle, so that there are three fixed points and five runners.
Greater power is thus acquired than in the previous arrangements in consequence
of the increase in the number of runners.
The pair of reins are laid hold of in the same manner as in the first arrangement
and are pulled, thus exercising great power over a horse, and it matters not in
what position the head of a horse may be, an ordinary pull will cause the animal to
answer and make his head to take any position which the rider may dictate.
The bridle may be fitted with curbs, snap-end billets and the like, and I wish it
to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact way in which the courses
or straps are passed around the pulleys, as the same may be varied so as to get a
series of folds, hence an increase of power accordingly, therefore the former
illustrations as to application of my invention are examples only of the way in
which my said invention is or the improvements are carried into effect.
It is understood that rings may be upon the bit for guiding purposes if required,
that is to say, large loose rings in common with the bits are provided, and to which
the guiding reins are connected.
In applying my invention to shaft horses, I connect the parts hereinbefore
described as being connected to the saddle to parts of the vehicle.
Dated this 19th day of October 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Rein-bridles for Riding and
Driving Purposes.
.
I, JOHN SUMNER, the younger of 98 High Street, in the City of Birmingham,
a Member of the Firm of John Sumner and Son, Grocers, Brewery Agents, an:
Wine Merchants, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in, or additions to rein bridles, or an
attachment for the heads of horses for governing and restraining, and consists
essentially of a head stall, bit and reins, and sundry other appendages according to
its particular form and uses.
Now my invention relates both to the bit part and also to the rein part, and ha
for its object, the more efficient controlling and governing of horses.
My invention is particularly adapted for improving the paces and general
carriage of horses, controlling and restraining horses which are hot and fretful with
hounds, pullers and bolters, rearers and buck-jumpers, hunters and steeple chasers
who swerve and refuse fences, harness horses who shy, kickers and plungers, uneasy
and vicious horses, and for mouthing and breaking in colts and riding and driving
purposes of all kinds, and further, my said improvements will in skilled hands, cure
nervous and vicious horses, whilst to a great extent they neutralize bad and heavy
handling of horses by persons who are bad Lorsemen and can be used on horses who
previously have resented a curb in any shape.
When in use, the mouthbar of the bit exercises an even and direct pressure upon
both sides of the mouth, and such pressure may be adjusted to such a nicety and
delicacy that a horse instantly obeys the touch of the rein, and further, after
Pcontinuous use of my improvements, horses are easily controlled by the reins and
bits of ordinary barness.

page_text: In carrying out one bridle system or one form of my invention, I proceed as
follows:-
I take a head-stall with bit of the usual or other construction, that is to say,
having the mouth bar directed between the upper parts of the cheeks, and with
opposite loops directed from the said cheeks adjacent to the ends of the bar, and
also at one or more points below the said bar, thus making a bit having side cheeks
constituting levering arms, provided or fitted with loops, to which runner
attachments or frames are connected or buckled.
These frame attachments are mounted with rollers or runners, over which the
continuous reins, which are of a compound order, pass, and are capable of running
therethrough with an easy give and take action.
The check or supplementary reins are arranged in four folds, somewhat alike in
principle to the disposition of the ropes of a sheave pulley and by which a
considerable mechanical gain and a powerful hold on a horse is obtained, inasmuch
as each of the four folds of the reins bear an equal proportion of controlling power.
Thus, in a riding bridle, the terminal ends of the reins are connected to the saddle
(preferably to the fore part of it) at fixed points and with the said folds or courses
respectively passing through and over the runners of the attachments, that is to
Bay, commencing on the right hand terminal end of the reins, which is fixed to the
saddle the same then proceeds forwardly through the loop and over the forward
runner of one of the attachments carried at near the lower terminal end of the right
hand cheek of the bit and then crosses over, at the back of the bit, to the front
pulley of a like attachment on the other or left hand side of the bit, and is continued
first backwards and then forwards into continuous holding reins, which are held in
the usual way by the rider.
The continuous fold of the reins then proceeds over the inner pulley of the right
hand runner frame and then crosses over to and passes over the inner pulley of the
left hand side runner attachment, and then proceeds backwardly, and has its end
connected fixedly to a saddle or other fixed point, alike unto the right hand and
first named terminal end.
By the employment of such an arrangement as described, the mechanical gain is
considerable, and allows a rider to have a most powerful purchase or hold over an
animal in charge.
The rein may be made up, if necessary, by two or more straps joined together by
buckling.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a pulley rein bridle,
constructed and arranged according to one form of my invention in use. The
bridle consists of an ordinary controlling and guiding rein, head stall and bit, with
the latter provided with a supplementary pulley-rein.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the bit and pulley-rein runner
attachments.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the said bit, showing the relative
dispositions of the side cheeks, mouth bar and runner frames.
Figure 4 is a cross section upon the dotted lines x-x Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bit, with ordinary and supplementary reins.
Figure 6 represents a diagram of the pulley rein, and Figure 7 is a modification
of the said diagram Figure 6.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 7.
a are the side cheeks of the bit, having middle loops a', a', and being united
together by a stiff mouth bar b, and with each of the upper and lower parts a³, a²,
constituting levering arms. The lower parts or arms a³, of the cheeks a, are
terminated by jointed double frames or loops c, pivoted at e, and constrained to
move vertically, and with the bars c, c, fitted or provided with runners or
pulleys d, d', over which the folds of the compound supplementary rein e, pass in a
continuous manner.
Thus, the terminal ends e, e³, of the rein e, are fixedly connected by buckling
'or otherwise, to the saddle f, and pass in a continuous manner, as represented,

page_text: through the eyes of the frames or loops c, and over the pulleys d, d', and with the
middle part e, of the said rein being brought back into an endless hand-holding
part.
9 are the ordinary guiding reins, with their terminal loops being connected to the
loops a', of the bit.
Instead of the folds of the compound rein system passing and running over
pulleys, they may simply pass and run, in a continuous manner, over plain bars or
their equivalent.
In Figure 7, the folds of the supplementary rein are shown as passed over the
pulleys in a way slightly different from the arrangement Figure 6.
Now assuming that a still more powerful purchase or hold is required to be
obtained over the animal, then the compound rein may be passed in addition over
another set of pulleys, either mounted in the same frame as the others, or formed
separate from the others, and connected, like them, to the cheeks or levering arms
of the bit.
Figure 8 represents a diagrammatic view of such an arrangement, having three
sets of pulleys carried by the bit. or by frames attached to it, and with the folds of
the rein, which is continuous, also passing over pulleys connected to, or forming
attachments of the saddle.
Thus a are the side cheeks of the bit and 6 the mouth bar, whilst d, d², d², are
three sets of pulleys arranged upon the two sides of the lower levering arms a', of
the said cheeks a. e is the continuous supplementary rein, with intermediate
parts e, passing over pulleys f, f, attached to the saddle or other fixed parts f¹,f,
whilst the terminal ends e, e, are also attachedly connected directly to the saddle
or other fixed part.
Thus, assuming that the end of the rein is attached fast at e', it then continues
forward, passes over the pulley d', on the left hand cheek, then passes over to a
like pulley upon the right hand side of the cheek and then back to and over the
pulley, attached to the right hand side of the saddle, then forward again to the
pulley d, on the right hand cheek, and returning back into the hand holding part of
the rein, passing over the left hand pulley d, and then back to the pulleyƒ³,
attached to the left hand side of the saddle, and returning forward, it passes over
the pulley d², on the left hand side of the cheek and then crosses over to a like
pulley on the right hand cheek, and at last returns and its terminal end e³, is affixed
to the right hand side of the saddle.
In a still further form of my invention, I take a like system as the first, but with
an extra fold or course, and an extra runner and with three ends of the system of
folds connected fixedly to saddle, and with one of the runners carried by one of the
folds, still making only one pair of reins.
Thus I take one strap length or course, attach one end of the same to a left hand
position on the saddle. The same then proceeds forwardly through a left hand top
runner frame, crosses to a like right hand top runner frame, and then after passing
through the same, return backwards at about the middle of the courses or folds,
and is terminated by a supplementary runner, through the frame of which_another
strap passes, and returns, and has its right hand end fixed to the saddle. The left
hand end then proceeds backwards and then forwards again into the endless and
holding part of the reins, and with the left hand side then proceeding forwards and
passing through the lower frame of a lower right-hand runner, and then crossing
from the one side lower loop to that of the other and left-hand side, and then
proceeding backwards, with its extreme end attached to the saddle, so that there
are three fixed points and five runners.
The pair of reins are laid hold of in. the same manner as in the former arrange-
ments and are pulled, thus exercising great power over a horse, and it matters not
in what position the head of a horse may be, an ordinary pull will cause the animal
to answer and make his head to take any position which the rider may indicate.
Figure 10 represents a diagrammatic view of an arrangement such as last
described.

page_text: :
•
:
a are the side cheeks, carrying pulleys d, d', and 'e is a two-part compound rein,
with the part e, terminated at a pulley e, and passing over the pulleys d', on the
two opposite sides of the bit, and a fixed point attached to a saddle at e³, and with
the part e, passing over the pulley e, and terminated at the fixed points 'e³, e', and
over the lower pulley frames d, on each side of the bit.
Figure 11 shows a modified form of the arrangement Figures 1 to 7, in which
the runner bars or pulleys are disposed one above the other instead of being
horizontally lignable.
A check rein, very useful in breaking or mouthing horses or for nervous
horsemen, ladies or children, may be used by affixing the special check rein to &
point in front of the saddle, and by means of a buckle at the end furthest from
the saddle through which passes the loose end of one of the running reins.
This running rein may be secured so as to retain the horses head in any position
and for as long as the rider may desire, thus forming a bearing rein which may be
used for riding or driving purposes and be loosed by the hand at any moment
without dismounting, and unlike all other bearing reins, will allow the horse full
liberty to turn his head with ease on either side but not to raise or lower it.
The martingale differs from ordinary ones inasmuch that it has a somewhat
larger strap than usual proceeding from the ring at the junction of the breast plate.
and girth strap, which strap is terminated at its upper end by a ring from which
branch two movable straps or horns, each having at its end a flat or other runner
frame, through which the reins from the pulley on the bit may pass for use just as
an ordinary martingale, to which it is superior, inasmuch as it affords a much firmer
hold of a horse which rears and throws up its head.
That is, the breast plate strap has a large loop to which is connected a supple-
mentary loop terminated by a ring, and carrying tab straps terminated by frames
which may have rollers or pulleys.
Figure 12 represents an arrangement of martingale such as last described.
In addition to controlling reins the usual guiding, bridoon or snaffle reins are or
may be used whilst the bridle may be fitted with curbs, snap-end billets and the
like, and wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact way
in which the courses, folds or straps are passed around the pulleys, as the same may
be varied so as to get' a series of folds, hence an increase of power accordingly,
therefore the former illustrations as to application of my invention are examples
only of the way in which the same is, or the improvements are, carried into effect.<
It is understood that rings may be upon the bit for guiding purposes if required,
that is to say, large loose rings in common with the bits are provided, and to which
the guiding reins are connected.
In applying my invention to shaft horses, 1 connect the parts hereinbefore
described as being connected to a riding saddle, to the pad or other suitable fixed-
⚫ point or points.
Figure 13 represents my new or improved running pulley-rein attachment applied
to a pair of driven horses attached to a vehicle.
Thus, the points e, of the running rein e, which passes over the pulleys d, of both
pairs of bits a, are attached to the usual terrets of a pad or harness saddle; whilst
pulley reine, is taken hold of by the coachman. In a single harness rein 1
employ one half part only of the bit parts of the arrangement as in Figure 13 &
with the pulley rein e² attached.
Figure 14 represents a pulley-frame buckle attachment, whilst Figure 15 is a like
buckle attachment connected to the end of the cheek by a loose ring.
It will be understood that in speaking of runners, I mean either a pulley, a plain
bar or anything over which the fold or course of a rein can run.
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 :-
$
First. In bridles for riding and driving purposes, providing or fitting the bit, or

page_text: the mouth bar of the bit, with a supplementary running rein length or lengths
directed backwards and forwards into folds or courses, which pass over or around
a pulley, or pulleys, or sets of pulleys, or a runner, or runners, or sets of runners,
and with an end part or parts of the said rein or reins made fixtures, and with the
handling or pulling part or parts being left free, substantially as and for the purpose
as described and set forth.
Secondly. In bridles for riding and driving purposes, providing or fitting the bit
with pulleys, runner frames or equivalents, and with a continuous and running
supplementary rein, directed into folds or courses, passing over the said pulleys or
runners, and with the terminal ends of the said rein made fast to a saldle or other
suitable fixed point or points, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1
to 7 and also in Figures 11 and 12.
Thirdly. In bridles for riding and driving purposes, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts of the same, and the disposition of the
folds of the supplementary rein, substantially as described and set forth in Figure 8.
Fourthly. In bridles for riding and driving purposes, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts, and the disposition of the folds of the
supplementary rein, substantially as described and set forth in Figure 9.
Fifthly. In bridles for riding and driving purposes, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts, and the disposition of the folds of the
two-part supplementary rein, substantially as described and set forth in Figure 10.
Dated this 19th day of July 1894
"
JOHN SUMNER, THE YOUNGER,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.