Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM KENNEDY, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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 certain improvements in or applicable to martingales, a
special object of the Invention being so to adapt and apply such appliances as that a
better command may be more conveniently obtained over the horse or animal when
such appliances are in action.
To this end, the Invention consists, essentially, in so adapting and applying the
straps or other parts of which the martingale is composed as to cause the inartingale
rings through which the reins are passed to be brought very much nearer and lower
relatively to the rider's hands than can be advantageously effected in any existing
arrangement of running martingales, and as to cause such rings to be retained in
such rearward and lower position by means the position of which is ensured by con-
nections respectively passing to or from the saddle, or girth strap or any equivalent
band or part round the animal's body, and to or from the front of the animal's chest,
and also if required over the withers or neck, or by other modifications or combina-
tions of such connections as hereinafter mentioned."
In an ordinary running martingale, the straps of the divided part thereof both run
from the usual leather loop (which is supported at the fore part of the base of the
neck of the animal by a strap passing round its neck) direct to the opposite reins,
which pass through the martingale rings at points which normally assume positions
adjacent to the bit. Such arrangement prevents any very effective command being
obtained over the animal because the martingale cannot be sufficiently shortened to be
rendered effective in action on account of the attendant disadvantages generally con-
sidered of a dangerous nature, and as consisting in causing the animal to be too
cramped or hampered in its natural gait even when comporting itself as desired, and
in rendering it more likely to fall when jumping or even when only galloping,

page_text: In all modifications of the improved martingale, the martingale rings are caused to
be brought rearwards further from the bit and nearer and lower relatively to the
rider's hands, which in such circumstances is a great advantage should the animal
attempt to rear or throw up his head, as a more direct upward pull as regards the
rider, and downward pull as regards the animal, and a far better command over the
animal can be instantly obtained.
This object is obtained according to the present improvements by causing the straps
or parts of the martingale to which the martingale rings are separately attached, to be
cach held down or retained relatively to a point on its side of the animal, and situated
at or immediately adjacent to the shoulder blade, by means (forming parts of or
attachments to the martingale) the position of which relatively to such shoulder or
adjacent point is ensured by such connections (also forming parts of or attachments to
the martingale) as aforesaid.
The position of the above referred to retaining means from which the said ring
straps of the martingale separately lead to the opposite reins, may be ensured by
various arrangements of the straps or attachments of which the martingale is com
posed, as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
represent a sufficient number of such modifications to fully illustrate the principle of
the present Invention.
On the accompanying Drawings:-
:-
I, represents the martingale rings, and, 2, the straps or parts of the martingale con-
nected thereto, 3, representing the said means by which the said straps and rings are
retained as aforesaid.
In the modifications represented in Figs. 1, to, 3, and, 5, to, 7, the said retaining
means,, are formed as rings, through which one or other of the straps, parts or
attachments of the martingale is passed, and to which the other or others of such
straps, parts or attachments is or are connected.
In Fig. 4, the various straps or parts of the martingale are represented as stitched
together or otherwise united.at such retaining part, 3.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the said rings, 3, is kept in position
relatively to the saddle, girth strap, or other equivalent part round the animal's body,
by a strap 4, and relatively to the usual leather loop, 5, (supported by the strap, 6,
passing round the animal's neck) at the front of the animal's chest, by the part, 7,
forming a continuation of the part, 2, and passing through the rings, 3. The parts, 7,
in this and the other modifications herein described are formed in or as one part, 8,
below the loop, 5, and pass between the animal's fore legs, and are connected to the
under part of the girth strap, 9, in a usual manner. The rings, 3, are kept from
falling relatively to the animal's withers when the martingale is not in action, by a
connecting strap, 10. 11, represents the reins.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2, the parts, 4, are formed as continuations of
the
parts, 2, and pass through the rings, 3, at which the parts, 7, terminate, the rest
of the arrangements remaining as in Fig. 1.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the parts, 4, and, 7, are formed in con-
tinuation and pass through the rings, 3, at which the parts, 2, terminate.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the straps or parts, 2, 4, and, 7, are repre-
sented as stitched or otherwise suitably united together at the parts, 3.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the straps, 7, terminate as in Fig. 2, and
both straps, 2, and the strap 10, are formed in continuation passing through both of
the rings, 3. In this modification, the rings, I, assume a more advanced position
than in any of the other modifications herein described.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the straps, 2, 7, and, 6, are formed in con-
tinuation passing through both rings, 3, and the loop, 5, the straps, 4, and, 10, being
separately connected to the rings, 3, as in Fig. 1.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the straps, 4, and, 7, are formed in con-
tinuation and are arranged as in Fig. 3, and the straps, 2, and, 10, are formed in
continuation and are arranged as in Fig. 5.
In all of such modifications, the arrangement and operation of the parts is

page_text: substantially the same so far as regards the means of obtaining the object of the
present improvements, and such arrangements may be still further modified, for
instance, instead of the straps, 4, being directly connected to the saddle or girth-strap,
they may be connected thereto by any desired arrangement of intermediary straps an
arrangement of which is dotted at, 12.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
:-
1. The hereinbefore described improved method of adapting and applying the
straps, parts or attachments of martingales, in such a manner as to cause the martin-
gale rings to be brought and retained nearer and lower relatively to the rider's hands
han can be advantageously effected in existing martingales, by means applied and
operating, and the position of which is ensured, substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
2. The hereinbefore described improved arrangements and combinations of the
straps, parts or attachments of martingales, substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.