A Flexible Dumb Jockey and Cavesson.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Flexible Dumb Jockey and Cavesson.
FREDERICK LACK, Saddler, Oak Street, Fakenham, Norfolk, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A flexible dumb jockey and cavesson for breaking in young horses by means
of a strong leather band or roller which fits round the horse to which are fixed two
flexible arms for the purpose of holding the reins which are fixed to bitt on the
cavesson by spring hooks instead of buckles & straps thereby being more quickly
attached and detached when training the horse before being ridden or driven.
Dated this 19th day of March 1897.
FREDERICK LACK,
Saddler, Oak Street, Fakenham.
I, FREDERICK LACK, Saddler, Oak Street, Fakenham, Norfolk, 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 refers to the dumb jockeys and head gear used for training horses.
Hitherto these have had arms of wood or gutta percha which are liable to snap,
especially when jerked suddenly or when the animal takes to rolling on his back.
The straps or reins are usually connected to the arms and bit by means of ordinary
buckles, which with a restive horse are troublesome and tedious to fasten and
unfasten.
My improvements consist in combining the jockey with a cavesson or head band.
I make the arms of some tough and light flexible material such as strips of cane
whalebone or quill, or of other like substances, which can be suitably combined
or employed with other materials. Being flexible I am able to make the arms
rather longer than is practicable with more rigid materials, and this causes the
horse to carry his head higher and more gracefully. I connect the reins to the arms
and bit by means of spring hooks. I also line the crown piece or saddle with soft
felt to prevent chafing.
I form the reins with springs inserted therein, such springs being formed tubular
and of a good quality of elastic rubber, inside of which is a cord or ligature which
forms a stop to prevent overstrain or rupture.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shews my improved "breaking in" outfit fitted to a horse.

page_text: Fig. 2 shews an elevation partly in section of one of the india-rubber springs.
a is the body band to which is attached the leather flap or crown piece a', on
which is the metal plate a², formed with two sockets to receive the two flexible
arms b attached to the upper ends of which by spring hooks c¹ are two reins e the
ends of which are attached to the bit on the cavesson by similar hooks d¹. The
reins c are made of leather with springs c² inserted, formed of india-rubber or other
elastic material. These springs are hollow and contain cords which limit their
tension as shewn in Fig. 2. The india-rubber portion 2 of the reins c
are thus extensible only up to the length of the cords which prevents their being
overstretched. A pair of auxiliary straps e fitted with india-rubber springs el are
also used, attached to a part of the body band and bit rings. The usual cavesson f
is employed. In order to keep the flexible arms in place, they are supported from
the rear by a strap g, one end of which is attached to one of the arms 6, and is led
round under the tail of the horse, and finally attached to the other arm b.
Referring to Fig. 2, i is an india-rubber tube enclosing a stout string or cord ¹.
The cord is somewhat longer than the tube i and provided at each end with a tag
The tags being attached to the ends of the india-rubber tube, the string is doubled
up within the latter. A leather or metal clip binds the ends together and serves
also to hold a spring hook or the like in place. In the drawing one end of the
spring is complete, the other being unfastened to shew the length of cord or tag.
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:-
A combined dumb jockey & cavesson consisting of two flexible arms b b mounted
upon a body band a, said flexible arms, being connected with a cavesson f by
reins c provided with spring hooks cd to attach them respectively to the bit ring,
and flexible arms b b as herein described & set forth.
Dated this 27th day
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London.