Iм- PROVEMENTS IN BRIDLES AND REINS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and
Birkbeck, Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN BRIDLES AND REINS CONNECTED THEREWITH."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Samuel Brubaker Hartman, of Millersville, in
the County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
Sealed the 9th August 1867, and dated the 9th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th March 1867.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDLES AND REINS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
These improvements have reference to an additional or safety bridle attach-
ment to ordinary bridles for the management of vicious or runaway horses.
The Invention may be said to consist of, firstly, an ordinary strap of leather
or its equivalent, having a ring or loop on each end; this strap is applied to

page_text: the bridle with loops or simply laid over the head of the horse, so that each
end can be passed through rings on the bridle bit on each side of the mouth.
The lines or reins are then fastened to the rings or loops of the strap which
pass equally on either side and slide freely through the rings of the bit instead
of being fastened as ordinarily to the bit itself. When the two ends of the
strap (the centre of which rests on the top of the horse's head) are drawn out
equally through the rings of the bit by means of the lines or reins the bit
itself must necessarily raise upwards in the horse's mouth with an increased
leverage in the direction of the strap or top of the horse's head.
The second part of these improvements relates to the construction of a
safety bridle attachment which allows of a martingale being used. In this
arrangement the check straps of the bridle pass through the rings of the bit,
and are attached to supplemental reins, the ends of the check rein strap being
secured in the rings of the bit. The ordinary reins, as usual, pass through
the "turrets" on the saddle and through the martingale rings, and are
attached to the rings of the bit. The supplemental lines or reins pass through
or are fitted in the ordinary reins, and are allowed to work or draw loosely
therein, the supplemental reins passing out of the ordinary reins just beyond
or in the vicinity of the guides or rings on the hames of the collar, and are
attached to the ends of the check straps which pass through the rings of the
bit. When the horse is docile or perfectly tractable the ordinary reins are
used, and the ends of these reins are provided with loops or bulbs for the
convenience of grasping them, the supplemental reins extending through the
ordinary reins so that they may be grasped when necessary. This is only
required when the animal becomes restive or unmanageable, and it will be
seen that in consequence of the supplemental reins being attached to the
check straps and the latter passing through the rings of the bit that in pulling
the supplemental reins the bit will be drawn backward in the mouth of the
horse, and operate in such a manner as to effectually check him. When the
horse is checked and brought back to his work the bit by pulling on the
ordinary reins will be drawn down to its usual or proper position.
The third part of these improvements relates to, another modification in the
construction of safety bridles. In this modification the check rein referred to
in one of the previously described modifications is dispensed with, and for it the
safety or supplementary reins before mentioned is substituted. These reins in
lieu of being passed from the bit to and through guides or rings of the "bames"
of the collar, at or near, which place they (in such previous modification)
entered the ordinary, driving, reins, extending through them to the driver's
hands, they are passed from the bit up to and through suitable guide rings or

page_text: pulleys of the throat straps or latch, and from thence to the "turret " rings of
the saddle, where entering the ordinary harness or driving reins they pass
loosely through the same to the driver's hands, having loops attached to them
for the purpose of more conveniently grasping and pulling them by the
hands.
In this arrangement the ordinary driving reins as usual pass through the
"turret" rings on the saddle, and thence through the martingale rings or
directly to the rings of the bit to which they are fastened or buckled; the
supplemental lines or reins pass through or are fitted in the ordinary reins, so
as to work or draw loosely therein; these reins pass out of the ordinary reins
at or near the turret" rings upon the front side of the same, and thence to
and through pulleys hung to the throat latch, from whence they pass to the
ring bits, and around and through the same are attached to the check straps,
or. formed as a part and continuation thereof. The check straps are doubled
upon each side of the head of the horse, so as to form loops for holding the
bit by its rings, which, as is obvious, prevents the bit from falling out of the
mouth of the horse, as well as holds the bit in proper place thereon; this form
of the check straps being necessary to produce a bold upon it in the mouth
independent of the supplemental reius which would, were not such double
check straps used, allow the bit to fall out of the mouth, provided they, the
supplementary reins were at all loosely held. In lieu of passing the supple-
mental. reins from the bit through pullies of the throat latch, rings may be
substituted for the pulleys, and the said reins may be also passed to the
" turret" rings, where they enter the ordinary reins in many other ways than'
that herein particularly explained, it being only essential that they should be
passed in such a manner that when pulled by the person driving the horse they
will cause the bit to act in an upward direction against the "commissure"
palate or tender part of the horse's mouth.. Pulleys may be used in the rings
of the bit for the supplementary reins to pass around.
In conclusion it may be here remarked that by the arrangement of the
supplementary reins described the ordinary check reins are dispensed with and
the bridle much simplified.

page_text: Engineers, of 34; Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord.One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Garrett Tongue, Her special licence that I, the said John Garrett
Tongue, my executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Garrett Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with and no others, from time to time. and at all times.
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the. United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BRIDLES AND REINS CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication to
me from abroad by Samuel Brubaker Hartman, of Millersville, in the County.
of Lancaster; and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and. seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention and in what manner. the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar.
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
These improvements have reference to an additional or safety bridle
attachment to ordinary bridles for the management of vicious or runaway
horses.
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe three different modifications or
plans illustrating the principle of the Invention, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the said Drawing the Invention may be
said to consist of,-.
Firstly, an ordinary strap of leather or its equivalent C (Figure 2) having
a ring or loop on each end; this strap is applied to the bridle with loops or
simply laid over the head of the horse so that each end can be passed through
the rings P on the bridle bit D on each side of the mouth; the lines or

page_text: reins H are then fastened to the rings or loops O of the strap which pass
equally on either side and slide freely through the rings. P of the bit instead
of being fastened as ordinarily to the bit itself. The operation can be. easily
comprehended as the centre of the strap C rests on the top of the horse's
head, being a fixed fulcrum, the rings in the bit a sliding or pulley-like
fulcrum, it follows that as the two ends of the strap C are drawn out equally:
through the rings of the bit by means of the lines or reins H the bit itself
must necessarily raise upwards in the horse's mouth with an increased leverage:
in the direction of the strap or top of the horse's head or centre. The power
gained is such that the animal soon feels the utter inability to resist its action
and must yield or endure the pain of having the muscles of the mouth
lacerated. Variously arranged straps and different methods have before been
applied for a similar object, such as side straps with rings through which the
lines or reins are passed from the rings on the bit; which while they may be
useful do not operate in the upward direction, and are only employed to carry
the reins while the lines are affixed' to the rings on the bit, and consequently.
have no resemblance either in object or construction to the independent>
safety strap applied in the manner and for the purpose stated. : .
The second part of 'these improvements is illustrated in Figure 8 of the
Drawing, and in which a construction of safety bridle attachment is shown.
which allows of a martingale being used; in this Figure (3) which représents.
a side view of a horse in part with the second modification of the Invention'
applied to it; in this arrangement A represents the check straps of the
bridle; B, the throat latch; and C, the check rein strap, the ends of which:
are secured in the rings a of the bit D; E represents the ordinary reius which
as usual pass through the "turritts" F ou the saddle G and through the
martingale rings b, b, and are attached to the rings a of the bit; H represents
the supplemental lines or reins which pass through or are fitted in the
ordinary reins E and are allowed to work or draw loosely therein, the supple->
mental reins H passing out of the ordinary reins E just beyoud or in the
vicinity of the guides or rings c on the "hames" I of the collar, and are
attached to the ends of the check straps A which pass through the rings a of
the bit D, as shown clearly in the Drawing. When the horse is docile or
perfectly tractable the ordinary reins E are used, and the ends of these reins:
are provided with loops or bulbs d for the convenience of grasping them, the:
supplemental reins H extending through the ordinary reins. E so that they'
may be grasped when necessary; this is only required when the animal:
becomes restive or unmanageable, and it will be seen that in consequence of
the supplemental reins II being attached to the check straps A and the latter

page_text: passing through the rings a of the bit D that in pulling, the supplemental
reins H the bit D will be drawn backward in the mouth of the horse and,
operate in such a manner as to effectually check him; in fact, the action of
the bit will be such that the horse will have to succumb as the bit will be.
drawn forcibly back into the angles of the mouth. When the horse is checked
and brought back to his work the bit by pulling on the ordinary reins E will
be drawn down to its usual or proper position. By this modification all the
advantages are obtained of the modification, shown in Figures 1 and 2, with
greater simplicity, no additional straps being required, simply supplemental lines
or reins which are connected to the check straps passing through the rings at the
end of the bit. The martingale may also be used in the same way as with the
ordinary bridles, and the cost of manufacture will not materially exceed that of
the ordinary bridle and reins.
The third part of these improvements is represented in Figure 4 of the
Drawing, which shows a view of the head and part of the body of a horse
having a third modification of the Invention applied thereto. In this modifi-
cation the check rein referred to in one of the previously described modifica-
tions is dispensed with, and for it the safety or supplemental reins before
mentioned substituted. These reins in lieu of being passed from the bit to
and through guides or rings of the "hames" of the collar at or near which
place they (in such previous modification) entered the ordinary driving reins
extending through them to the driver's hands, they are passed from the bit up
to and through suitable guide rings or pulleys of the throat straps or latch,.
and from thence to the "turret" rings of the saddle, where entering the
ordinary harness or driving reins they pass loosely through the same to the
driver's hands, having loops attached to them for the purpose of more con-
veniently grasping and pulling them by the hands.
In this Figure (4) A represents the check straps of the bridle; B, the
throat latch; C, the ordinary driving reins, which as usual pass through the
"turret " rings F on the saddle, and thence through the martingale rings or
directly to the rings G of the bit H, to which they are fastened or buckled; I, the
supplemental lines or reins which pass through or are fitted in the ordinary reins
C so as to work or draw loosely therein; these reins I pass out of the ordinary
reins Cat or near the "turret" rings F upon the front side of the same, and
thence to and through pulleys K hung to the throat latch, from whence they
pass to the ring bits, and around and through the same are attached to the check
straps or formed as a part and continuation thereof. The check straps A are
doubled upon each side of the head of the horse so as to form loops L for.
holding the bit by its rings, which, as is obvious, prevents the bit from falling

page_text: out of the mouth of the horse, as well as holds the bit in proper place thereon;
this form of the check straps being necessary to produce a hold upon it in the
mouth independent of the supplemental reins, which would, were not such
double check straps used, allow the bit to fall out of the mouth, provided they,
the supplemental reins I, were at all loosely held. From the above-described
manner of arranging the supplementary reins I, in reference to the bridlo or
head stall of the harness and the ordinary driving reins, it is plain to be under-
stood that the horse can be always controlled, for should it become restive or
unmanageable, or show any signs of kicking or throwing up its hind legs, by
simply pulling upon the supplementary reins I (for convenience in handling
which loops are to be formed at the ends where they are grasped in the hands)
which so acts upon the bit in the horse's mouth as to throw the head up,
where it can be held as long as desired, in which position of the head, as is
well known, it is perfectly impossible for the horse to kick, and the animal is
reduced to a complete state of subjugation and control. In lieu of passing the
supplemental reins from the bit through pulleys of the throat latch rings may
be substituted for the pulleys, and the said reins may be also passed to the
"turret " rings, where they enter the ordinary reins in many other ways than
that herein particularly explained, it being only essential that they should be
passed in such a manner that when pulled by the person driving the horse
they will cause the bit to act in an upward direction against the "commissure"
palate or tender part of the horse's mouth, Pulleys may be used in the rings
of the bit for the supplementary reins to pass around. In conclusion it may
be here remarked that by the arrangement of the supplementary reins pre-
viously described the ordinary check reins are dispensed with and the bridle
much simplified.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention, and the manner
of performing or carrying the same into practice, the improvements which are
claimed and intended to be secured under the above in part recited Letters
Patent are as follows:-
First, the application of the strap C to common or other bridles in the
manner and for the purposes specified, substantially as shown in Figures 1
and 2 of the Drawing hereunto annexed.
Second, a bridle provided with a safety attachment formed by the employ-
ment or use of supplemental reins connected directly to the check straps which
pass through the rings of the bit, substantially in the manner herein described
and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawing.
Third, the fitting or placing of the supplemental lines or reins within the
ordinary reins, when said supplemental lines or reins are connected to the

page_text: check straps of the bridle, and the former pass through the rings of the bit,
substantially as herein described and shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourth, the safety check lines or reins I, when such reins are arranged in
connection with the bridle and connected to the bit rings, or their equivalents,
so as to operate upon the bit, substantially as shown in reference to Figure 4
of the Drawing for the purpose herein described.
Fifth, the doubled or looped check straps A, in combination with the reins I,
essentially as illustrated in Figure 4 of the Drawing, as and for the purpose
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.S.)