Improvements in Bridles for Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by ALEXANDER OGDEN, of No. 12, Temple Court, King
Street, Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Contractor.]
Improvements in Bridles for Horses and other Animals.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45. Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in the con-
struction of bridles for horses and other animals, that will dispense with the
ordinary metal or other bit, so that the driver may have better control over the
animal driven, without endangering the animal's mouth. With bits at present
in use, whether they be made of steel or other material, the pull and strain is
always on the corners of the animal's mouth, and frequently the mouth is cut
or jagged by the bit. With hard mouthed horses, when the ordinary bit is used
it not infrequently occurs that the horse will take the bit between his teeth,
raise his head, and assume complete control, leaving the driver powerless to
either guide or stop him.
Now this invention provides a substitute for the ordinary bit, giving the driver
much better control over the animal, and if desired the driver may compel the horse
(without cruelty) to keep his head down, and consists essentially in passing a
strap over the head of the animal and fastening on the side of each cheek, a band
of rubber or other suitable material, and passing each band through the horse's
mouth, and on each opposite side through a ring. the band then being connected
to the reins. These bands will cross each other in the animal's mouth.
But in order that this invention may be more fully understood, reference will
now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms a part of this
Specification and in which: -
Figure 1 is a side view of a horse's head having this improved bridle thereon.
Figure 2 is a view of the head strap and bit bands.
In each figure similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A is the head band extending downwards on each side to near the animal's
mouth, and supporting a ring B (one on each side of the head); C (partly shewn
in dotted lines in Figure 1) is the head strap passed under the head band A, and
extending downwards on either side. To this head strap C, on each side, is
buckled the strap D, these latter straps carry the bit bands E, E, the latter having
attached the rings F, F, to which the reins G, G, are buckled.
When the bridle is placed on the horse's head the bit bands E, E, are passed
through the horse's mouth, and on their opposite side, through a ring B, and in
passing through the mouth, they cross each other. The rings F, F, prevent the bit
bands from slackening in the horse's mouth more than a given extent, on account of
it not being possible for the rings F, F. to pass through the rings B. The
buckle H by which the straps D, D, are secured to the head strap C, will enable the
bit bands to be released when desired.

page_text: The bit bands E, E, are preferably made of rubber and circular, may be ribbed
either way, or in any other form that may be found suitable or they may be com-
posed of any other material, that will accomplish the same purpose.
The chief reason for the use of rubber is that it, being a semi-soft material,
will not be liable to cut or jag the corners of the horse's mouth.
I am aware that rubber hits have been used for horses, but they have always
been attached to the bridle, in a manner somewhat similar to that in which metal
bits are attached, but no better control of the animal has been attained by the use
of such bits.
It will be obvious that a person driving a horse or other animal with this
improved bridle, will have a direct pull, through the mouth of the horse, on his
head, and it will be found that the hardest mouthed horse will be easily controlled
when this improved bridle is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
In bridles, bit bands as E. E. one attached on each side of a head strap, and
passed through the mouth of the animal to be driven, and crossing each other
in the animal's mouth, and finally being connected to the driving reins, substan-
tially as herein described, explained, and illustrated, and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 93 d of Nov 100-
HASELTINE, LAKE & CO.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.