Improvements in Head-gear for Controlling Horse 3.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Head-gear for Controlling Horse 3.
I, ALBERT EDGAR ALEXANDER, of 19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent,, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by The Humane Bridle Company,
of 150, Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America)
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 a horse-controller, and has for its object to provide a
device to be used instead of a bit, in guiding a horse. The invention consists in
the improved device which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,―
Figure
horse.
is a perspective view of my improved horse-controller, applied to a
Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views, showing the controller removed.
Figure 4 represents a sectional view of the compressing device shown in
Figure 3.
Referring to the drawings,
My improved horse-controller, as here shown, comprises a middle bar a, upper
transverse arms a a extending laterally from the upper end of the said bar and
formed to bear on opposite sides of the head, and lower transverse arms a
extending laterally from the bar a below the arms and connected with the
latter by vertical bars a. The bar a occupies the median line of the lower portion
of the horse's head, and is curved inwardly at its lower portion, to follow the con-
tour of the nose, its lower portion bearing against the flexible portion of the nose
between the nostrils. aa and at a represent eyes formed on the lateral arms for
receiving the straps which pass over the horse's head and support the controller.
The bars are preferably provided with eyes a adapted to receive a strap c
which passes back of the under jaw and prevents forward displacement of the
controller, and eyes adapted to receive the reins e e.
The arms and the connecting bar a constitute rigid side portions adapted
to bear on the sides of the lower portion of the horse's head.
A backward pull on the two reins creates pressure of the middle bar a against
the flexible portion of the nose, and effectually holds the horse back, while a pull
on one rein creates pressure both of the middle bar on the nose and of one of the
rigid side portions on the corresponding side of the head, and turns the horse's
head in the direction desired.
It will be seen that I have provided a device for controlling and guiding horses,
which is far more humane than the bit and can be easily applied and cheaply
manufactured.
The arms are preferably curved to accommodate the nostrils, as shown in
Figure 2.
In Figure 2, I show a nose-compressing device comprising straps f f secured
to the eyes and crossing each other behind the lower jaw of the horse, said
straps sliding freely in the eyes and having rings f f at their outer ends for
engagement with the reins. When both reins are pulled, the straps ff. exert
pressure against the under jaw, the nose being thus compressed, and the animal
controlled.

page_text: In Figure 3, I show as a substitute for the straps fif a single strap g, which
is made practically rigid at its central portion by a curved metal stiffener g', its
ends being flexible and adapted to slide freely in the eyes a, said ends having
rein-engaging ring g². The central portion of the stiffener g presents a protuber-
ance formed to enter the hollow between the side-bones of the under jaw of a
horse. The strap is pressed forward against the under jaw by a backward pull
on the reins, the controlling device being thus caused to compress the nose.
pull on one rein causes pressure of the protuberance g against one side of the
Said hollow, the said protuberance thus aiding in guiding the horse.
A
When a compressing device is employed, the eyes a are preferably provided
with anti-friction rollers a to permit the straps f f or the flexible ends of the
strap g to move freely in said eyes. This device, as well as that shown in
Figure 2, is to be used only on refractory horses.
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. A horse-controlling device comprising a rigid bar formed to extend along the
median line of the lower portion of a horse's head, its lower portion being curved
inwardly and formed to bear on the flexible portion of the nose between the nostrils,
and side portions extending from the said bar and formed to bear on opposite sides
of the head.
2. A horse-controlling device comprising a rigid bar formed to extend along the
median line of the lower portion of a horse's head, its lower portion being curved
inwardly and formed to bear on the flexible portion of the nose between the
nostrils, and side portions extending from the said bar and formed to bear on
opposite sides of the head, said device having suitable strap- and rein-engaging
devices.
3. A horse-controlling device comprising a bar formed to extend along the
median line of a horse's head, its lower portion being curved inwardly and formed
to bear on the flexible portion of the nose between the nostrils; upper transverse
arms extending laterally from the upper end of said bar and formed to bear on
opposite sides of the nose; lower transverse arms extending from the bar below the
upper arms rigid connections between the rear portions of said upper and lower
arms and eyes or loops formed to engage suitable straps and reins.
4. A horse-controlling device comprising a rigid bar formed to extend vertically
along the median line of the lower portion of a horse's head, its lower portion being
curved inwardly and formed to bear on the flexible portion of the nose between
the nostrils, and side portions extending from said bar and formed to bear on
opposite sides of the head, rein-engaging eyes on said side portions, and a nose-
compressing device movable endwise in said eyes and having means for engage-
ment with a pair of reins.
5. A horse-controlling device comprising a rigid bar formed to extend vertically
along the median line of the lower portion of a horse's head, its lower portion
being curved inwardly and formed to bear on the flexible portion of the nose
between the nostrils, and side portions extending from said bar and formeil to bear
on opposite sides of the head, rein-engaging eyes on said side portions, and a
strap movable in said eyes and formed to extend across the under jaw, said strap
having a central protuberance formed to enter the hollow of the under jaw.
Dated this 4th day of April 1899.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents, 19, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Filing Agents.