Improvements in or Connected with Bits for Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887
Improvements in or Connected with Bits for Horses and
other Animals.
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 in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to the application to bits for horses and other animals of
improved appliances or means of guiding and causing the animal to keep its head
straight forward when being ridden or driven, so that it will be rendered more
amenable to guidance by the rein and can be more easily kept under efficient and
proper control.
The appliance hitherto most generally used for this purpose is constructed with a
number of movable spikes or prickers which are applied to a backing or pad of
leather which when required for use is strapped to the inner sides of the cheeks of the
bit with the spikes inwards towards the horse's mouth. Such appliances answer their
intended purpose in causing the animal to keep its head straight, but as they are
unprovided with any protective means they occasionally prick the horse when not
boring its mouth against the side of the bit and are thus very liable to irritate the
animal as well as to produce confusion in its mind.
The especial object of this Invention is to construct and adapt such appliances in
such an improved manner as that such disadvantages will be avoided; and to this end
the Invention consists, essentially, in applying and using fixed prickers, and in
adapting protective means thereto which will normally prevent the appliance from
having its intended action until the animal brings it into operation by boring its
mouth against it.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in Figs. 1, to, 6
representing three principal modifications of carrying the same into effect. Figs. 1. 3
and represent front elevations, and Figs. 2. 4. and, 6, respectively represent transverse
sectional elevations thereof.
In carrying the Invention into effect, I apply or use a considerably less number of
prickers, 7, than have been hitherto applied or used, and fixedly apply them to the
part 8, carrying them, which may either consist of the upper cheek of the bit Vide

page_text: Figs. 3. and 4, or of the upper and lower cheeks of the bit Vide Figs. 1 and 2, or of
separate attachments, 8, Vide Figs. 5 and 6 which may be secured to or detachable
from the bit, and are suspended directly from the bridle by any suitable connection, 9.
The said protective devices may be adapted or applied to such appliances or directly
to the bit itself in various ways, they consist, essentially, of movable protective guards,
plates or equivalent parts, 10, which are or may be hinged or otherwise suitably adapted
to the plate, 8, vide Figs. 5, and, 6, or secured at a central part to the bit itself Vide
Figs. 3, and, 4, or secured at both ends with facility of movement as illustrated in
Figs. 1, and, 2, such protective parts may, however, be otherwise disposed between the
pointed ends of the prickers and the horses mouth in any suitable manner which will
prevent the prickers from pricking the animal when it does not bore its mouth against
the side of the bit, and will permit of any side boring of the horse's head forcing the
said plate or part from its protective position so as to then expose the horse to the
influence of the prickers, which then protrude through the opposite holes, 13, made in
the guards. The protective guards may be made of a spring formation as represented
in Figs. 1 to 4, or they may be adapted with springs or equivalent means, 11, which
will normally keep the plates, 8, 10, apart, and the prickers protected, and will,
immediately the horse sets its head straight, automatically return the plate, 10, to its
protective position, which is or may be controlled by another spring 12, or by
equivalent means.
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 :-
In appliances of the nature herein before described :-
1. The application of fixed prickers to a plate or carrying part suspended from the
bridle, substantially as herein before described.
2. The application of fixed prickers to the bit, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The application of protective guards, plates or parts normally acting as and
having the operation hereinbefore described.
4. The application of such protective guards in combination with the subject matter
of claim 2 hereof.
5. The application of such protective guards in combination with the subject matter
of claim 1 hereof.
6. The improved construction of such appliances and the use in combination of
their various parts substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 29th day of July 1887.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.