Improvements in or Applicable to Straps or Reins Used in Controlling Horses when Riding the same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Straps or Reins Used in
Controlling Horses when Riding the same.
1, 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 and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This Invention has reference to certain Improvements in or applicable to the straps,
reins or means used in obtaining and maintaining control of horses when riding the
same.
The Invention consists essentially in so adapting and combining drawing reins and
martingales as to accomplish the various objects for which these appliances are
generally used in the most effective and convenient manner, and embraces modifi-
cations according to which the improved drawing reins and martingale may be used
detached or separately from each other in such a manner as to accomplish in the most
effective and convenient manner the objects for which such appliances are severally
generally used.
Ordinary drawing reins pass from the rider's hand through the rings of the bit and
thence generally down to the girth or sometimes to the saddle to which they are
fastened. The principal object of such reins is to enable command being obtained by
the rider over the horse by drawing the horse's head up or down to a position in
which it has (as it is technically termed) "its head in its chest," and its principal
advantage for this purpose over an ordinary rein is that it enables the rider to more
effectually and conveniently control the horse, as its use increases the effective force
on the horse's mouth of the rider's pull, the degree of this advantage, however,
varying in accordance with the position of the horse's head relatively to the rider's
hand and to the point of fixture of the drawing reins, and in accordance with the
resultant altered direction of the rider's pull consequent on its use; which latter also
varies in accordance with the position of the horse's head and with the point of fixture
of the drawing reins. The altered direction of the rider's pull on the horse's mouth
consequent on the use of drawing reins, may, however, also be considered as an
advantage consequent on or an object of the use of such reins, but as such reins have
ED 71

page_text: been hitherto applied and used the obtainment of each of such objects or advantages
(to wit, increasing the effective controlling force of the rider's pull, and altering the
direction of the rider's pull) is antagonistic to the obtainment of the other, and thus
each can only be obtained at the expense of the other; for (when the drawing reins
are attached to the girth) the more the second object is obtained the obtainment of
the first object is lessened, and (when the drawing reins are attached to the
saddle) the more the first object is obtained the obtainment of the second object is
lessened.
One of the main objects of the present Invention is to improve the application of
the drawing rein part of the combined contrivance, or of the drawing reins if used
separately, so as to be able to accomplish the obtainment of both of the said objects
or advantages to the fullest possible extent and each without detriment to the other.
To this end I apply to each side of the bit (or to any strap, rein or other part
coming from the bit) a wheel, runner or other freely turning part, partly around
which runners the drawing reins are passed, the parts passing rearwards to the hand
and to their point of fixture. By this application I avoid much friction and am
enabled to obtain a much more effective command over the horse than when such
reins are applied in the ordinary manner and pass through the usual rings of the bit
in direct rubbing contact therewith. Such rearward parts of the drawing reins I
cause to be drawn and linked together in such a manner as to maintain a practically
parallel position or so as to cause them to keep substantially the same relative distance
apart when in action, irrespective of the position of the horse's head, allowing the
top or both parts of the reins to pass freely through the linking appliances, and
retaining the latter at such a distance behind the bit or rein attachments thereof
through which the drawing reins pass as that the bit or said rein attachments in its
or their most backward position (consequent on the horse yielding to the action) will
not touch such linking appliances, which therefore should not be further forward than
the horse's chest. I cause such linking appliances (one on each side of the horse),
to be retained in position (with facility of adjustment to permit of the same being set
at any position along the reins most convenient to the rider) by means forming
parts of or attachments to the martingale, and the position of which relatively to
points at or adjacent to the horse's shoulder blades is ensured by connections also
forming parts of or attachments to the martingale, and which may be of the nature
described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 1455 of 1887 granted to me on
the 29th day of January, 1887, or may be according to the modifications hereinafter
described with reference to Figs. 1, &, 2, of the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate the improved combined drawing reins and martingales. When the improved
drawing reins are desired to be used separately from the martingale the position of
the said links may be retained by rearward continuations of the drawing reins passing
to relatively fixed points, such as to the saddle.
On the accompanying drawings, 3, represents the freely turning runners which are
applied to the opposite sides of the bit, 4, or to opposite straps or connections thereof.
The runners are preferably shaped to suit the drawing reins, 5, intended to be used in
connection therewith, and they are rounded at their ends or so otherwise applied as
to work in their bearings with the least possible friction.
6, represents the linking devices which may be of any suitable formation, but each
preferably consists of a simple frame adapted with freely turning wheels, runners or
pulleys, 8, which are also so applied as to work with the minimum of friction,
and partly around which the top and bottom parts of the drawing reins freely pass.
The lower parts of the reins may, however, be fastened or connected to the lower
parts of the links, which may be retained relatively to the saddle or to the said
retaining means, 9, or to both."
In the modifications represented, both parts of the reins, 5, pass freely through the
links, G, and the lower parts are continued on to the said retaining means, 9, the
position of which is ensured by the saddle straps, 10, wither strap, 11, and martingale
straps or attachments, 12, which latter in the modification represented in Fig. 1,
consist of adjustable martingale attachments or straps each running from its link, 6,

page_text: through the martingale ring, 13, to the retaining part, 9, at its side of the horse; and
in the modification represented in Fig. 2. consist of adjustable straps connecting
the rings, 9, and, 13, at each side, the martingale strap, 14, at each side being in this
modification continued up to the link, 6, at the same side, to which it is connected,
and the place of which its rein ring may take if suitably adapted. The links are
thus retained relatively to the said means, 9, and each may also be retained relatively
to its side of the saddle, 17, by a separate strap running thereto as dotted at, 18.
The aforesaid facility of adjustment is obtained by means of the said straps, 12, and of
the martingale straps, 14, being provided with buckles or like means of altering the
length of such straps.
15, represents the neck strap by supporting the usual leather loop or ring, 16,
through which the divided parts of the martingale run as ordinarily.
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. Adapting, applying and combining drawing reins and martingales substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved drawing reins adapted and applied substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The improved martingale adapted and applied substantially as herein before
described.
4. The application to drawing reins, whether used in combination with martingales
or separately therefrom, of means for easing the friction thereof when passing through
the bit or connections thereto, and of means for linking and causing the top and
lower parts of the drawing reins to keep practically parallel or to maintain sub-
stantially the same relative distance apart in all positions when in action, substantially
as herein before described.
Dated this 30th day of June 1887
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.