Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 5th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
I, CHARLES FRANCOIS MANSUY, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Gentleman, 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 this invention is to produce a snaffle bit which will act easily
and yet enable the driver to obtain complete mastery over the horse without
injuring it.
The simplest bit is doubtless the snaffle or bridoon, by means of which some
well trained horsemen attain infinitely better results than other riders using bits
of a more complicated kind. The ordinary snaffle however, has the following
disadvantages:
First. It does not allow the bridle cheeks to be tightened sufficiently so that
when the movements of the head, or only those of the jaw and tongue cause the
bit to mount in the mouth, the straps or cheeks between the front and the bit are
bulged out, thus producing an unsightly effect.
Second. In ordinary practice the common snaffle acts, in many cases, only upon
the lips, and the rider therefore is not always able to master the horse, or to
regulate its gait or pace.
The double snaffle bit constructed according to my invention, and composed of
two mouth pieces combined in one bit, obviates these disadvantages. As the cheek
pieces, or branches maintain the necessary distance between the two mouth-pieces,
when the upper piece rises in the mouth, the lower piece can still act effectively.
My improved double snaffle bit is far easier in action, is much more even and
powerful, and is better adapted for use than any other kind of bridle bit, because
even when handled roughly, it is incapable of injuring the mouth of the horse, as
the curb-chain cannot exert a pressure under the jaw and so stop the circulation of
the blood. Moreover the bit always acts directly. My double snaffle bit is
suitable for all saddle and carriage horses without exception.
The shape and the dimensions of the bit may vary according to the requirements
of the user. The mouth pieces may be constructed with double joints and the
method of connecting the mouth pieces to the arms or bars may likewise be
varied.
Some forms of double snaffle bits constructed according to my invention are
shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. The size and the
shape of the rings D, E for attaching the reins to the bit may be varied. The
upper part of the arms or bars from A to C may be omitted. In bits for carriage

page_text: horses, a single ring (Figure 2) placed high or low on the branch or arm may be
employed, or two rings may be used according as it is required to drive with one or
two pairs of reius, either with or without a bearing rein."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what. manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A snaffle bit having two mouth pieces connected to the side bars or branches
of the bit and maintained at such a distance apart that the lower mouth piece can
act with the necessary evenness and force without recourse being had to a curb
-chain.
2. A double snaffle bit constructed substantially as described with reference to
one or other of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
-drawings.
Dated this 5th day of June 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.