Improved Martingale Attachment for Harness.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1892-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Martingale Attachment for Harness.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108, Victoria Chambers,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by
Stillman E. Mathews, of Fullerville, New York, U.S.A. Inventor,) to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved device for the control of horses, and has
for its object to provide a novel appliance which will coact with an ordinary riding
or driving bridle, and afford means to control the liead of the animal and retain it
in any desired angle of elevation.
The invention, in brief, comprehends the provision of a brace of rigid material,
which is adjustable in its parts, and which affords an extensible connection between
the bit of the bridle and the breast-strap of the harness, whereby the head of the
animal is retained from improper elevation without regard to the condition of
the driving-reins, and rearing or kicking prevented.
The bit is secured in the parallel limbs of a bifurcated rod. The bit, being free
to turn in the limbs, is provided with the usual rings whereon the driving-reins are
connected. The proportionate dimensions of the limbs and their degree of
separation is such that they will be adapted to lie on each side of the lower jaw of
the animal when in position and also extend below said jaw.
At a point adjacent to the junction of the limbs the rod is divided into two
parts, which are adjustably connected by a knuckle-joint, which is so constructed
that the bolt which connects the parts may be set up with sufficient pressure to
hold the rod portions rigid at any desired angle they may be required to maintain,
or secure the rod and fork-limbs in the same plane.
An elongated sleeve is provided of such calibre as will admit the rod, of which
it forms a tubular extension, the lower end of the sleeve having a loop attached,
which is secured by any suitable means to the breast-collar. The loop is connected
to a depending portion of an ordinary martingale, which is secured firmly to the
breast collar, and branches above the collar to loosely connect the reins.
If preferred, the upper portion of the martingale straps may be dispensed with
and the lower portion whereon the sleeve is connected extended from the collar
between the fore legs of the horse to be attached to the girth-strap or belly-band
in an obvious manner.
The set-screw has a threaded engagement with the sleeve near its upper terminal,
and when firmly adjusted against the body of the rod will retain the rod and sleeve
in firm connection at any desired point of longitudinal adjustment.
In use, the appliance being attached to the animal in the manner described, it
will be evident that the vertical movement of the head of the horse will be
prevented while lateral movement is permitted.
It is well known to horsemen that if the nose of the horse is held depressed at a
proper angle rearing or kicking will be prevented. Hence the use of the stiff
martingale herein described will curb a vicious animal, prevent "shying," and
obviate the necessity for keeping a taut rein on a tricky horse at all times while
driving or riding.
If desired, a bit may be attached to the limbs without passing through them, as
such a connection can be effected by straps or other equivalent means, and permit
the ready removal of the martingale attachment from the bridle.
Dated this 1st day of April 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Martingale Attachment for Harness.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Stillman E. Mathews,
of Fullerville, New York, U.S.A. Inventor,) 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 an improved device for the control of horses, and has for
its object to provide a novel appliance which will coact with an ordinary riding or
driving bridle, and afford means to control the head of the animal and retain it at
any desired angle of elevation.
To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts,
as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in both the figures.
Figure 1 represents the device in position upon a horse, and
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view of the appliance.
The invention, in brief, comprehends the position of a brace of rigid material,
which is adjustable in its parts, and which affords an extensible connection between
the bit of the bridle and the breast-strap of the harness, whereby the head of the
animal is retained from improper elevation without regard to the condition of the
driving-reins, and rearing or kicking prevented.
The bit A is secured in the parallel limbs a of a bifurcated rod B. The bit,
being free to turn in the limbs, is provided with the usual rings b, whereon the
driving-reins C are connected. The proportionate dimensions of the limbs a and
their degree of separation is such that they will be adapted to lie on each side of
the lower jaw of the animal when in position and also extend below said jaw, as
shown in Fig. 1.
At a point adjacent to the junction of the limbs a the rod B is divided into two
parts, which are adjustably connected by a knuckle-joint which is so constructed
that the bolt e, which connects the parts, may be set up with sufficient pressure to
hold the rod portions at any desired angle they may be required to maintain, or
secure the rod B and fork-limbs « in the same plane.
(
An elongated sleeve D is provided of such calibre as will admit the rod B, of
which it forms a tubular extension, the lower end of the sleeve having a loop d
,attached, which is secured by any suitable means to the breast-collar E. As shown,
the loop d is connected to a depending portion of an ordinary martingale F, which
is secured firmly at e to the breast-collar E, and branches above the collar to
loosely connect the reins C, as at g in Fig. 1.
If preferred, the upper portion of the martingale straps F may be dispensed with
and the lower portion whereon the sleeve D is connected extended from the
collar E between the fore legs of the horse to be attached to the girth-strap or
belly-band in an obvious manner.
The set-screw has a threaded engagement with the sleeve D near its upper
terminal, and when firmly adjusted against the body of the rod B will retain
the rod and sleeve in firm connection at any desired point of longitudinal
adjustment.
In use, the appliance being attached to the animal in the manner described, and
as represented in Fig. 1, it will be evident that the vertical movement of the head
of the horse will be prevented, while lateral movement is permitted.
It is well known to horsemen that if the nose of the horse is 'held depressed at a
proper angle 'rearing or kicking will be prevented. Hence the use of the stiff'

page_text: martingale herein described will curb a vicious animal, prevent "shying," and
obviate the necessity for keeping a taut rein on a tricky horse at all times while
driving or riding.
If desired, the bit A may be attached to the limbs a without passing through
them, as such a connection can be effected by straps or other equivalent means, and
permit the ready removal of the martingale attachment from the bridle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A martingale attachment for harness, comprising a rigid rod which is forked
at one end, has a bit-bar across the limbs of the fork that may be connected to a
bridle, and a sleeve which slides on the rod, is securable thereon, and also
attachable to the breast-collar or a strap of the harness, substantially as set forth.
2. A rigid martingale for harness, comprised, essentially, of a bifurcated rigid
rod having a bridle bit-bar attached to the limbs of its bifurcated portion, a
knuckle-joint on the rod near the bifurcated end, and a rigid sleeve that is adapted
to slide on the rod and be secured thereon at any point of longitudinal adjustment
and also attachable to the breast-collar or a strap of the harness, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of January 1892.
W. H. MUNNS.