IMPROVEMENTS IN BITS FOR HORSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I AMEDIÉ THORNTON, BARON DE MOUNCIE of 44 Rawling's Street Chelsea in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention.
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BITS FOR HORSES to be as follows:―
The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means by which
young and spirited or hitherto unmanageable horses may be controlled and driven
at a steady pace and be prevented from bolting.
Many kinds of bits and systems of bitting have been devised to effect these.
results but for the most part they are ineffectual for the purpose or if effectual at
all are so punishing and cruel in their action as to spoil the temper and harden or
permanently injure the mouth of the animal.
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction
and arrangement of bits by which I am enabled to dispense entirely with a curb
chain, and to apply and distribute the pressure exerted by the reins in such a way
upon the nose mouth and jaws of the horse as will afford increased facilities for
checking and guiding his movements and without inflicting pain permit of turning
him sharply without risk of injuring or hardening the mouth.
I also provide means in the case of confirmed pullers or horses addicted to bolting
for speedily breaking them of the habit without punishing them or hardening the
mouth or injuring them in any way.
To this end my invention consists of a bit in which the cheeks are connected by
pair of bars preferably of smooth round steel, forming the mouth piece which bars
are capable of a certain amount of play in slots or guides formed to receive them
in the cheeks. The upper bar is preferably capable of a rotary motion only,
while the lower bar is free to slide freely up and down towards or from the
upper bar as well as to rotate..
The ends of these bars are suitably formed to prevent their detachment from the
cheeks of the bit without interfering with the movements above described.
This construction and arrangement of parts permits great independence of
movement to the said cheeks under the action of the reins in riding or driving
and ensures a smooth variable bearing surface within the horses mouth which

page_text: prevents any tendency. to hardness or cutting while the horse when going quietly
or when standing still has an easily movable and smooth surfaced mouthpiece to
champ.
The independence of movement in the two cheeks of the bit may be and
preferably is increased by forming each cheek in two parts connected somewhat
loosely by a pivot pin which will allow a slight endway play of the two portions
of the cheek and further ease the bit in the horses mouth when pressure by the
reins is relaxed.
The cheek straps of the bridle are attached to loops or their equivalent formed
in the upper parts of the cheeks of the bit, whether the said upper parts are
in one with or are pivotted to the lower parts in which the pair of bars above
named are movably mounted.
The reins may be attached to the cheeks of the bit at points opposite to or
midway of the slot or guide in which the lower movable bar plays or they may be
attached to loops or eyes formed in the lower ends of the said cheeks
When in the
latter position they will when pulled equally tend to turn the cheeks upon their
pivot pins and the pair of bars will tend to close and to assume an oblique or
horizontal position within the mouth in line or nearly so with, the line of draught
in which position they will exert less leverage upon the horses mouth than when
the rein is attached to the cheeks at a point nearer to or between the said bars
when a pull on the reins will tend to draw both bars back vertically one above the
other.
+
It will thus be seen that increased power for the driver is not obtained as is now
usually the case by giving the reins an; increased leverage on the cheeks of the
bit and curb tending to force down and compress the lower jaw but by an
expansion mouth piece composed of a pair of movable bars.
TAI
For pulling horses this bit, is, in addition to the movable bars fitted with a small
piece of net or its equivalent some three inches by five in size which is securely
attached by leather or cord to the cheeks, or to the movable bars connecting them
so that when in use the said piece of net or its equivalent will lie flat or loosely
at length within the mouth, and may be. played with by the tongue of the horse
promoting the flow of saliva, and offering. no inconvenience. or discomfort to the.
animal, but which when the bit is pulled by the reins will be brought towards, the
back of the throat and by producing a tendency.to'.retch, will cause, the relaxation:
and flexion of the muscles of the throat and neck, and bring the horse well under
control.
! .t
In order to take all strain off. the corners of the mouth and to prevent the horse
becoming hard mouthed or injured by the sudden or improper pulling or jerking of
the reins the nose band is. enlarged in front and provided, with extension pieces in
the form of side.straps, extending downwards and rearwards, to the cheeks of the
bit to which they are secured at a point rather below, the ends. of the upper
movable bar, or the said .side.straps may be attached to, the reins at a point, close,
to the point where the latter are attached to the cheeks by means of a bar, buckle
or link, a short strap being also buckled behind the lower jaw.
8
By this means the bit is held from twisting and any sudden pull on the reins
will be borne by the nose instead of taking effect on the corners of the mouth but
this arrangement will not interfere with the independent motions of the cheeks of
the bit nor with the sliding, twisting, and rolling, movements of, the pair of steel
bars within. the mouth which independence of movement and easy adjustment of
position by the driver affords great advantages for controlling and guiding the horse
since by pulling on oue rein more than the other the lower end of one cheek can be
caused to press against the lower jaw, on one side and the upper end of the other
cheek against the nostril or upper jaw on the other side thus tending to turn the
head round firmly and naturally but without violence.
"
"
In some cases especially for what are; known as stargazers" the nose band may
be fitted with a strip or strips of soft flexible material such as chamois leather or

page_text: silk attached at its lower edges by straps or cords to the cheeks of the bit and by
this means when pulling on the bit, pressure will be applied to the nostrils and the
horse to relieve itself will naturally lower its head and in a shor time lose the
habit.
For strong pullers and bolters I prefer to use the bit with cheeks formed each of
a single piece in combination with the flexible mouth piece of net or its equivalent.
By the above described system of bitting horses hitherto deemed unmanageable
may be safely ridden or driven in a few week.

page_text: I AMÉDÉE THORNTON, BARON DE MOUNCIE of 44. Rawlings Street, Chelsea, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BITS FOR HORSES 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 provide simple and efficient means by which
young and spirited, or hitherto unmanageable horses, may be controlled and driven
at a steady pace and be prevented from bolting.
Many kinds of bits and systems of bitting have been devised to effect these
results, but for the most part they are ineffectual for the purpose, or when effectual
are so punishing and cruel in their action as to spoil the temper, and harden or
permanently injure the mouth of the animal.
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction
and arrangement of bits by which I am enabled to dispense entirely with a curb
chain, and to apply and distribute the pressure exerted by the reins in such a way
upon the nose, mouth and jaws of the horse as will afford increased facilities for
checking and guiding his movement, and permit of turning him sharply without
risk of injuring or hardening the mouth.
I also provide means, in the case of confirmed pullers or horses addicted to
bolting, for speedily breaking them of the habit, without punishing them or
'injuring them in any way.
To this end my invention consists of a bit in which the cheeks are connected by
a pair of bars of any suitable material but preferably of smooth round steel,
forming the mouthpiece, which bars are capable of a certain amount of play in
slots or guides formed to receive them in the cheeks.
This construction and arrangement of parts permits great independence of
movement to the said cheeks under the action of the reins in riding or driving, and
ensures a smooth and variable bearing surface within the horse's mouth which
prevents any tendency to hardness or cutting.
The independence of movement in the two cheeks of the bit may be and
preferably is increased by forming each cheek in two parts, connected somewhat
loosely by a pivot pin which will allow a slight endway play of the two portions
of the cheek and further ease the bit in the horse's mouth when pressure by the
reins is relaxed.
For pulling horses, this bit is, in addition to the movable bars, fitted with a small
piece of net or its equivalent, some three inches by five in size, which is securely
attached by leather or cord to the cheeks or to the movable bars connecting them
so that when in use the said piece of net or its equivalent will lie flat or loosely at
length within the mouth, and may be played with by the tongue of the horse,
promoting the flow of saliva and offering no inconvenience or discomfort to the
animal, but which when the bit is pulled by the reins will be brought towards the
back of the throat, and by producing a tendency to retch will cause the relaxation
and flexion of the muscles of the throat and neck, and bring the horse well under
control,

page_text: In order to take all strain off the corners of the mouth and to prevent the horse
becoming hard mouthed or injured by the sudden or improper pulling or jerking of
the reins, the nose band is enlarged in front and provided with extension pieces in
the form of side straps extending downwards and rearwards to the cheeks of the
bit, to which they are secured at a point rather below the ends of the upper
movable bar; or the said side straps may be attached to the reins at a point close
to the point where the latter are attached to the cheeks, by means of a bar, buckle
or link, a short strap being also buckled behind the lower jaw.
In some cases, especially for what are known as "star gazers," the side straps of
the noseband may be set low down or the noseband itself may be fitted with a strip
or strips of soft flexible material, such a chamois leather, silk, or cloth, attached at
its lower edges by straps or cords to the cheeks of the bit, and by this means when
pulling on the bit, pressure will be applied to the nostrils and the horse to relieve
itself will naturally lower its head, and in a short time lose the habit.
The nature of my invention will be understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig 1 is a front elevation of a bit constructed according to my
invention and fitted with a flexible piece of net or its equivalent for use with
pulling horses, or those which have a tendency to bolt.
Fig 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig 3 is a perspective view of the same illustrating the independence of move-
ment of the cheeks and movable, bars of the bit, the piece of net being removed for
the sake of clearness.
Fig 4. is a side elevation of a bit, the cheeks in this case each consisting of a
single piece of metal, instead of two members connected by a pivot pin.
Fig 5 is a side view of so much of a horses head as will show the position of the
several parts and the mode of attaching them to the bridle and reins.
In these Figures the same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding
parts.
A A¹ are the cheeks of the bit, B B¹ the movable bars constituting the mouth-
piece and C the piece of net or equivalent flexible material for use with pullers and
bolters.
The cheeks A A¹ for ordinary use are each made in two parts linked together as
shown in Figs 1. 2 3 and 5: The upper part a forms a loop by which the bit is
attached to the check strap D (see Fig 5) and this loop is connected with the main
portion of the cheek by a pivot pin a' which passes through a slot in the main
portion of the cheek and has a slight vertical play therein for the purpose of easing
the upper bar B of the mouthpiece in the horse's mouth. The ends of this upper
bar B are mounted loosely in the cheeks A A¹ so as to be capable of turning therein
and are held in position in the cheeks by shoulders b and enlarged ends or heads b¹,
or by equivalent means.
The bar B is similarly formed and mounted, but in addition to an axial move-
ment in the said cheeks it is free to slide up and down in a longitudinal slot E
formed in the said cheeks.
It will thus be seen that the cheeks A A¹ are loosely connected by the bars of
the mouthpiece B B', and while held apart and substantially parallel the one to
the other are capable of great independence of movement under the influence of the
reins controlled by the rider or driver.
Moreover the bars B B¹ of the mouthpiece have also great play within the
mouth affording an ever varying bearing surface and inducing the horse to champ
the bit freely, and promoting the flow of saliva; and this effect is heightened by
the addition of the flexible attachment C of net or its equivalent, which hangs quiet
and at length within the mouth and presents no inconvenience to the animal so
long as it is not pulling or bolting.
Should however the horse begin to pull or bolt, the said flexible attachment can,
by reason of the peculiar construction and action of the cheeks and mouth piece of
the bit be brought towards the back of the mouth and throat, and by producing a

page_text: tendency to retch, will cause a relaxation of the muscles and the flexion of the neck,
thereby bringing the horse again completely under the control of the driver.
The loops a in the upper part of the cheeks A A' are preferably pivotted thereto
for the purpose of making the bit easier for the horse, and assisting the independent
movements of the said cheeks under the influence of the reins F which may be
attached thereto as shown in full lines in Fig 5 at or near the pair of movable
bars B B', or to loops in the lower part of the cheeks as indicated in dotted lines in
that Figure. The reins it will be obvious might also be attached to rings passed
through holes or eyes in the cheeks of the bit, but I prefer to form loops in the
cheek itself for this purpose as shown.
•
·
"
For horses requiring to be more powerfully bitted, the loops a are made in one
with the checks A A¹ as shown in Fig: 4, the reins being connected to the loops
in the lower ends of the cheeks or to loops or bars at or near the middle of their
length.
The bit is attached to the bridle as shewn in Fig 5. The cheek straps D are
fastened to the loops a a in the cheeks A A¹ of the bit, the nose and throat
bands G G¹ being connected to the cheek straps D as usual.
The nose bands G however is preferably formed with an enlarged front or central
portion g from which extend two small nose straps g', one on either side of the
head, and which straps may be fastened to loops or eyes formed in the cheeks of
the bit or passed through loops or eyes or around bars carried by the reins, as is
illustrated in Fig 5, so that when the reins are suddenly pulled or jerked the strain
shall not fall upon the tender corners of the horse's mouth but will be borne by the
nose straps and nose band. By suitably arranging these nose straps they may be
caused to compress the nostrils when the reins are tightly pulled and the horse to
relieve itself of the pressure will naturally lower bis head.
The same result may be obtained by using a small strip of soft flexible material
such as silk or cloth of any suitable colour supported by the nose band and attached
to the bit by cords or straps, and this tends still more to compress the nostrils and
prevent star gazing."
The above described arrangement of nose straps or their equivalent for com-
pressing the nostrils when the reins are pulled, serves also to retain the checks A A¹
of the bit in their proper position, and if sufficiently strong and tightly drawn
afford when used with the pivotted loops a a a powerful fulcrum around which the
main body of the bit may be turned.
This method of bitting horses renders unnecessary the use of a curb and affords
grent facilities for suddenly checking or turning the horse sharply without injuring
or hardening his mouth; and owing to the independent movements of the cheek A A₁,
the horse may be controlled or guided with facility, since, by pulling on one rein
more than the other the lower end of one cheek can be caused to press against the
lower jaw on one side, and the upper end of the other check against the nostril or
upper jaw on the other side, thus tending to turn the head-round firmly and
naturally, but without violence.
It will be observed that in this improved system of bitting horses increased
power for the driver is not obtained as is now usually the case by attaching the
reins to the bit at a point further from the mouth piece and so giving the reins
increased leverage on the cheeks of the bit and curb, which tends to force down and
compress the lower jaw but by an expansion mouth piece composed of a pair of
movable bars which may be made to close and assume an oblique or nearly
horizontal position within the mouth, or may be drawn backward in the mouth
vertically, or nearly so, one above the other, according to the point of attachment
of the reins, and the requirements of the case.
In some instances the lower bar B¹ may be hinged at its centre after the manner
of a snaffle, or it may be slightly curved to suit peculiar conformations of mouths.
For strong pullers and bolters I prefer to use the bit with cheeks formed each of
a single piece of metal in combination with a flexible mouth-picce of net or itą

page_text: "
equivalent. By this improved system of bitting, horses hitherto deemed unmanage-
able may be safely ridden or driven in a few weeks.
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. The improved system of bitting horses hereinabove described and consisting in
the use of a pair of metal cheeks or side pieces A A¹ having hinged or pivotted
upper portions such as a a adapted to be secured to the cheek straps of the bridle
and capable of independent movement, a mouthpiece composed of a pair of movable
bars B B connecting the said metal side pieces and capable of sliding and rolling
movements therein, a piece of net or equivalent flexible material attached to the bit
and intended to be inserted within the horses mouth, and side straps such as g¹ g¹
adapted to compress the nostrils when the reins are pulled, whereby the horse may
be controlled without cruelty, and be prevented from pulling, bolting, or rearing
substantially as set forth.
2. In a bit for horses the use of a piece of net such as C or its equivalent,
so arranged as to lie at length within the mouth when the horse is going quietly
and to be drawn to the back of the throat when the position of the bit is changed
by the pull on the reins, thereby checking any tendency of the horse to pull or bolt,
as set forth.
3. In a bit for horses the combination of the cheeks A A', bars B B¹, and net C,
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a bit for horses, the combination with a pair of slotted cheek A A¹ capable
of independent motion and provided with loosely articulated upper portions a a, of
a pair of bars B B' constituting the mouth piece, of which one is free to rotate only
and the other to slide in slots longitudinally of the cheeks as well as to rotate, for
the purpose of obtaining a smooth, rolling and ever varying bearing surface within
the horse's mouth, substantially as described.
5. In a bit for horses a mouth piece consisting of a pair of smooth bars of steel
or other suitable material loosely mounted in the cheek pieces A A' of the bit, and
capable of mutual approximation and separation in parallel or oblique positions,
and also of an individual rolling or axial motion substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. In a bit for horses the combination with a pair of metal cheeks such as A A¹
and reins F secured thereto in any convenient manner, of a flexible nose piece or
pair of straps attached at one end to the nose band G, and at the other to the said
cheeks or to the reins, for the purpose of compressing the nostrils to any desired
extent when the reins are pulled, and compelling the horse to lower his head.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.