CA2632303A1 - Conversion kit for bitted bridles to a bitless bridle for horses and like animals - Google Patents

Abstract

An addition to a, standard bridle that uses a bit for head control, to allow the removal of the bit and still give control of the head of the horse or like animal. The conversion uses a single piece of leather or like material looped at one end around the current crownpiece and held in place at the current brow band splitting and extending over each side of the animals nose in such a manner as to cross over the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve and attach to a connecting point on each side. At this point a nosepiece connects the two sides on the upper portion of the nose and a chain on the under side of the nose in such a manner to encircle the complete nose of the animal. The chain is fed through a large ring that has been attached to the cheek straps, at the point that the bit would normally be placed, crossed and attached to the reins.
Pulling on the right rein will cause pressure on the left side of the maxillary nerve and push the head to the right. Pulling both reins at the same time will apply pressure to the entire circumference of the nose via the nose band and chain configuration leaving the horse no choice but to stop to relieve the pressure. Once stopped pressure is released immediately due to the quick release factor of the chain. Constant pressure on both reins cause the animal to back up to get away from the pressure on the nose. When the animal has completed the task instant relieve is achieved by releasing the rein pressure.

Description

Specification/Description Bitless Bridle Conversion This invention relates to an addition of tack added to a existing bitted bridle which enables the owner/user to convert the said tack to a bitless bridle, maintaining control during riding, driving and training, to a horse or other animal without causing harm or discomfort.

The intent of a bitted bridle is to control the horse's head by exerting pressure on the tongue, gums, and lips causing pain to the animals mouth giving the handler control of the animal by releasing the amount of discomfort when the animal Secom's to the handlers wishes. Some five thousand years of perfecting the bit have seen such changes as curving the bit (curb bit), jointing the bit (snaffle bit), making the bit flexible (rubber bit), twisting the bit (twisted snaffle), giving more pressure to the bit (gag bit) along with many other variations. All of these working on the principal of pain to the nerve ends in the mouth and tongue of the animal. The twentieth century has seen a concern in the use of a bit to control the horse and has looked. for alternative methods to control the head of the animal. The hackamore, bosal, sidepull, and variations of these have all been developed including the bitless bridle. In US patent issued Oct 17,2002 #
6,591,589 B2 W. Robert Cook discloses a bitless bridle comprising of an elongated strap which includes a center piece at the poll, and two crossover straps at the sides, attachable to a pair of reins providing pressure to the whole of the opposite side of the head. In Canadian patent # 2 522 524 issued 2007/03/29 to Zoe Brooks a solid head piece has replaced a double head piece and adding a crossover reinstrap stabilizer.

Differences in design to these current inventions add to the financial commitment of an interested user and added control to the animals head.
1. The previous inventions require a complete new bridle, thus leaving the owner of a bitted bridle the cost of purchasing the bitless bridle before he is confident in it's ability to control his/her animal. This new invention is an added piece of tack that will replace the bit allowing the purchaser to return to the bit if unsatisfied with it's performance using the same bridle. This is achieved by removing the bit and replacing it with a solid ring. The chains, of the addition, are fed through the ring and attached to the reins.

2. The previous inventions rely on pressure to the cheek crossing the underlying mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, sending a signal to the animal to turn right or left much like that of the bit only with pressure on a section of the nerve instead of pain on the nerve end. The new invention relies on pressure to the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve. This is a larger nerve extending out to the nose of the horse giving a much clearer signal as to the expectations of the rider.

3. Cooks invention relies on the pressure to the poll of the horse to signal it to stop.
Zoes invention relies on moderate pressure to the poll with added pressure under the jaw via the reinstrap stabilizer. The current invention relies on a constant squeeze effect around the nose leaving the horse with no alternative but to stop in order to relieve the pressure on its nose. The quick slide effect of the chain accomplishes this with instant relieve when the horse stops.
In drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 shows the complete current invention Figure 2 shows current invention and standard bridle Figure 3 shows a side view of a horse fitted with the current invention that has been added to a standard bridle.
Figure 4 shows a front view of a horse with the current invention fitted to a standard bridle.
Figure 5 shows the position of the nerves in the horses head.
In order for the current invention to operate properly figure 1 depicts the integral part of the invention. It may be either added to or be part of a cuirent style of bridle used in any equine discipline. Fig. 1(a) shows a loop in the face band that encircles the head stall and is secured with a Chicago screw. Fig. 1(b) shows a method of attaching the face band to the brow band of the bridle. Fig. 1(c) shows the split in the nose band to enable placement on both sides of the nose. Fig 1 (d) shows the rings for the atta.chment of the chain. Fig 1 (e) shows the variable length chain. Fig 1(f) shows the rings attached to the chain and used to attach the reins. Fig 1(g) shows the nose band.

Claims (7)

1. An addition to a standard bitted bridle that allows the removal of the bit and will still allow control of a horse or like animal in turning, slowing, stopping, or backing up by asserting pressure on a set of reins attached to rings on said addition consisting of.

a leather or like strap that has been turned at one end to enable said strap to encircle the aforementioned said bridle and be secured by a chigaco screw or like fastener to hold said strap in place.

a second piece of leather or like material that has been added to said strap and secured in order to hold the brow band of aforementioned bridle in correct position under the said strap.

a split in the said strap at a point below the brow band connection to enable the said strap to be positioned on either side of the horses head.

a set of rings Figure 2 (d & e) attached to the ends of aforementioned split in said strap.

a flat twisted chain or like material of variable length attached to said rings Figure

2 (d & e) and also attached to a second set of rings Figure 2 (a & c).

a nose band Figure 2 (h) made of leather or like material attached to said rings Figure 2 (a & c) at end of said strap in such a manner as to join the two sides of the split in the said strap.

a larger ring Figure 2 (b) than aforementioned sets of rings Figure 2 (a & c) sized to allow passage through said ring (b) by said rings (a) & (c) that is held in place by the bit straps of said standard bitted bridle.

2. As shown in Figure 2 a process to turn a horse or like animal to the right by applying pressure to the right rein (a) pulling the chain attached to ring (e) transmitting pressure to part strap (g) (from point of split to ring (e)) sending a clear signal via the underlying trigeminal (maxillary branch) nerve to the animal to turn right.

3. As shown in Figure 2 a process to turn a horse or like animal to the left by applying pressure to the left rein (c) pulling the chain attached to ring (d) transmitting pressure to part strap (f) (from point of split to ring (d)) sending a clear signal via the underlying trigeminal (maxillary branch) nerve to the animal to turn left.

4. As shown in Figure 2 a process to slow a horse or like animal by applying pressure to the both reins (a) and (c) pulling the chain attached to ring (e) and (d), transmitting pressure to part strap (g) and (f) (from point of split to ring (e) and (d)) and forcing ring (b) up under the jaw bone of the animal. This process causes a squeeze effect around the nose effecting both the maxillary branch and the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve sending a clear signal to the animal to slow down.

5. As shown in Figure 2 a process to stop a horse or like animal from a slowed down state by applying pressure to the both reins (a) and (c) pulling the chain attached to ring (e) and (d) transmitting pressure to part strap (g) and (f) (from point of split to ring (e) and (d)) and forcing ring (b) up under the jaw bone of the animal.
This process causes a squeeze effect around the nose effecting both the maxillary branch and the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve sending a clear signal to the animal to stop.

6. As shown in Figure 2 a process to back up a horse or like animal from the stopped position by applying pressure to the both reins (a) and (c) pulling the chain attached to ring (e) and (d) transmitting pressure to part strap (g) and (f) (from point of split to ring (e) and (d)) and forcing ring (b) up under the jaw bone of the animal. This process causes a squeeze effect around the nose effecting both the maxillary branch and the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve sending a clear signal to the animal to back up.

7. The quick release factor of the sliding chain when pressure is released, instantly lets the horse or like animal know when it has completed the correct response.