EP3511291B1 - Belt for a bridle or harness and bridle with such a belt - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a strap for a bridle or saddle and a bridle for a riding or draft animal, for example a horse with at least one such strap. In particular, the invention relates to a strap for a bridle or saddle equipment with a first end portion forming a first end of the strap, with a second end portion forming the other end of the strap and with a central portion connecting the two end portions, which central portion is connected by a Effect to the animal body arranged cushion element is provided.

Bridles are used for riding and draft animals, typically horses. Such a bridle comprises a head frame which is to be attached to the head of the animal and which is composed of individual straps. If desired, different active and / or functional elements, such as a bridle, a curb, reins, a lunge, a noseband and the like can be connected to the head frame. The straps can be adjusted in relation to one another in order to be able to adapt the head frame to the anatomy of the animal's head in this way. Such a head frame usually comprises a noseband which is guided over the bridge of the nose of the animal. To embrace the animal's head, the noseband is completed with a chinstrap that is passed around the chin. This belt ring, which is made up of a noseband and a chin strap, is held in place by at least one cheek piece on each side of the animal's head. A neck piece of the head frame is passed behind the ears of the animal head over its neck band and is held in position on both sides of the animal head by a cheek piece. If desired, this can be supplemented with a throat strap connecting the two cheek pieces. The cheek pieces typically connect the noseband and chin strap to the headpiece. The straps are connected to one another by buckles to adjust their length to the anatomy of the animal's head. To ensure a secure fit of the head frame of the bridle, it must not sit too loosely. On the other On the other hand, pressure-sensitive areas can be found in the area of the bridge of the nose and the neck band, to which horses and other animals can react with different degrees of sensitivity. Because of these pressure-sensitive areas, the noseband and the headpiece must not be tensioned too tightly so as not to exert an excessive effect on the pressure-sensitive areas of the animal's body.

In order to try to remedy this, since a certain contact pressure is desired especially in the area of the noseband for handling a horse, nosebands have been used which are equipped with padding on the side facing the horse's head. The same has been attempted with neck pieces. Such a headpiece is off, for example DE 20 2006 019 714 U1 known.

The same problem as described above for certain straps of a bridle also arises with waist belts for attaching a saddle or a lunging or vaulting belt to the horse by means of a waist belt.

U.S. 5,503,894 A revealed in his Figures 3 and 4 a padded strap of a conventional type. This strap has a pin buckle at each end. These are connected to one another by two fabric straps. The fabric tapes each form a loop at the end that encompasses the web of each buckle. The fabric straps are reinforced by an inner leather strip that extends under the pin buckles. This arrangement is framed by neoprene padding, the side edges of which are led around the longitudinal edges of the leather strip and held together on the side facing away from the animal's body by decorative leather. The fabric bands are connected to the inner leather strip, for example by sewing or gluing. The padding is provided by part of the neoprene tube described above.

EP 1 232 995 A2 discloses a saddle girth. This includes an inner layer facing the animal body, which - as with the object of the US 5 503 894 A - is held together on the side facing away from the carcass by an outer layer. These two layers also form a tube that is filled with padding. Two buckles with a piece of belt are attached to the ends of the lower layer, but not to the outer layer. In order to achieve a cushioning effect, the inner layer is bulged in the direction of the animal body. To keep this shape, the thicker outer layer acts as an abutment. A very similar saddle girth is out DE 26 40 771 A1 known.

DE 20 2006 003 158 U1 discloses a saddle girth with an air cushion. This saddle girth is a conventional saddle girth, on the side of which facing the animal body there is air cushioning.

With such a padded strap, the pressure point acting on the sensitive areas is padded. However, it would be desirable if the pressure relief of such a strap as part of the headgear of a bridle were significantly improved.

The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing such a belt.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a strap for a bridle or saddle equipment with the features of claim 1.

This belt is divided into three parts with regard to its longitudinal extension and has at each of its two ends an end section as well as a central section connecting the two end sections and extending between them. The central portion of this strap is provided by a cushion member. The direction of action of the cushion element is directed towards the animal's body, for example in the direction of the bridge of the nose of a horse. The cushion element is thus a part of the belt that absorbs tensile force. Therefore, tensile stress can only be transmitted from one fastening means to the other fastening means via the central portion of the cushion element. The upholstery sets at least with its tensile top layer continues into the end sections of the belt. In another embodiment, the padding element also continues with its padding into the end sections of the belt. In each of these end sections, at least one fastening means are connected to the padding element in order to be able to connect the strap to, for example, another strap of a bridle or a saddle. These fastening means can be fastening straps which are sewn to the cushion element in the sections belonging to the end portions of the strap. The fastening straps can be designed as perforated belts in order to be able to attach a pin buckle of another belt to them. Such a fastening strap can also carry a pin buckle. The fastening means on the two end sections of the belt can also be designed differently. For example, a perforated strap can be connected as a fastening strap as fastening means on one end section of the belt and a fastening strap carrying a pin buckle can be connected as fastening means on the other end section. The fastening means, for example the fastening straps of such a belt, since each connected to an end section of the belt, are separated from one another by the cushion element with regard to their tensile force-introducing fastening through the middle section of the cushion element. In the area of the central section, therefore, only the cushion element acts on the animal body, for example on the bridge of the nose of a horse.

The pad element forming the middle section is that part of the belt which is guided on or over pressure-sensitive areas of the animal's body, such as the horse's head in the case of a bridle or around the belly in the case of a saddlecloth. In the case of a noseband as part of a bridle, the middle section extends over the bridge of the nose. Thus, the pleasantly soft padding element acts on the bridge of the nose and not a relatively hard strap, as in previously known bridle head frames, even if the strap is padded on its sides facing the animal's head. Nevertheless, in the case of a padded belt according to the prior art, it pushes through the padding, so that such a belt lies against the bridge of the nose of a horse, for example, with uneven pressure with regard to its width. The greatest pressure arises despite the padding underneath the lashing strap. The belt according to the invention differs from this in that the fastening means, for example designed as fastening belts, which are each connected to an end section of the belt, the tensile force is typically distributed over the entire width of the cushion element or its central section. This is used in a preferred embodiment in which the width of the cushion element is greater than the width of a fastening strap connected to it. This also allows the possibility that the upholstery element has a non-constant width in its longitudinal extension and, for example, the middle area can have the greatest width. Such a belt system is very pleasant due to the elastic resilience of the upholstery element due to its padding for comfort on the animal's head. For the purpose of an effective distribution of tensile force across the width of the padding element, the padding element has at least one tension-resistant layer, which is typically the top layer or top layer. Because of the belt contact with the relevant areas of the head with the cushion element of the belt, the belt can even be in contact with a certain amount of tension without this being uncomfortable for the animal because of the large contact area. With such a bridle strap designed as a noseband, aids introduced via the bridle can be transferred particularly gently and effectively to a horse, for example.

A particular advantage of this belt is that the flat extension of the cushion element can be freely selected and in particular is independent of the width of a fastening belt connected to it, for example as a fastening means. The cushion element can have a constant width over its longitudinal extent. It is also entirely possible for the width of such a cushion element to vary over the longitudinal extent. In any case, the top layer ensures that the introduction of tensile force is distributed over the width of the cushion element.

The pad section of such a belt is preferably made wider in the area in which it rests on the head of the animal than in its end sections. In such a configuration, it is distributed the applied tensile force over the entire width of the cushion section, so that the pressure acting on the animal's head is distributed accordingly and the pressure load per unit area is correspondingly low. Such a configuration is useful for a noseband, the area of the greatest width of the cushion element being on the bridge of the nose. With such a configuration of the belt, the width tapers towards the ends. This is also useful in view of the fact that the additional belt connected to this belt, which is the chin strap in the case of a noseband, can also be connected without a large gap. These two straps that encircle a horse's head - the noseband and the chin strap - typically border one another at an angle. By means of the fastening means for connecting these two straps, which are engaged with one another, the adaptation to the anatomy of the animal's head takes place between the horse's head, which tapers in the direction of the mouth, in the area in which the noseband is to be attached.

Such an increase in width starting from the end sections to the typically middle section of the central section with its maximum width preferably takes place continuously with a changing radius of curvature. In this way, those areas of a horse's head can be left out which are adjacent to the bridge of the nose and should not be subjected to pressure if possible. The design of the central section can be asymmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the belt, so that such a belt, starting from its central longitudinal plane extending transversely to its flat extension, has a greater width in the direction of the forehead than in the direction of the mouth.

The provision of a cushion element as the middle piece of the belt allows it to be designed in a special way to adapt it to the respective anatomy of the animal's head, specifically with regard to its maximum width, its contour and its upholstery. The padding can, for example, be designed in such a way that it is made somewhat thicker in certain areas than in other sections of the belt. In this way, too, the particularly pressure-sensitive areas of the horse's head located directly next to the bridge of the nose can be left out by providing thinner padding.

The cushion element is significantly wider in its middle section and preferably also in its end sections than a fastening means connected to it as a fastening strap. In order to be able to distribute the tensile force introduced into the upholstery element by the fastening strap over a shorter distance in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the belt over the entire width of the upholstery element, it is provided in one embodiment that the fastening strap is connected to the upholstery element using a tensile force spreading element. This tensile force spreading element is wider than the fastening strap in at least one section connected to the upholstery element and in particular corresponds essentially to the width of the section of the upholstery element reaching into the end section. Such a tensile force spreading element can, for example, be a piece of belt running transversely to the fastening belt, which is connected to the fastening belt and the adjoining cushion element sections in a non-positive manner, for example by means of corresponding seams. An embodiment is also possible in which the width of the fastening strap is enlarged at its end section on the cushion element side, the maximum width of the fastening belt essentially corresponding to the width of the cushion element in the end section. In such a configuration, this widening then forms the tensile force spreading element.

As already mentioned, such a belt can be designed as a noseband. The chin strap cooperating with the noseband can also be a strap of this type. A force is then introduced into the horse's chin, likewise over a correspondingly large area through the central section of the chin strap.

In a further embodiment, such a belt is part of a split headpiece. Such a headpiece has two such straps, which are then spaced apart from one another to release a region of the neck strap and are connected to one another by a connecting strap. These neck straps then lie softly with their middle section formed by the padding element and distribute the pressure force over a large area even at the more sensitive areas behind the ears of the horse without this being disturbing for the horse. The headpiece then does not rest against the neck band itself.

A bridle head frame with such a strap can be attached to the horse's head due to the special introduction of force into the horse's head, without this being uncomfortable for the horse, which, however, significantly improves the manageability and work with the horse. Movements introduced into the horse's head via the head frame when working with the horse are introduced over a larger area and not only, as in the prior art, quasi punctually or linearly, which is also more pleasant for the animal and also given aids by the horse can be better understood.

Such a belt, when used to stretch a saddle or a lunging or vaulting belt, represents the waist belt that is guided around the horse's stomach. This waist belt has at least one, but typically two spaced-apart cushioning elements. As this is described for the above-described belt as part of a bridle, the belt (waist belt) as such is interrupted by the interposition of such a padding element. In such a waist belt, the padding elements are located, for example, at those points on the horse's stomach where there are blood veins close to the surface. In this respect, such a belt, having two cushion elements arranged at a distance from one another and designed as a waist belt of a saddle equipment, is constructed similarly to that described above for the headpiece. The provision of the at least one cushion element switched into the belt path or also of several cushion elements arranged at a distance from one another allows the abdominal belt to rest at least on the sensitive areas of the abdomen with a large and above all soft contact surface, so that the pressure introduced is spread over a larger area distributed and thus the pressure force per unit area is significantly reduced. In this embodiment, too, the cushion element or elements are designed to be wider than the belt section or sections connected to it as fastening means. Otherwise, these padding elements are typically designed in exactly the same way as those described for the bridle.

Fig. 1:

eine schematisierte Darstellung eines Pferdekopfes mit einem als Kopfgestell ausgeführten Zaumzeug mit einem Nasenriemen,

Fig. 2:

der Nasenriemen des Zaumzeuges der Figur 1 in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 3:

eine Teildarstellung eines weiteren Nasenriemens als Teil eines Zaumzeuges,

Fig. 4:

einen Schnitt durch den Nasenriemen entlang der Linie A - B der Figur 3,

Fig. 5:

eine schematische Darstellung des Nasenrückens des Pferdekopfes der Figur 1 aus Richtung des Mauls gesehen mit dem über den Nasenrücken geführten Nasenriemen der Figuren 1 und 2,

Fig. 6:

ein Genickstück gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung als Teil eines Zaumzeuges und

Fig. 7:

ein Genickstück gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung als Teil eines Zaumzeuges.

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a schematic representation of a horse's head with a bridle designed as a head frame with a noseband,

Fig. 2:

the noseband of the bridle of the Figure 1 in a plan view,

Fig. 3:

a partial representation of another noseband as part of a bridle,

Fig. 4:

a section through the noseband along the line A - B of the Figure 3 ,

Fig. 5:

a schematic representation of the bridge of the nose of the horse's head Figure 1 seen from the direction of the mouth with the noseband of the Figures 1 and 2 ,

Fig. 6:

a headpiece according to a first embodiment as part of a bridle and

Fig. 7:

a headpiece according to a further embodiment as part of a bridle.

A head frame composed of straps is applied as a bridle 2 to a horse's head 1. This in Figure 1 The bridle 2 shown has a noseband 3, the ends of which are connected to a chin strap 4. A cheek piece 5, which merges into a neck strap 6, is connected to the noseband 3 on both sides of the horse's head 1. The neck strap 6 remains fixed by a throat strap 6.1, which is guided around under the cheekbones of the horse's head 1.

The noseband 3 of the bridle 2 comprises a cushion element 7 which is part of the tension-load-transmitting noseband 3. The in Figure 1 The noseband 3 shown is in a plan view of its in Figure 1 recognizable top in Figure 2 , removed from the horse's head 1, shown as part of the bridle 2. The end sections of the cheek pieces 5, 5.1 connected to them can be seen.

The noseband 3 can be divided into three sections in its longitudinal extension, namely into two end sections 8, 8.1, which are connected to one another by a central section 9. The central section 9 is provided by the cushion element 7. The cushion element 7 extends with one section each into the two end sections 8, 8.1. In each of the end sections 8, 8.1, a fastening strap 10, 10.1 is connected to the cushion element 7; in the exemplary embodiment shown, these are sewn to the cushion element 7. The fastening straps 10, 10.1 are perforated straps which can each be connected to a pin buckle (not shown in the figures) located on the chin strap 4. The width of the cushion element 7 is, as from Figure 2 can be seen, significantly larger than the width of the fastening straps 10, 10.1. The width of the cushion element 7 is not constant, but increases in the illustrated embodiment starting from each of the two end sections 8, 8.1 towards the center of the noseband 3. The noseband 3 reaches its maximum width in the middle of its central section 9. This is formed by an apex S on the side facing the forehead of the horse's head 1. The increase in width, starting from the end sections 8, 8.1, takes place with a decreasing radius of curvature, namely until reaching a point of curvature inflection 11, at which the curvature then merges into that by which the apex S is formed. The contour of the noseband 3 facing the mouth of the horse's head 1 is also curved to form an apex S.1, this apex S.1 being less concise than the relevant contour on the other longitudinal side of the noseband 3. The less concise formation of this apex S.1 stems from the fact that the width of the central section 9 depends on the central longitudinal plane M (see Figure 4 ) is less than on the side facing the forehead.

The upholstery element 7 has a top layer 12 with high tensile strength, which can be made from a woven material, for example from high tensile plastic fibers. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the top layer 12 is composed of several components, two components being used in this exemplary embodiment. The top layer 12 has a woven outer material 12.1, which is lined with a Kevlar fabric 12.2. In this exemplary embodiment, the top layer receives its tensile strength from the Kevlar fabric 12.2. The top layer 12 is impermeable to water. The fastening straps 10, 10.1 are fastened to the top layer 12 and thus to the two components forming the top layer 12 - the outer material 12.1 and the Kevlar fabric 12.2 - with seams reaching through. A tensile force introduced into the upholstery element 7 via the fastening straps 10, 10.1 is distributed over the width of the upholstery element 7 by the top layer 12. Consequently, a tensile force acting on the noseband 3 is distributed over the entire area in which the vertices S, S.1 are located, as far as possible uniformly in the bridge of the nose 13 of the horse's head 1.

To improve this force distribution, the in Figure 3 shown noseband 3.1, which is constructed in principle like the noseband 3 and for which the relevant explanations apply equally, a tensile force spreading element 14 is provided. This tensile force spreading element 14 is part of the fastening strap 10.2 and represents a widening pointing in the direction of the central section of the cushion element 7.1. The greatest width of the tensile force spreading element 14 corresponds essentially to the width of the cushion element 7.1 in its relevant end section. In this way, the introduction of tensile force into the outer edge areas of the apex S, S.1 is improved.

Figure 4 shows a section through the noseband 3.1 to illustrate the structure of the cushion element 7.1. The direction of view of the cut is towards the vertices S, S.1. The top layer 12 is sewn to a coarse-meshed backing 15. The pad 15 is soft and breathable. The top layer 12 and the base 15 form a pocket into which an elastic knitted spacer fabric 16 is inserted. The base 15 encompasses the knitted spacer fabric 16 not only on the underside, but also on the side and is with it the top layer 12 sewn. The base 15 is open-pored and therefore breathable. The base 15 already has a certain cushioning function, since it has a thickness of a few millimeters in the illustrated embodiment. The padding in this belt 3.1 - the same applies to the belt 3 - is thus provided by the spacer fabric 16 and the base 15. Such knitted spacer fabrics 16 are well known and are sometimes also referred to as knitted spacer fabrics. The fastening strap 10.2 is located on the upper side of the top layer 12 and is sewn to this or to the entire padding section. In the Figure 4 With the exception of the tensile force spreading element 14 which can be seen therein, the sectional illustration shown also represents the cross-sectional illustration for the noseband 2.

The noseband 3 of the Figures 1 and 2 is in the position of use in a schematic view in Figure 5 shown. The noseband 3 spans the bridge of the nose 13. Due to the above-described structure of the cushion element 7, which forms the central section 9 of the noseband 3, it rests on a relatively large area, especially in the longitudinal extension of the bridge of the nose. Head areas adjacent to the bridge of the nose 13 and possibly pressure-sensitive are either not touched by the noseband 3 due to its curved design facing the forehead and the mouth or lie on it with the soft padding 7, whereby a force introduction over a large one also at such points Area takes place, so that the pressure per unit area is significantly reduced in this regard compared to conventional noseband.

The chinstrap 4 is constructed in the same way as the noseband 3, and in the exemplary embodiment shown does not have any pronounced widening in its central area in relation to its end sections. Also with the chinstrap 4 is how out Figure 1 recognizable, the upholstery element is significantly wider than the fastening strap attached to it. The cushion element of the chin strap 4 has a trapezoidal shape as a plan geometry in the illustrated embodiment. The longer base of this trapezoidal shape is on the one facing the horse's neck facing side of the chinstrap 4. The opposite long side of the chinstrap 4 is the shorter side. In this way, the unit formed from the noseband 3 and chin strap 4 is adapted in a special way to the conical head shape of a horse's head. The described design of the chinstrap 4 also makes it clear that the inventive concept with regard to its flat tensile force distribution over the width of the belt is also suitable for belts in which the fastening means, for example the fastening straps as in the case of this chinstrap 4, are not as in the embodiment of the noseband 3 of Figure 2 aligned in the longitudinal extension of the belt, but at an angle to one another, as is the case with the chinstrap 4 due to its trapezoidal shape. The fastening straps of the chin strap 4 are arranged orthogonally to the inclined narrow sides of the trapezoidal shape and are thus at an angle to one another.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a belt, which is constructed in the same way as the noseband 3, 3.1 described above by way of example. The in Figure 6 The belt shown is two interconnected neck straps 17, 17.1. Each neck strap 17, 17.1 has a cushion element 18, 18.1 and fastening straps 19, 19.1, 19.2 connected to it, the fastening strap 19.2 being a connecting strap for connecting the two neck straps 17, 17.1.

The two padding elements 18, 18.1 of the neck straps 17, 17.1 are spaced apart from one another in the area in which the connecting strap 19.2 is guided over the neck strap of a horse's head. The padding is built up in this area to such an extent that the connecting strap 19.2 does not lie against the neck band. The upholstery elements 18, 18.1 lying adjacent to the neck band on the horse's head distribute the tensile force over a large area. A divided headpiece 20 is thus formed by the two neck straps 17, 17.1.

Figure 7 shows a further headpiece 20.1, which is basically constructed like the headpiece 20 of FIG Figure 6 . That differs from this one Headpiece 20.1 solely due to the fact that not only one fastening straps, but several are arranged at the ends of the cushioning elements opposite the connecting straps.

The top layer 21 of the neck straps 17, 17.1 forming the neck pieces 20, 20.1 is designed on its side facing the horse's ear in the area of its middle sections with a narrower width, thus has a certain waist, whereby the top layer 21 is kidney-shaped. This recess in the top layer 21 in the neck straps 17, 17.1 means that they are anatomically adapted to the sensitive back of the horse's ear. Since, in the illustrated embodiment, the underlay 22 with the elastic spacer fabric enclosed by it is not cut out, the seam connecting the underlay 22 to the upper layer 21 is arranged on the top with respect to the cushion element 18, 18.1. The horse's ear located in front of the neck straps 17, 17.1 when the head pieces 20, 20.1 are used can therefore move freely without disturbing pressure edges. Thus, the exemplary embodiment of these neck straps 17, 17.1 also shows that there is a high degree of design freedom with regard to the design of the cushion element of such a strap and that such a strap still ensures effective support on the animal's body.

The padding elements 18, 18.1 of the headpiece 20, 20.1 are constructed in the same way as those of the noseband 3, 3.1. Therefore, the relevant statements on the noseband 3.1 also apply to the cushion elements 18, 18.1 of the headpiece 20, 20.1.

The fastening straps 19, 19.1, 19.2 of the headpieces 20, 20.1 are also sewn to the respective top layer 21, as is also shown in the exemplary embodiments described above. The seams are dashed in Figures 6 and 7 indicated.

Instead of an elastic knitted spacer, such a cushioning element can also have a cushioning foam element (not part of the claimed invention). However, a knitted spacer fabric is able to better distribute the tensile force coupled in via the top layer better over the width.

The invention has been described on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, there are numerous possibilities for a person skilled in the art to implement the invention without this having to be explained in more detail in the context of these explanations.

List of reference symbols

1

Horse head

2

Bridle

3, 3.1

Noseband

4th

Chinstrap

5, 5.1

Cheek piece

6th

Neck strap

6.1

Throat strap

7, 7.1

Upholstery element

8, 8.1, 8.2

End section

9

Middle section

10, 10.1, 10.2

Fastening straps

11

Turning point of curvature

12th

Top layer

12.1

Outer material

12.2

Kevlar fabric

13th

Bridge of the nose

14th

Tensile force spreading element

15th

document

16

Spacer fabrics

17, 17.1

Neck strap

18, 18.1

Upholstery element

19, 19.1, 19.2

Fastening straps

20.20.1

Neck piece

21

Top layer

22nd

document

M.

Central longitudinal plane

S, S.1

Parting

Claims (14)

1. Belt for bridle or harness (2) with a first end section (8) forming a first end of the belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1), with a second end section (8.1) forming the other end of the belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1), and a middle section (9) connecting the two end sections (8, 8.1, 8.2), this middle section (9) being provided by a cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1) arranged in respect of its effect on the animal's body, wherein the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1) comprises a tension-resistant upper layer (12, 21) continuing into the end sections, by means of which the imposition of tensile force is divided over the width of the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1), wherein in each case at least one securing means is connected to the end sections (8, 8.1, 8.2) of the upper layer (12, 21), such as a securing belt (10, 10.1, 10.2, 19, 19.1), for connecting the belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1) to another part or to another belt (4) of a bridle or harness (2), and therefore the securing means are separated from one another, in relation to the securing effect which initiates their tensile strength, by the middle section (9) of the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1), and wherein the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1) forming the middle section (9) exhibits a greater width than the at least one securing means (10, 10.1, 10.2, 19, 19.1) connected to each end section (8, 8.1, 8.2) of the belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1) is formed from the tension-resistant upper layer (12, 21), an open-pored under layer (15) peripherally connected to it, and an elastic spacing element (16), located in the pocket formed from the upper layer (12, 21) and the under layer (15), wherein the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1) is provided by the spacing element (16) and the under layer (15).
2. Belt according to claim 1, wherein the width of the cushion element (7, 7.1) forming the middle section (9) increases going from the end sections (8, 8.1) as far as a maximum width located between the end sections.
3. Belt according to claim 2, wherein the maximum width located between the end sections (8, 8.1, 8.2) is provided by a crest (S, S.1) of maximum width on at least one of its longitudinal sides, and the increase in width is configured such as to continue as far as a curvature turning point (11), to which the crest region (S, S.1) is connected, with a curvature radius which becomes smaller in the direction towards the curvature turning point (11).
4. Belt according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the middle section (9) is configured as asymmetrical in relation to its middle plane by way of a width arrangement which is different on both sides.
5. Belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, as securing means, at least one securing belt (10, 10.1, 10.2, 19, 19.1) is arranged at each end section (8, 8.1, 8.2).
6. Belt according to claim 5, wherein the part of the cushion element (7, 7.1; 18, 18.1) assigned to the end section (8, 8.1, 8.2) is wider than the securing belt (10, 10.1, 10.2, 19, 19.1) which is connected to it.
7. Belt according to claim 6, wherein the connection of the securing belt (10.2) to the cushion element (7.1) is provided by making use of a tensile force spreading element (14), by means of which the tensile force introduced by the securing belt (10.2) into the cushion element (7.1) is introduced over essentially the entire width of the cushion element (7.1) in the end section (8.2).
8. Belt according to claim 7, wherein the securing belt (10.2) comprises, in its end section (8.2) on the cushion element side, a tensile force spreading section (14) increasing in width in the direction towards the middle section, which is connected over its width to the cushion element (7.1), in non-positive fit.
9. Belt according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper layer (12) is a woven upper layer (12).
10. Belt according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the belt is configured as a nose belt or chin belt (3, 4).
11. Belt according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the belt (17, 17.1) is part of a headpiece (20, 20.1) formed from two connecting belts of this type, arranged at a distance from one another and forming a connecting belt (19.2).
12. Harness for a riding animal or draught animal, such as a horse, characterised in that at least one belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1) of the harness (2) is a belt (3, 3.1; 4; 17, 17.1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
13. Harness according to claim 12, wherein the harness (2) comprises a nose belt (3, 3.1) and a chin belt (4), both of which belts are configured as belts (3, 3.1; 4) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9.
14. Harness according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the harness comprises a headpiece (20, 20.1) formed from two belts (17, 17.1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the two belts (17, 17.1) are arranged at a distance from one another in the region of the neck band of the horse, and are connected to each other by a connecting belt (19.2).

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