GB2110515A - Improvements in or relating to horse-riding tack - Google Patents

Abstract

Horse-riding tack comprises a bridle 8, a running martingale 10 or standing martingale, and reins 52 made entirely of woven cotton webbing with the exception of the metal fittings. The tongues of brass buckles, such as 30, on the tack engage in eyelets, such as 4, in the form of marine grommets, and the free ends of the various straps are terminated by brass military rein ends, such as 6. The tack is comfortable for the horse to wear and is capable of being washed, as well as presenting a good appearance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to horse-riding tack This invention relates to improved horse-riding tack and to the component parts thereof such as the bridle, the martingale and the reins.

Horses sweat considerably when exercised and this has the effect of discolouring the leather of which riding tack is traditionally made and of rendering the leather less supple. It is therefore necessary for the tack to be cleaned regularly, and this involves thorough rubbing and polishing by hand which is strenuous and time-consuming.

Leather is not susceptible to normal washing as soaking in water will tend to cause the leather to perish.

It is an object of the invention to produce horseriding tack which presents a good appearance and is capable of being washed.

According to the invention there is provided horse-riding tack in which at least certain parts of the tack which directly contact the horse in use are made of a moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

These parts of the tack will thus absorb the horse's sweat, thereby rendering the tack comfortable for the horse to wear and less likely to rub, and moreover are capable of being washed in a similar manner to any other cotton or natural fibre-based fabric in order to remove the sweat.

Tack incorporating such webbing is advantageous not only because it is easily cleaned but also because it can be produced at considerably less cost than, and is much lighter than, conventional leather tack.

The tack may incorporate a horse-riding bridle having a head band, a brow band, a throat lash, two cheek pieces and a nose band, each of which is made of moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre. The nose band will generally be coupled to the head band by further strips of webbing, the cheek pieces being allowed to hang free of the nose band.

Furthermore the tack may include horse-riding reins comprising at least one length of moistureabsorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre, optionally provided with at least one tongued buckle to enable them to be adjusted in length.

The invention also provides a running martingale comprising a neck strap, a girth loop for attachment to the saddle girth, and two straps having rings at their free ends through which the reins are intended to pass in use, each of the straps and the girth loop being made of moistureabsorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

In addition the invention provides a standing martingale comprising a girth loop for attachment to the saddle girth and further loops for attachment to the bridle nose band, each of the loops being made of moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

Where tongued buckles are provided on the tack, the tongues of the buckles preferably engage in eyelets in the form of marine grommets firmly fixed in the webbing. Also the free ends of the strips of webbing are preferably terminated by military rein ends.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, horse-riding tack in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a bridle, a running martingale and reins; Figure 2 shows a bridle, a standing martingale and reins.

The riding tack illustrated, which is shown worn by a horse 2, comprises a bridle 8, a running martingale 10 (Figure 1) or standing martingale 70 (Figure 2) and reins 52, and is made entirely of woven cotton webbing with the exception of the metal fittings. The tongues of the brass buckle such as 30 on the tack engage in eyelets, such as 4, in the form of marine grommets, i.e. eyelets having two parts which are pressed into the webbing from opposite sides of the webbing with a tool and anvil such that one of the parts is swaged over on to the other part. The free ends of the various straps are terminated by brass military rein ends, such as 6, i.e. bent plates which are clipped to the ends of the webbing and secured thereto by a tubular rivet extending through the webbing.The parts of the eyelet and the rivet are passed through the webbing by parting the fibres of the cotton fabric so that the webbing is not weakened by being cut.

The bridle 8, which is the same in both figures, comprises a head band 12, a brow band 14, a throat lash 16, two cheek pieces 1 8 and a nose band 20, all of which are made of 9-inch wide strips of cotton webbing. The head band 1 2 comprises three overlying strips of webbing extending through loops 22 at the ends of the brow band 20. Each of the three strips is continued beyond the loops 22. The portions of one of the strips which extend beyond the loops 22 form strips (not shown) which are stitched to the nose band 20, whereas the portions of another of the strips extending beyond the loops 22 form the throat lash 16, being connected together by a tongued brass buckle 23 which allows the length of the throat lash 1 6 to be adjusted.The portions of the third strip which extend beyond the loops 22 are attached to the cheek pieces 1 8 by tongued brass buckles 25 enabling the cheek pieces 18 to be adjusted.

The cheek pieces 1 8 are each formed by two strips of webbing stitched together and are terminated by loops 24 for attachment to the bit (not shown) in the horse's mouth. The loops 24 incorporate tongued brass buckles 26 enabling the length of these loops to be adjusted. The nose band 20 and the strip connecting the head band 1 2 to the nose band 20 also incorporate tongued brass buckles for the purpose of adjustment, but these are not visible in the figures.

The running martingale 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a 4-inch wide neck strap 28 of cotton webbing which extends around the horse's neck and is adjustable by a tongued brass buckle 30 and a 1-inch wide belly strap 32 of cotton webbing which passes between the horse's forelegs and has a girth loop 34 at one end provided with a tongued brass buckle 36 for attachment to the saddle girth 38. The other end of the belly strap 32 extends through a loop 40 formed by a short strip of cotton webbing stitched to the neck strap 28 and is terminated by a brass ring 42. A 4-inch wide length of cotton webbing is also attached to the brass ring 42 by being folded over the ring 42 and stitched at its mid portion, so as to form two straps 44 and 46 having further brass rings 48 and 50 at their free ends.

The reins 52 are formed by two -43-inch wide lengths of cotton webbing 54 and 56 joined together by a brass tongued buckle 57 so as to enable the length of the reins 52 to be adjusted. A respective loop 58 or 60 is provided at the free end of each strip 54 or 56 and is adjustable by a tongued brass buckle such as 62. The reins 52 pass through the brass rings 48 and 50 of the running martingale 10 and are attached to the bit (not shown) in the horse's mouth.

The standing martingale 70 shown in Figure 2 also incorporates a 1-inch wide belly strap 72 of cotton webbing which passes between the horse's forelegs and has a girth loop 74 at one end provided with a tongued brass buckle 76 for attachment to the saddle girth 38. Moreover the other end of the belly strap 72 is also terminated by a brass ring 78. However, in this case, two --inch wide lengths of cotton webbing 80 and 82 are separately attached to the brass ring 78 and are attached at their opposite ends to further brass rings 84 and 86. Furthermore the brass rings 84 and 86 are coupled together by a a-inch wide cotton webbing strap 88. Finally two loops of cotton webbing 90 and 92 are attached to the rings 84 and 86 and are adjustable by tongued brass buckles such as 94. The loops 90 and 92 are passed around the nose band 20 on either side of the horse's head.

Although not illustrated in the drawing other items of tack may also comprise woven cotton webbing. For example, a breast collar may be provided which is similar to the neck strap 28 of the running martingale 10. Furthermore different types of bridle, martingale and reins may be produced. in particular the bridle may have a nose band of the snaffle, grackle or drop type. Also the reins may be separate and may be provided with loops at their ends remote from the bit for use by disabled persons.

The various buckles, terrets and other metal fittings which have been described as being made of brass could also be made of nickel or nickleplated steel.

Claims (14)

1. Horse-riding tack in which at least certain parts of the tack which directly contact the horse in use are made of a moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

2. Horse-riding tack according to claim 1, including a horse-riding bridle comprising moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

3. Horse-riding tack according to claim 2, wherein the bridle has a head band made of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

4. Horse-riding tack according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the bridle has a brow band made of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

5. Horse-riding tack according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the bridle has a throat lash made of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

6. Horse-riding tack according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the bridle has two cheek pieces made of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

7. Horse-riding tack according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the bridle has a nose band made of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

8. Horse-riding tack according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the bridle has a nose band which is coupled to a head band by strips of moisture-absorbing webbing of cotton or other natural fibre, and cheek pieces which are allowed to hang free of the nose band.

9. Horse-riding tack according to any preceding claim, including horse-riding reins comprising at least one length of moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

10. Horse-riding tack according to claim 9, wherein the reins are provided with at least one tongued buckle to enable them to be adjusted in length.

11. Horse-riding tack according to any preceding claim, including a running martingale comprising a neck strap, a girth loop for attachment to the saddle girth, and two straps having rings at their free ends through which the reins are intended to pass in use, each of the straps and the girth loop being made of moistureabsorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

12. Horse-riding tack according to any preceding claim, including a standing martingale comprising a girth loop for attachment to the saddle girth and further loops for attachment to the bridle nose band, each of the loops being made of moisture-absorbent webbing of cotton or other natural fibre.

13. Horse-riding tack according to any preceding claim, wherein a tongued buckle is provided on part of the tack made of moistureabsorbent webbing, the tongue of the buckle engaging in an eyelet in the form of a marine grommet firmly fixed in the webbing.

14. Horse-riding tack according to any preceding claim, wherein the free ends of strips of moisture-absorbent webbing are terminated by military rein ends.

1 5. Horse-riding tack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.