GB2514811A

GB2514811A - Horse Bridle

Info

Publication number: GB2514811A
Application number: GB1309990.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fiona Pim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-04
Filing date: 2013-06-04
Publication date: 2014-12-10
Also published as: GB201309990D0

Abstract

A horse bridle that makes contact at the level of C1/C2 joint 1 and at the side of the face between the facial crest and the angle of the mandible 3, 5 so that the nerve sensitive structures of the head and face 7 that largely contribute to pain and proprioception are avoided from contact. The bridle is adjustable and adapted to be fitted with or with a bit.

Description

Title: Horse Bridle

Background:

This invention relates to tack/equipment used on a horse's head to control and communicate with a horse.

When a horse has a conventional bridle it can lead to a number of problems between horse and rider. A conventional bridle makes contact with nerve sensitive structures of thc head and face specifically The Occipital-Atlénto Joint, The Temporo-Mandibular Joint and where Cranial Nerve 7 (CN Vii) exits the cranium (at the styloid foramen) and part of its distribution along the face. Adverse pressure into these areas can cause pain, behaviour problems and disrupt proprioception, which * directly influence balance, movement, posture and co-ordination for that horse.

Statement of Invention:

To overcome this, the present invention is designed to be more comfortable for the horse by avoiding pressure on these nerve sensitive structures of the head and face and those structures that greatly influence proprioception.1. (Thc Occipital-Atlanto Joint, The Temporo-Mandibular Joint and where Cranial Nerve 7 exits the cranium (at the styloid foramen) and part of its distribution across the face.

The advantage of this bridle is that it does not make contact and press on these nerve sensitive areas of the head and face that largely contribute to pain and proprioception, which allows for greater influence of control and communication and willingness between horse and rider. A relaxed pain free horse is a more attentive horse.

The advantage of enhancing proprioception results in better performance, less injuries and greater balance, movement, posture and co-ordination for that horse.

The design of invention can be adapted to be used with or without a bit.

I.(Proprioception is the ability to sense the position and location and orientation of movement of the body and its parts.) Drawings Figure 1 The headpiece or crown piece (1.) widens as it goes over the neck at the level of Cl! C2 and comes down the side of the face called the cheek piece (5.) sitting lower on the cheek between the facial crest and angle of the mandible avoiding the sensitive structures of the TMJ and CN7 where it exits the skull. The throat latch (3.)helps to keep the headpiece in position. The nose band (2.) attaches to the check piece and the reins (4.) by means of a metal ring (6.).

The metal ring (6.) provides attachment for all 4 pieces of leather (the noseband, cheelcpiece and reins. (The bridle shown is for a bitless bridle and can also be adapted for using a bit) The cheek piece joins the head piece with a buckle for adjustable fitting for the size of the individual horse. The throatlatch will also have a buckle as will the noseband for this purpose also, Figure 2 Similar to Figure 1 but showing the skeletal body structures to illustrate where the bridle will be on the horse's head and face.

(I.) Showing the headpiece at the level of the C1!C2 (oecipital-atlanto) joint.

(2.) The nose band (3.) Throatlatch (4.) Reins (S.) Cheek piece sits lower than a conventional bridle to avoid the greater part of the CN7 branches as they traverse along the side of the face.

(6.) Metal ring (7.) Sensitive structures to avoid: Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ), Cranial Nerve 7 (CN7) where it exits the skull, and the Occipital-Atlanto Joint.