WO2005044719A1

WO2005044719A1 - Horse tack

Info

Publication number: WO2005044719A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/004057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carol Ann Mailer
Original assignee: Carol Ann Mailer
Priority date: 2003-10-21
Filing date: 2004-09-23
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: GB2422524B; GB0607698D0; GB2422524A

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling a horse, comprising a pair of reins (14,16), each rein having a strap-like body (15,17), one end of which is configured for attachment to a respective side of a bridle bit; and a member (20) mounted on and extending between the strap-like bodies to provide a bridge between the pair of reins (14,16). The member (20) has a buckle fastening (28) for adjusting its length and hence span of the bridge provided between the pair of reins.

Description

TITLE: HORSE TACK

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to horse tack, particularly a bridle, and more particularly the reins of the bridle. Bridles are designed to help a rider control a horse . By selectively pulling on one or both reins, the rider is able to control both the direction and speed of the horse's movements. It is therefore essential for the rider to retain a good grip in the most appropriate place on the reins, particularly when riding competitively or at the limits of ability. However, sudden head movements of the horse make it all too easy for the reins to slip through even the firmest grip without being noticed, resulting in the rider having less control of the horse than expected. The present applicant has appreciated the difficulties riders experience in retaining control of the reins, and the present invention has been devised to ameliorate - even obviate - the problem of slipping reins. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided apparatus for controlling a horse, comprising a pair of reins, each rein having a strap-like body, one end of which is configured for attachment to a respective side of a bridle bit, and a member mounted on and extending between the strap-like bodies to provide a bridge between the pair of reins, wherein the member has an adjustable length for adjusting span of the bridge provided between the pair of reins . In this way, the member acts as a "bridge" across the reins. The present applicant has appreciated that such apparatus may be used to encourage a rider to maintain an optimum grip on the reins. The "bridging" member in effect defines the position of a handhold on each rein, each immediately ahead of the bridging member, for exercising full control of the horse. If each handhold is gripped in a conventional way, any significant rein slippage will bring the rider's hands up against the bridging member, letting the rider know rein control is deteriorating. As a result, the rider is immediately encouraged to re-take contact and control before things get out of hand and all control is lost. The effective length of the member may be controlled by altering integral length adjustment fittings

{ e . g. belt-and-buckle adjustment or Velcro" or other hook- and-loop type fastenings) or by releasably securing additional part or parts of the member to the reins. The member may be releasably mounted on the strap-like body, for varying placement of the member relative to the bridge-bit-engaging ends of the reins. The or each straplike body may have a plurality of discrete sites along its length to provide respectively a plurality of predetermined locations for mounting the member to the or each strap-like body. In this way, the apparatus is readily adaptable to fit different sized horses and riders. In effect, the position of the handhold on each rein can be set to suit a wide range of horse and rider combinations by adjusting the length of the bridging member and the position of the bridging member relative to the bridle-bit- engaging ends of the reins. The plurality of discrete sites for mounting the member to each strap-like body may each comprise a loophole for receiving a part of the member therethrough. A front or leading part of the loop projecting from the inner periphery of its rein may have a scalloped profile (being narrower in a central region than at its ends closest to the strap-like body of the respective rein) for allowing the member to be held at an appropriate angle for the rider. The scalloped profile may also facilitate threading the part of the member therethrough - which may be an important consideration if adjustments are made by the rider when mounted on the horse. The scalloped profile may also allow a more uniform tension across a back or trailing part of the loop on the outer periphery of the reins, so the rein is less susceptible to wear, particularly if the part of the member threaded through the loop is also straplike. The plurality of discrete sites may be spaced substantially evenly along each rein. For example, the spacing between an adjacent pair of discrete sites may be about 9.0 cm ± 1.0 cm. At least one of the sites may be located in a position approximately 0.54, 0.61, 0.68 or 0.75 ± 0.01 of the overall length of its respective rein, measured from the bridle-bit-engaging end. In one embodiment, four distinct sites are provided on each rein (horse or pony rein) in positions 0.54, 0.61, 0.68 and 0.75

± 0.01 of the overall length of each rein, measured from the bridle-bit-engaging end. The member may be resilient, at least in part. Resilience in the member (e.g. from an elastic insert) may help to absorb some of the impulses transmitted through the reins from horse to rider. The ends of the reins furthest from the bridle bit may be configured to be releasably coupled together to define in use a loop extending from one side of the bridle bit to the other. If the reins are coupled together to form a closed loop with the bridle, the bridging member and portions of the reins extending therefrom to the bridle define a smaller loop for improved horse control . An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures : Figure 1 shows a schematic view of first apparatus embodying the present invention; Figure 2a and 2b show detail of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows schematically relative positioning of details as shown in Figure 2a; and Figure 4 shows a schematic view of alternative apparatus embodying the present invention. Bridle apparatus (10) for controlling a horse comprises a bit (12) and a pair of reins (14,16) coupled to and extending from the bit (12) . Each rein (14,16) has a strap-like body (15,17) respectively. The reins (14,16) are releasably joined together at extremity (18) and hence define a loop which in use passes over the horse's head when the reins are held by the rider. A bridging member (20) is releasably mounted on each rein (14,16) in a location spaced from both bit (12) and extremity (18) . The bridging member (20) changes the profile of each rein (14,16) in such a way as to define the position of a handhold (H) for a rider to grip securely. Each handhold is located on the reins immediately in front of the bridging member (20) . The bridging member (20) is itself strap-like and formed into an elongate loop, with each of its ends (22,24) releasably attached to a respective rein (14,16). Each rein includes a plurality of discrete sites in the form of loopholes (26) along its length, each for threadably receiving a respective end of the bridging member (20) . Each loophole (26) has a scalloped profile, being widest adjacent the rein to which it is attached and narrowest in a central region spaced furthest from that rein. The bridging member (20) may be released from one opposing pair of loopholes (26) , by releasing buckle fastening (28) (or alternatively by releasing a Velcro or other hook-and-loop type fastening) . By selecting another of the opposed or corresponding pairs of loopholes (26) , the position of the bridging member (20) relative to extremity (18) may be varied as shown by arrows ^XA' . Furthermore, the span of the bridging member (20) - and hence girth of the loop - may be varied by adjusting which buckle hole (30) engages the buckle fastening (28) .

As shown in Figure 3, four loopholes (26) are provided along the length (L) of each rein (14,16). The spacing between adjacent loopholes (26) on each rein (14,16) is the same, about 9.0 cm. The relative position (l_l7 1₂, I₃ and 1₄) of the four loopholes (26) along the length (L) is respectively 0.55, 0.61, 0.68 and 0.75 ± 0.01, measured from the bit-engaging-end of each rein. By varying which pair of loopholes (26) are engaged by the bridging member

(20) , and by varying the "span" of bridging member (20) , the position of handholds (H) along the reins may be readily adjusted to suit at least the vast majority of rider/horse size combinations. In this way, the effective length of the reins (i.e. from one bridle-bit engaging end across bridging member (2) and back to the other bridle- bit-engaging end) is variable from 157 cm to 216 cm in 1.3 cm increments. Figure 4 shows alternative bridle apparatus (10'). For ease of reference, features common to both embodiments (10,10') share the same reference number. In the apparatus (10'), the bridging member (20') is stitched to each rein (14,16). The effective length of the bridging member (20') - i.e. that portion of it which determines the lateral separation of the reins (14,16) - may be adjusted by: 1) releasably securing an additional part of the bridging member (20') to the reins (14,16) as indicated by arrows B; and/or 2) physically reducing the length of the bridging member (20') using the belt-and-buckle adjustment (30). Elastic shock absorbers (32) may be included in bridging member (20') to provide limited stretch when the reins are pulled taut in use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling a horse, comprising: a pair of reins, each rein having a strap-like body, one end of which is configured for attachment to a respective side of a bridle bit; and a member mounted on and extending between the strap-like bodies to provide a bridge between the pair of reins, wherein the member has an adjustable length for adjusting span of the bridge provided between the pair of reins .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the member is releasably mounted on the strap-like bodies, for varying placement of the member relative to the one end of each strap-like body configured for attachment to a bridle bit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , in which each strap-like body has a plurality of discrete sites along its length to provide respectively a plurality of predetermined locations for mounting the member thereto.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , in which the member comprises a closed loop with a coupling for adjusting girth of the closed loop.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the coupling comprises a buckle.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3,4 or 5, in which each of the plurality of discrete sites may comprise a loop for receiving a part of the member therethrough.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which a front part of the loop extending from an inner periphery of its respective rein has a scalloped profile, being widest adjacent the strap-like body to which it is attached and narrowest furthest therefrom.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 , in which the plurality of sites are substantially evenly spaced along each respective rein.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6,7 or 8, in which at least one of the discrete sites is located in a position approximately 0.54, 0.61, 0.68 or 0.75 + 0.01 of the overall length of its respective rein, measured from the bridle-bit-engaging end.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, in which four distinct sites are provided on each rein in positions 0.54, 0.61, 0.68 or 0.75 ± 0.01 along the length of each rein measured from the bridle-bit-engaging end.

11. A bridle comprising a bridle bit and apparatus coupled thereto, the apparatus being in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10.