WO2008004938A1

WO2008004938A1 - Bridle and halter

Info

Publication number: WO2008004938A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000630
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomas Wilhelmsson
Original assignee: Equality Line Ab
Priority date: 2006-07-03
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: EP2035325A4; SE529083C2; SE0601461L; EP2035325A1

Abstract

Bridle or the like which comprises a crownpiece (2), two cheekpieces (8, 10), and a browband (1). The browband (1) and crownpiece (2) form an encircling crown (3), and the cheekpieces (8, 10) are connected to the crown so that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each cheekpiece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional part between the browband (1) and the crownpiece (2) in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle α with the extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband (1 ) forms an obtuse angle β. Traction forces from the bit will be taken up by the crownpiece (2) of the crown (3). The crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper (4) and a lower (5) limiting edge. The lower limiting edge (5) has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge (4).

Description

Bridle and halter

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a bridle or the like for holding a bit, which bridle comprises a crownpiece, two cheekpieces, a first of which is intended during use of the bridle to connect the bit to the crownpiece and extend along one side of the horse's head and a second of which is intended to connect the bit and the crownpiece on the opposite side of the horse's head, and a browband. The invention also concerns halters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional bridles and double bridles have cheekpieces and a crownpiece in the form of a continuous strap, which, during use of the bridle, runs from one side of the bit over the horse's head to the other side of the bit. This strap is narrow and the crownpiece ends up immediately behind the horse's ears. Bridles are usually provided with a browband, which is applied across the said strap and both ends of which are linked to the crownpiece. The browband and the crownpiece form a relatively narrow opening through which the horse's ears are brought when the bridle is put on a horse. Horses with sensitive ears can become irritated and be difficult to bridle with conventional bridles with browbands. Furthermore, conventional bridles are usually provided with some form of noseband, the side parts of which are connected to the crownpiece. In addition, conventional bridles are usually provided with a throatlatch which is intended to be arranged under the horse's jaw and both ends of which are linked to the crownpiece on either side of the horse's head.

It has now come to light that it is unsuitable to subject a horse's head to pressure in the area immediately behind the ears. There are many nerves and blood vessels in this area. In addition, sound channels to the inner ear can be affected by pressure in this area. During use of conventional bridles the pressure caused by traction forces in the cheekpieces can result in irritation in the mentioned sensitive area behind the horse's ears, which is very troublesome for the horse. The horse has no bones to protect it against the effects of pressure in this area.

Pressure in this area can disturb the horse's respiratory system. As has been mentioned above, the horse's auditory system can be affected, which in turn can give the horse problems with balance. The blood flow to muscles which control the movements of the eyes and nose can be disturbed. In addition, pressure on nerves can disturb both sight and hearing.

This can lead to a decrease in the horse's performance ability and impair communication between horse and rider. The horse can try to rid itself of the problem by resisting riding aids from the rider. In extreme cases there is a risk that the horse may become frightened and try to run away from the problem. Furthermore, there is an obvious risk of the horse contracting a headache.

If a horse has summer eczema, which is common, for example, in horses imported from Iceland, the ears can be very badly affected. Putting on and taking off conventional bridles on horses with such ear problems is difficult and can cause suffering to the horse.

Soft muffs which can be attached round the crownpiece are used in an attempt to reduce the pressure to some extent behind horses' ears. Such protective devices are more of a cosmetic nature and do not give any substantial reduction in pressure.

Until now, no bridle has existed which solves the problems described above in a satisfactory manner. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By means of the present invention, a bridle or the like has been achieved, which solves the problems described above and which furthermore is extremely comfortable and easy to put on a horse.

The expression bridle or the like used here also comprises other types of headstall, such as double bridles.

A bridle of the kind mentioned in the introduction is characterised according to the invention in that the browband and crownpiece together form an encircling crown, that the cheekpieces are attached to the crown in such a way that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each cheekpiece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional area between the browband and the crownpiece in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle with said extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband forms an obtuse angle, whereby traction forces arising from the bit during use of the bridle are taken up by the crownpiece of the crown, that the length of each cheekpiece is adjustable, that the crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper and a lower limiting edge, and that the lower limiting edge has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge.

According to one embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the crown is flexible in order to be adjusted to the horse's head and neck but is otherwise essentially shape-stable against tension arising during use, and that the crown has a stiffness that is at least twice as great as the stiffness of the cheekpieces.

According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterised in that the bridle has a noseband, comprising a nose strap, the length of which is adjustable and which is intended to be put round a horse's muzzle, and two opposite side pieces, a first of which is arranged to connect one side of the nose strap, a first side of the nose strap, with the transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a first side of the crown and a second side piece is arranged to link the opposite side of the nose strap, a second side of the nose strap, with the transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a second side of the crown, that the first side piece during use of the bridle is arranged to extend along one of the horse's cheeks and the second side piece along the horse's other cheek, and that the length of the said side pieces is adjustable.

According to another embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the bridle is provided with two throatlatches, that a first of these throatlatches is directly or indirectly connected in a force-transmitting relationship by one of its ends to the crownpiece on the first side of the crown, that the second end of the first throatlatch has an attachment means, that a second of these throatlatches is directly or indirectly connected in a force-transmitting relationship by one of its ends to the crownpiece on the second side of the crown and that the second end of the second throatlatch has an attachment means, that the first and second throatlatches, during use of the bridle, are intended to cross each other under the horse's jaw, the attachment means of the first throatlatch being detachably connectable with the noseband on the second side of the noseband and the attachment means of the second throatlatch being detachably connectable with the noseband on the first side of the noseband, and that the length of each cheekpiece is adjustable.

According to a modified embodiment, the invention is also characterised in that the bridle is provided with a holder for both throatlatches, which holder comprises at least one passage for both throatlatches, that the throatlatches are arranged to cross each other in the holder, that said passage is tight- fitting around the throatlatches but allows the holder to be moved along the throatlatches in order to adjust the place where the throatlatches cross. According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterised in that the holder comprises a pressure-relieving plate, which is arranged to lie against the underside of the horse's jaw during use of the bridle.

According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterised in that each throatlatch is permanently or detachably connected by its first end directly to the crown.

According to a modified embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the first throatlatch is permanently or detachably connected by its first end with the first cheekpiece and that the second throatlatch is permanently or detachably connected by its first end with the second cheekpiece.

According to a suitable embodiment, the crownpiece is broader than the browband. According to one embodiment, the invention is thereby characterised in that the crownpiece has a width that is at least double the width of the browband.

According to one embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the crown is composed of at least two layers of the same or different materials, such as leather or synthetic leather.

According to one embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the upper and lower limiting edges of the crown essentially have an elipse-like form.

According to a suitable embodiment, the invention is characterised in that the distance across the crown between the centre of the browband and the centre of the crownpiece in the free state of the crown is in the region of at least 15 cm, preferably at least 20 cm.

According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterised in that the distance across the crown between said transitional parts on opposite sides of the crown in its free state is in the region of at least 15 cm. The expression "the free state of the crown" is intended to mean that the stiff crown is unaffected by external forces and, for example, rests against a surface when the said distance measurements are made.

According to one embodiment, the invention is constituted by a halter, comprising a noseband, side pieces, a crownpiece, a browband and a throatlatch. What characterises the invention is that the browband and crownpiece together form an encircling crown, that the side pieces are connected to the crown in such a way that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each side piece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle with said extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband forms an obtuse angle, whereby traction forces arising during use of the halter are taken up by the crownpiece of the crown, that the length of each side piece is adjustable, that the crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper and a lower limiting edge, and that the lower limiting edge has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows in a side view an example of a conventional and previously known bridle,

Fig. 2 shows in perspective at an angle from the front a bridle in accordance with a first embodiment of the bridle according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows the bridle in accordance with the first embodiment, shown in Fig. 2, seen in perspective from behind,

Fig. 4 shows in a side view a second embodiment, somewhat modified in relation to the embodiment shown in Figs 2 and 3, of a bridle according to the invention,

Fig. 5 shows in larger scale a detail of the bridle in accordance with the first embodiment,

Fig. 6 shows a cross section along the line Vl-Vl of the detail shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows in perspective at an angle from behind a bridle in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows how a conventional bridle is arranged on a horse's head. Conventional bridles have cheekpieces 100 and crownpieces 101 in the form of a continuous band, which, during use of the bridle, runs from one side of the bit 103 over the horse's head to the other side of the bit. As can be seen in Fig.1 , this band is narrow and the crownpiece 101 ends up immediately behind the horse's ears. The bridle in accordance with Fig. 1 has a browband 104, which is arranged across the crownpiece and connected to the crownpiece at both of its ends. The browband 104 and the crownpiece 101 form a relatively narrow opening, through which the horse's ears have been brought when the bridle was put on. The bridle shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a noseband, the side pieces 105 of which are connected to the crownpiece. The bridle in accordance with Fig. 1 is further provided with a conventional throatlatch 106, which is arranged under the horse's jaw and both ends of which are connected to the crownpiece on either side of the horse's head. During use of the bridle there is a risk of troublesome pressure being caused by the crownpiece in the sensitive area behind the horse's ears, which can cause serious problems both for the horse and the rider, as has been described above. In the bridle according to the invention, the browband 1 and the crownpiece 2 together form an encircling, closed crown, which in its entirety is denoted with 3 in the figure.

The crown 3 is built up of at least two layers of the same or different materials, such as leather and/or synthetic leather. The inner layer of the crown, which lies against the horse during use of the bridle, is suitably made of a softer material than the outer layer. The crown is made relatively stiff but flexible for adjustment to the form of the horse's head and neck. The crown shall have a stiffness so that it is essentially shape stable against tension arising during use. The crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper 4 and a lower 5 limiting edge. The lower limiting edge 5 has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge. The upper and lower limiting edges of the crown essentially have an ellipse-like form. As can be seen from the drawing, the said ellipse-like form is somewhat curved in space for adjustment to the shape of the horse. The crownpiece 2, which is intended to take up strain from the bit via the cheekpieces, is suitably formed wider than the browband. In order to distribute the pressure to a greater area of the horse's neck, the width of the crownpiece can be at least twice as great as the width of the browband. For example, the width of the crownpiece can be in the region of 4 cm or more. However, the width of the crownpiece is not critical to the function of the crown. What is essential is the form, size and stiffness of the crown. A crown with a browband and crownpiece of the same width and a size of a few centimetres provides excellent function if the remaining criteria for the crown are fulfilled.

The crown shall have a size and form in relation to the shape of the horse's head and neck so that the crownpiece ends up at a considerable distance from the horse's ears and does not cause any pressure in the said sensitive area immediately behind the horse's ears. The distance from the horse's ears to the upper limiting edge of the crown at the crownpiece is suitably in the region of at least 5 cm.

The size of the crown should of course be adjusted to the size of the horse for which the bridle is intended. The size of a horse's head varies considerably, for example depending on the breed. Suitable measurements which fit most horses are that the distance across the crown between the centre of the browband 6 and the centre of the crownpiece 7 is in the region of 15 cm, preferably at least 20 cm and that the distance across the crown between the transitional parts between the browband and the crownpiece on opposite sides of the crown is in the region of at least 15 cm. The free state of the crown is here meant to mean that said measurements are made when the crown rests on a surface without any other influences.

A first cheekpiece 8 connects the bit 11 with the crown 3 in a transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a first side 9 of the crown. A second cheekpiece 10 links the bit 11 with a second side 12 of the crown. The cheekpieces 8 and 10 are connected to the crown 3 in such a way that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each cheekpiece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle α with said extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband forms an obtuse angle β. These angles have been marked in Fig.4, which shows the bridle in a side view. Due to this design of the bridle, traction forces arising from the bit during use of the bridle will be taken up by the crownpiece of the crown. Said centre line on the crown has been indicated with a line of dots and dashes in the figure.

The cheekpieces 8 and 10, as seen in the figure, are provided with buckles for adjusting the length of each cheekpiece. In the embodiments shown in Figs 2-7 the bridle is provided with a noseband which comprises a nose strap 13, the length of which is adjustable and which is intended to be fastened round the horse's muzzle, and two opposite side pieces 14, 15. A first 14 of said side pieces is arranged to connect one side of the nose strap, a first side 16 of the nose strap to the transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a first side 9 of the crown 3 and a second 15 of said side pieces is arranged to connect the opposite side of the nose strap 13, a second side 18 of the nose strap to the transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a second side 12 of the crown 3. The length of the cheekpieces, which extend on either side of the horse's head along the cheeks, is adjustable by means of the buckles shown in the figure. The crown and the noseband can thus be fixed in a suitable way around the horse's head by tightening the side pieces.

The bridle with bit, noseband and crown is put on the horse in the conventional way. An advantage of the crown according to the invention compared with the browband and crownpiece on conventional bridles is that it is large and shape stable and can easily be put over the horse's ears without disturbing them. Once in place, the crownpiece lies against parts of the horse's neck that are essentially insensitive to any pressure strains that arise.

The bridle according to the embodiment shown in Figs 2 and 3 is provided with two throatlatches 20, 21. A first 20 of these throatlatches is directly connected by one of its ends to the crownpiece 2 on the first side 9 of the crown 3. The second end of the first throatlatch has an attachment means 22, which is detachably connectable to an attachment on the second side part 15 at the second side 18 of the nose strap. In a corresponding manner, a second 21 of these throatlatches is connected by one of its ends to the crownpiece on the second side 12 of the crown and has an attachment means 23, which is detachably connectable to an attachment on the first side part 14 at the first side 16 of the nose strap. As can be seen in Figs 2 and 3, the throatlatches cross each other under the horse's jaw. The bridle is provided with a holder 24 for both throatlatches. The holder is shown in a larger scale in Figs 5 and 6. The holder 24 has a passage 25 in the form of a loop 26 for both throatlatches. The throatlatches cross each other in the holder, whose passage through the loop is tight-fitting for the two throatlatches but allows the holder to be moved along the throatlatches in order to adjust the place where the throatlatches cross. The holder is provided with a pressure-relieving plate 27, which lies against the underside of the horse's jaw during use of the bridle. Both throatlatches are provided with buckles for adjusting the length of the throatlatches. As has been mentioned, the first ends of the throatlatches are connected to the crown piece of the crown. Arranging the throatlatches crossed gives a stable anchorage of the crown and holds the crownpiece at a distance from the sensitive area behind the horse's ears.

The embodiment shown in Fig.4 differs from the embodiment according to Figs 2 and 3 only in that the first ends of the throatlatches are connected to the first and second cheekpieces, respectively, instead of directly to the crown. Traction forces in the throatlatches in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 are transferred via the cheekpieces to the crownpiece in a corresponding way to that described above with reference to traction forces in the cheekpieces from the bit. In this embodiment, too, the crown will be held in place by the throatlatches in essentially the same way as in the embodiments according to Figs 2 and 3.

The embodiment shown in Fig.7 differs from the embodiments according to Figs 2-4 only in that the bridle according to Fig.7 has no throatlatches. It has been found that in most situations the crown is held well in place without throatlatches.

In the figures, corresponding details in the different embodiments have been provided with the same reference digits. The expression transitional area used here, i.e. the transition between the crownpiece and the browband, has no determined length. The transition between the browband and the crownpiece takes place along a continuous curve form.

The bridle is suitably formed of leather and/or synthetic leather and provided with suitable connection details for connecting together integral parts and to facilitate putting on and taking off of the bridle.

The side pieces, cheekpieces and throatlatches are suitably formed of one layer of leather or synthetic leather. A suitable stiffness of the crown is in the region of at least twice that of the leather straps on conventional bridles.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment examples, several modifications being possible within the frame of the subsequent patent claims.

For example, the bridle can be formed without both the throatlatches and the noseband.

Furthermore, both the noseband and the throatlatches in the shown embodiments can be detachably connected to the crown, i.e. so that the noseband and/or the cheekpieces can be attached and detached as required. In a corresponding way, the throatlatches in the embodiment according to Fig.4 can be detachably connected to the cheekpieces.

The invention also comprises a crown with the same stiffness as the cheek bands and/or side pieces. The function of the crown is also determined by, for example, the chosen width of the crownpiece and the form of the crown. The width of the crownpiece suitably increases continuously in a direction from the said transitions to the centre of the crownpiece.

The stiffness and thickness of the crown and width along the crown are not critical. The choice of suitable measurements for these quantities are made by the person skilled in the art in order to achieve the described function and with regard to the intended purpose, such as cross-country riding, show jumping, dressage or gait riding.

As mentioned above, the invention also comprises double bridles. No double bridles are shown in the drawings. The characterising construction detail of the invention is constituted by the specially formed crown and designing a double bridle with a crown of this type is obvious to the person skilled in the art.

The invention further comprises a halter provided with the above-mentioned crown, which characterises the invention. The drawing does not show a halter either, as the construction of one is obvious to the person skilled in the art guided by the above description of a bridle. The suitable measurements for the crown of a bridle given above can also be applied to a halter.

Claims

1. Bridle or the like for holding a bit (11), which bridle comprises a crownpiece (2), two cheekpieces (8, 10), a first (8) of which is intended during use of the bridle to connect the bit to the crownpiece and extend along one side of a horse's head and a second of which is intended to connect the bit and the crownpiece on the opposite side of the horse's head, and a browband (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the browband (1) and crownpiece (2) together form an encircling crown (3), that the cheekpieces (8, 10) are connected to the crown in such a way that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each cheekpiece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional part between the browband (1) and the crownpiece (2) in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle (α) with said extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband (1) forms an obtuse angle (β), whereby traction forces arising from the bit during use of the bridle are taken up by the crownpiece (2) of the crown (3), that the length of each cheekpiece (8, 10) is adjustable and that the crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper (4) and a lower (5) limiting edge, and that the lower limiting edge (5) has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge (4).

2. Bridle in accordance with claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the crown (3) is flexible in order to be adjusted to the horse's head and neck but is otherwise essentially shape-stable against tension arising during use, and that the crown (3) has a stiffness that is at least twice as great as the stiffness of the cheekpieces.

3. Bridle in accordance with claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the bridle has a noseband which comprises a nose strap (13), the length of which is adjustable and which is intended to be fastened round a horse's muzzle, and two opposite side pieces (14, 15), a first (14) of said side pieces being arranged to connect one side of the nose strap, a first side (16) of the nose strap (13), to the transitional part between the browband (1) and the crownpiece (2) on a first side (9) of the crown (3) and a second (15) of said side pieces being arranged to connect the opposite side of the nose strap, a second side (18) of the nose strap to the transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece on a second side of the crown, that the first side piece (14) during use of the bridle is arranged to extend along one of the horse's cheeks and the second side piece (15) along the horse's other cheek, and that the length of the said side pieces is adjustable.

4. Bridle in accordance with any one of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the bridle is provided with two throatlatches

(20, 21), that a first (20) of these throatlatches is directly or indirectly connected in a force-transmitting relationship by one of its ends to the crownpiece (2) on the first side of the crown (9), that the second end of the first throatlatch (20) has an attachment means (22), that a second of these throatlatches (21) is directly or indirectly connected in a force-transmitting relationship by one of its ends to the crownpiece on the second side (12) of the crown and that the second end of the second throatlatch (21) has an attachment means (23), that the first and second throatlatches, during use of the bridle, are intended to cross each other under the horse's jaw, the attachment means (22) of the first throatlatch (20) being detachably connectable with the noseband on the second side (18) of the noseband and the attachment means (23) of the second throatlatch (21) being detachably connectable with the noseband on the first side (16) of the noseband, and that the length of each cheekpiece is adjustable.

5. Bridle in accordance with claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the bridle is provided with a holder (24) for both throatlatches (20, 21), which holder comprises at least one passage (25) for both throatlatches, that the throatlatches are arranged to cross each other in the holder, that said passage is tight-fitting around the throatlatches but allows the holder to be moved along the throatlatches in order to adjust the place where the throatlatches cross.

6. Bridle in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the holder comprises a pressure-relieving plate (27), which is arranged to lie against the underside of the horse's jaw during use of the bridle.

7. Bridle in accordance with any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that each throatlatch (20, 21) is permanently or detachably connected by its first end directly to the crown (3).

8. Bridle in accordance with any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that the first throatlatch (20) is permanently or detachably connected by its first end with the first cheekpiece (8) and that the second throatlatch is permanently or detachably connected by its first end with the second cheekpiece (10).

9. Bridle in accordance with any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the crownpiece (1) is broader than the browband (2).

10. Bridle in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the crownpiece (1) has a width that is at least double the width of the browband (2).

11. Bridle in accordance with any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the crown (3) is composed of at least two layers of the same or different materials, such as leather or synthetic leather.

12. Bridle in accordance with any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper (4) and lower (5) limiting edges of the crown (3) essentially have an ellipse-like form.

13. Bridle in accordance with any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the distance across the crown (3) between the centre (6) of the browband and the centre (7) of the crownpiece in the free state of the crown is in the region of at least 15 cm, preferably at least 20 cm.

14. Bridle in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that the distance across the crown (3) between said transitional parts on opposite sides of the crown in the free state of the crown is in the region of at least 15 cm.

15. Bridle in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the cheekpieces are detachably arranged on the crown and that the bridle comprises a throat strap, which is detachably connectable to the crownpiece on either side of the crown, whereby the bridle can serve as a halter if the cheekpieces are detached.

16. Bridle in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the cheekpieces are detachably arranged on the crown and that the bridle comprises two throatlatches, which are intended to cross each other under the horse's jaw during use of the bridle and to connect the nose strap to the crown, whereby the bridle can serve as a halter if the cheekpieces are detached.

17. Halter, comprising a noseband, side pieces, a crownpiece, a browband and a throatlatch characterized in that the browband and crownpiece together form an encircling crown, that the side pieces are connected to the crown in such a way that an imagined extension of the longitudinal axis of each side piece in the direction towards the crown crosses an encircling centre line on the crown in a transitional part between the browband and the crownpiece in such a direction that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in a direction towards the crownpiece forms an acute angle with said extension and that the tangent of the centre line in each crossing point in the direction towards the browband forms an obtuse angle, whereby traction forces arising during use of the halter are taken up by the crownpiece of the crown, that the length of each side piece is adjustable, that the crown forms a continuous encircling track with an upper and a lower limiting edge, and that the lower limiting edge has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of the upper limiting edge.