A nose strap, a riding halter and a bridle comprising such a riding halter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a noseband (5) of a horse bridle (1) with a curb bit and / or a snaffle bit (7), a noseband (4), and a bridle (1) with such a noseband (5), which runs between two cheek pieces (3) of the bridle (1) across the bridge of the horse's nose. The noseband (5) has a padding (9) on the bridge of the nose with a central recess (10) and optionally further recesses (10d).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a noseband for horses, a noseband with such a noseband and a bridle with such a noseband.

[0002] A snaffle or curb bit exerts pressure on the horse's lower jaw via the bit. The noseband ensures that the horse doesn't have to absorb this pressure solely with its lower jaw. It is transferred to the nose via the noseband. Furthermore, a chin strap attached to the noseband, if appropriate, limits the horse's ability to open its mouth. This latter limitation in particular causes many riders to fasten the noseband much tighter than prescribed. This often leads to injury and discomfort for the horse.

[0003] Located on the bridge of the nose, approximately midway between the upper jaw and the eye sockets, is the nasal bone, a delicate, narrow bone and cartilage structure. The nasal bone must not be subjected to excessive pressure.

[0004] Furthermore, above the nasal bone is the infraorbital foramen, an opening in the skull through which many important facial nerves pass. Excessive pressure on this area, caused by a high and tight noseband, can lead to numbness of the upper lip, nose, eyelids, and jaw. It is especially important to consider these factors when designing a bridle and when bridling to avoid injury and ensure the horse's well-being.

[0005] For proper bridle fastening, the "two-finger rule" applies to fastening a noseband. The "two-finger rule" states that two fingers should fit between the bridge of the nose and the noseband. Only then is the strap not too tight.

[0006] The loose fastening prevents excessive pressure on the nasal bone and other sensitive areas on the bridge of the nose.

[0007] On the other hand, it's desirable to avoid excessive play in the cheekpiece area to allow for more precise control of a snaffle or curb bit. These two requirements conflict with each other.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a noseband, a noseband and a bridle which simultaneously offers optimal protection of the nasal bone of a horse and yet ensures precise guidance over a snaffle or a curb bit by means of tightly fitting cheek pieces.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a noseband having the features of patent claim 1 or a noseband having the features of claim 11 and by a bridle having the features of claim 12.

[0010] The noseband of a horse bridle with a curb bit and / or a snaffle bit according to the invention runs across the horse's nose bridge between at least two cheek pieces of the bridle. It has a padding on the nose bridge side with a central recess that will be positioned over the center of the nose bridge when the bridle is attached.

[0011] The padding can be made of silicone, gel, foam, rubber, gel pads, air chambers, blister packs or the like.

[0012] The recess may have a depth that is substantially equal to or less than the maximum height of the padding.

[0013] The cutout can be 2 to 10 centimeters long along the noseband. The width of the noseband and padding can decrease from the center of the noseband toward the cheek pieces. The padding can have a maximum height of 1 to 10 centimeters, which can decrease toward the cheek pieces.

[0014] The upholstery can be covered with very soft leather or fabric or other breathable materials.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the noseband can also connect the cheek pieces on the underside of the horse's head.

[0016] The cutout may have sloping frontal walls extending from the side of the noseband opposite the bridge of the nose. The maximum thickness of the padding on either side of the cutout may be achieved at a certain distance from the cutout.

[0017] The noseband according to the invention may comprise a noseband of the type described above and a chin strap which is attached to the noseband.

[0018] The bridle according to the invention with a snaffle and / or a curb bit, a head strap, cheek pieces has a noseband of the type described above.

[0019] The great advantage of the above-described noseband, noseband, and bridle, each equipped with such a noseband, is that the sensitive areas on the bridge of the horse's nose are now exposed to no pressure, thus eliminating the risk of injury to the horse due to excessive pressure on relevant areas of the horse's skull. Furthermore, the pressure relief provided by the invention contributes significantly to the horse's well-being.

[0020] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a representation of a complete bridle with reins, in which the noseband according to the invention can be used, together with a definition; Fig. 2a ) a partial view of an embodiment of a noseband according to the invention in plan view; Fig. 2b ) a partial perspective view of the noseband from Fig. 2 a) from the side facing the bridge of the nose; Fig. 3 a representation of a further embodiment of a noseband according to the invention which completely encloses the horse's head.

[0021] The Figure 1 The bridle 1 shown has a headpiece 11 and a browband 2, to each of whose two ends, on either side of the horse's head, one end of a cheekpiece 3 is adjustably attached. A snaffle 7 with a bit and / or a curb bit (not shown) is attached to the other end of each cheekpiece 3, optionally via additional elements such as rings or the like. The front ends of the reins 8, for example, are attached to such a ring.

[0022] A noseband 5 is placed across the bridge of the nose and is adjustably attached to the two cheek pieces 3. As shown in Fig. 3As shown, the noseband 5 can be extended beyond the cheek pieces 3 (section 5a in Fig. 3 ) and thus completely enclose the horse's head. This ensures, among other things, that the bridle 1 is securely attached to the horse's head and cannot be slipped off by the horse without the need for additional straps. The noseband 3, together with at least one other strap between the noseband 3 and the ends of the browband and headpiece 2, 11, forms the noseband 4.

[0023] A chin strap 6 can be attached to the noseband 3 at the height of the middle of the bridge of the nose, which runs under the horse's mouth and is intended to prevent the mouth from opening too wide.

[0024] Figure 2 shows in a) an embodiment of a noseband 3 according to the invention in plan view and in b) in a perspective view, seen from the horse's head.

[0025] The noseband 5 has a strap 12 made of a flexible material, usually leather, with fastening means (not shown) at its ends for fastening to a selected point on the two cheek pieces 3. The fastening in the manner of a belt buckle makes it possible to adjust how tightly or loosely the noseband 5 should be fastened on the bridge of the nose (two-finger rule).

[0026] On the side facing the bridge of the horse's head, a padding 9 is attached to the strap 12, which together with the strap 12 forms the noseband 5.

[0027] Many different materials and designs can be considered as padding materials, such as foams, rubber or silicone cushions, gel pads, air cushions, single or multi-layer blister films, natural padding materials or the like.

[0028] The pads 9 are covered with a very soft leather or other breathable material, which is sewn or otherwise attached to the belt 12 along its longitudinal edges.

[0029] The padding 9 is, as in Figure 2 shown, provided with a recess 10 at the level of the middle of the nasal bridge, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the nasal bridge. The recess 10 has a length of 2 to 10 cm in the longitudinal direction of the noseband 5. The recess 10 can have a depth that corresponds to or is less than the height of the padding 9. The recess 10 is designed and arranged such that the noseband 5 does not come into contact with a sensitive area on the nasal bridge. Thus, for example, the nasal bone and / or the infraorbital foramen are protected from any pressure load.

[0030] In addition, further recesses 10d, as in Figure 3shown, be arranged laterally from the (main) recess 10, in places where there are other sensitive areas on the bridge of the nose.

[0031] The Figure 2 The embodiment of a noseband 5 according to the invention shown has a padding 9 on both sides of the recess 10, the thickness of which first increases with increasing distance from the recess 10 and then decreases again in the direction of the cheek pieces 3.

[0032] This embodiment is merely an example and is not to be construed as limiting in any way.

[0033] This means that when putting on and fastening the bridle 1, the maximum pressure of the noseband on the bridge of the nose is shifted to places where there are no sensitive areas.

[0034] This significantly reduces the risk of injury and maintains the horse's well-being. At the same time, a slightly tighter bridle strap has fewer negative effects.

[0035] Figure 2b ) shows the noseband 5 from Figure 2a ) in perspective view from the horse's head.

[0036] It can be seen that the padding 9 has an essentially semicircular profile in cross-section.

[0037] The end walls 10a, 10c of the recess 10 are beveled, so that the recess 10 widens from its bottom 10b. The end walls 10a, 10b can also essentially take the shape of spherical segments.

[0038] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of an inventive nosepiece 5 which is extended beyond the cheek pieces 3 by the section 5a which connects the cheek pieces 3 under the horse's head.

[0039] The thickness of the padding 9 in section 5a is shown thinner here than in section 5. This is merely optional and not to be understood as restrictive.

[0040] The head-encompassing design of the noseband 5 makes additional fastening straps unnecessary, which also benefits the appearance of the entire bridle.

[0041] The noseband according to the invention, the noseband and the bridle having the noseband according to the invention reduce the risk of injury to the horse and are beneficial to its well-being while riding.

[0042] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. List of reference symbols:

[0043] 1Horse bridle 2Browband 3Cheek piece 4Noseband 5Noseband 5aLower section of noseband 6Chinstrap 7Bit, snaffle 8Reins 9Padding 10Recess 10a, 10c -Front side walls of the recess 10bBottom of the recess 10dOther recesses 11Headpiece

Claims

1. Noseband (5) of a horse bridle (1) with a curb bit and / or a snaffle (7), which runs at least between two cheek pieces of the bridle across the bridge of the horse's nose, characterized by a padding (9) on the bridge of the nose with a central recess (10) and, if necessary, further recesses (10d).

2. Noseband (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the padding (9) comprises silicone, gel, foam, rubber, gel pads, air or the like.

3. Noseband (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (10) has a depth which is substantially equal to or less than the maximum height of the padding (9).

4. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (10) has a length of 2 to 10 cm in the longitudinal direction of the noseband (5).

5. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe width of the noseband (5) and the padding (9) decreases from its center towards the cheek pieces (3).

6. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the padding (9) has a maximum height of 1 to 8 cm, which decreases towards the cheek pieces (3).

7. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the padding (9) is covered with a very soft leather (12) or a fabric.

8. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the noseband (5) also connects the cheek pieces (3) on the underside of the horse's head.

9. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (10) has side walls (10a, 10c) rising obliquely from the noseband (5).

10. Noseband (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe maximum thickness of the padding (9) is reached on both sides of the recess (10) at a certain distance from the recess (10).

11. A noseband (4) with or without a chin strap (6) and a noseband (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chin strap (6) is attached to the noseband (5).

12. Bridle (1) with a snaffle (7) and / or curb bit, a headpiece (11), cheek pieces (3) and a noseband (4) according to claim 11.

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