Horse Bit

Abstract

The invention relates to horse bit (10, 100), comprising a mouthpiece (20, 120) configured to be inserted into a horse's mouth and comprising a first cheek (40, 140) and a second cheek (60, 160). The mouthpiece includes a first end (21, 121) and a second end (22, 122) and a center portion (30, 130) between the first end and the second end, wherein the center portion comprises at least one curved portion (31, 32; 131, 132). Each cheek includes a shank (50, 70; 150, 170) with an upper arm (53, 73; 153, 173) and a lower arm (54, 74; 154, 174) for attachment of reins and a central portion (55, 75; 155, 175) between the upper arm and the lower arm. The central portion of the first cheek is attached to the first end and the central portion of the second cheek is attached to the second end. Each upper arm extends along a longitudinal axis (A1, A2) and the axes of the upper arms define a first plane and wherein the center portion extends in a second plane that is inclined at an angle (α) of between 90° and 180° to the first plane, wherein the angle is measured forward from the upper arm. The invention relates to a horse bit assembly for inserting into a horse's mouth, comprising a first horse bit and a second horse bit wherein the first horse bit is a horse bit as mentioned above.

Description

[0001]The present invention relates to a horse bit, in particular to the mouthpiece of the horse bit. The horse bit can be designated as curb bit for a horse and the mouthpiece can also be designated as a shackle.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0002]A specific type of such a horse bit is a so-called curb bit which uses a lever action.[0003]Such a common curb bit comprises a mouthpiece configured to be inserted into a horse's mouth and cheeks attached to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece can be a straight bar or can have an arc shape. Each cheek includes a shank with an upper arm and a lower arm for attachment of reins.[0004]A curb bit is intended to apply a strong command to the horse through a mechanism of rotation of the bit around its long axis induced by applying rein tension. The reins attach to the side parts of the curb which can be called the cheeks. The cheeks are connected to the mouthpiece of the curb. Usually, the cheeks comprise a solid shank with rings at the upper and lower ext...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]An advantage of the invention is that there can be a forward angle that results in a rostral angle that is zero degrees. In other words, the second plane lies parallel to the tongue line or the plane of the horse's tongue.

[0030]As a further advantage, the (curved) center portion can be described as lying flat on the tongue. This spreads the force from the reins over a larger surface area and reduces pressure on the tongue at the outer edges which is a problem with bits of the prior art. Thus, the force bearing area is enlarged and the pressure by the rein tension forces is more evenly distributed over the horse's tongue thus lowering the pressure on the tongue.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, it was found out that often the curb mouthpiece can become trapped between the bridoon mouthpiece and the tongue.

This problem is exacerbated if the caudal angle between the axis of extension or radius of curvature and the tongue line is less than 90 degrees.

This situation is highly undesirable.

First, the occurrence of the stacking of one mouthpiece on top of the other one has the effect of increasing the space occupied by the bits between the upper and lower jaws in the mouth of the horse.

The effectiveness of the rein aids will be severely compromised.

The problem of the curb becoming trapped under the bridoon arises because the curb mouthpieces in the prior art have not taken account of the necessarily close juxtaposition of the two mouthpieces during riding.

This results in a large pressure on the tongue and on the palate as the angle between the tongue plane or palate plane and the extension of the mouthpiece center portion is about 90°.

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