Halter for riding animals with additional opening capability

Abstract

The invention relates to a halter for placement on the head of an animal, in particular a riding animal, preferably a horse, comprising a neck strap (1) for placement on a neck region of the animal with first opening means (2) integrated therein for putting on and taking off the halter, and a nose strap (3) for placement in a nose region of the animal, wherein the neck strap (1) and nose strap (3) are connected to one another via at least one, preferably two, more preferably three, connecting straps (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a halter for animals, in particular riding animals, in particular horses.

[0002] Halters are devices that are attached to the head of the animal, especially horses and equine animals such as donkeys or mules, and are used to guide the head and tether the animal. They are composed of several straps that, when pulled up, securely enclose the animal's head without constricting the animal. A neck or throat strap runs behind the animal's ears and down on both sides, enclosing the animal's neck at the bottom. A noseband encloses the animal's nose in a ring in the area between the mouth and eyes. The throat and noseband are usually connected to each other by two lateral connecting straps, one on the left and one on the right side of the animal's head. A halter is used to lead and tether an animal and is therefore indispensable in everyday handling of the animal.

[0003] Such a halter is described in patent DE 10 2014 011 123 B4. The halter comprises a neck strap and nose strap, each formed as a two-part strap consisting of a neck strap and throat strap, or a nose strap and chin strap. Additionally, an impact-inducing device is provided in the form of an additional strap.

[0004] A halter, which does not have a bit, is different from a bridle. It is constructed similarly to a halter but includes a bit, known as a snaffle. The snaffle is placed in the animal's mouth and the reins are attached to the side. When riding, the reins and snaffle can be used to influence the animal's mouth. When preparing an animal for riding, the halter, which the animal usually wears, must be removed and the bridle put on. There is a point when the animal is wearing neither the halter nor the bridle, so there is no way for the animal to be tied up at all times. Furthermore, it is not possible to guide the animal's head, and therefore the animal as a whole, safely at all times.In addition, the human's attention is not fully focused on the animal because the halter has to be put aside appropriately and the bridle fetched and prepared for putting on. This is made more difficult by the design of halters and bridles, as the narrow straps can easily get caught on each other, meaning the bridle is not immediately ready to put on. The same problem arises when changing from the bridle to the halter after riding. This issue naturally also arises when dealing with animals when changing from one halter to another. This problem remains even when using an improved, extended halter in accordance with DE 10 2014 011 123 B4.

[0005] Especially with restless animals and / or people inexperienced in handling animals, the period of time when the animal is not tied up and cannot be led can pose significant risks. Young people in particular often lack the experience, size, and strength to handle this situation safely. Riding animals, on the other hand, are often very powerful and easily jumpy, which further increases the danger during the time the animal is not wearing a halter or bridle.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an improved halter which at least partially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] This object is achieved with a halter having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the halter according to the invention are the subject of the following description and description of the figures as well as the dependent claims.

[0008] The present invention relates to a halter for placement on the head of an animal, in particular a riding animal, preferably a horse, comprising a neck strap for placement on a neck region of the animal with opening means integrated therein for putting on and taking off the halter, and a nose strap for placement in a nose region of the animal, wherein the neck strap and nose strap are connected to one another via at least one, preferably two, more preferably three, connecting straps. According to the invention, the nose strap has opening means integrated therein for selectively opening the nose strap.

[0009] In this document, a girth is defined as a roughly ring-shaped element that encloses the animal's head or part of its head. The girth or girths are shaped as narrow bands and can be made of various materials, such as leather or textile. It is also possible to manufacture a girth as a continuous strap.

[0010] The neck strap and / or the nose strap are preferably each formed from at least two partial straps, in particular an upper and lower partial strap, wherein the partial straps are connected to one another by respective connecting means. The neck strap is preferably designed as a two-part strap, comprising a neck strap and a throat strap. The nose strap is preferably also designed as a two-part strap, comprising a nose strap and a chin strap. This makes it possible, for example, to use different materials and design variants for the partial straps and to adapt them to the use on the animal, for example with a pad on the upper side of the nose, where the nose strap rests, and as a simple strap on the underside of the head, where the strap usually hangs downwards at a slight distance from the animal's head.The partial straps can be guided as a loop through the corresponding opening of the respective connecting element, with one end of the partial strap being attached, in particular sewn, to the respective connecting element. This enables a permanent and strong attachment to the respective connecting element.

[0011] The opening means according to the invention are preferably arranged in a noseband of the nose strap. In an alternative embodiment, the opening means can be arranged in a chin strap of the nose strap.

[0012] To put on the halter, the neck strap is provided with an opening device, preferably a bolt snap hook, which engages with connecting elements located between the throat latch and neck strap of the neck strap and by means of which the strap can be opened. To put it on, the preferably closed nose strap, in particular comprising the nose strap and chin strap, is pulled over the animal's mouth and nose, and the neck strap, positioned further back on the animal's head, is closed with the opening device. Removing the halter proceeds in the reverse manner.

[0013] The bridles are fundamentally similar in construction and are therefore put on and taken off in the same way. This makes it clear that when changing from a halter to a bridle, the halter must first be completely removed before the bridle can be pulled over the animal's mouth and nose. The same applies when changing from a bridle to a halter. With a state-of-the-art halter, it is unavoidable that the animal will not be tied up or led for a period of time.

[0014] The halter according to the invention solves this problem in that the noseband can also be selectively opened using the second opening means integrated therein. When changing from the halter to the bridle, the noseband can be opened, the nose unhooked or exposed, and the noseband can be put down or positioned hanging loosely downwards while the neck strap is still closed. The noseband can then optionally be closed again using the opening means. The animal can continue to be tied and led using the closed neck strap. The bridle can now be put on, with the neck strap being able to be moved slightly down the neck. Once the bridle is on, the animal can be tied to it and led if necessary. The neck strap of the halter according to the invention is then opened and the halter is completely taken off, in particular forwards over the animal's head and any reins.When changing from the bridle to the halter, the procedure is reversed, and the animal can also be tied and led at any time. The first and / or second opening means according to the invention are preferably selectively openable means, which can advantageously be opened easily and quickly. In particular, the opening means according to the invention should not be understood as length-adjusting means such as a pin buckle. In other words, the opening means according to the invention are not length-adjusting means such as pin buckles.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the first opening means are designed as a preferably self-closing bolt carabiner which engages the connecting means arranged between the throat strap and the neck strap.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the second opening means are designed as self-closing opening means, in particular by spring force. This has the advantage that the opening means and thus the nose strap are secured against unintentional opening. Furthermore, it ensures that once an opening means is closed, it remains securely closed during use and thus cannot be opened, especially due to vibrations.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the second opening means comprise a snap hook, preferably a snap-action carabiner. This allows the strap to be closed and opened particularly easily, requiring no practice or special dexterity. The preferred snap-action carabiner ensures a high level of safety due to the automatic closing of the snap-action carabiner, preventing errors in use where the carabiner is accidentally left open. Furthermore, an opening means that can be operated and used with one hand can be provided.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the second opening means interact with connecting means arranged between the noseband and the connecting strap. This allows for a particularly space-saving and compact design of the opening means and the noseband. Furthermore, the number of loose ends is minimized when the noseband is open, thus facilitating handling of the halter.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the second opening means are designed such that they engage in a web of the connecting means in a closed state.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting means are designed as a substantially multi-link, in particular four-link, connecting element, which connects the connecting strap to one or more parts of the nose strap. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting element is formed from four elements or webs arranged substantially rectangularly relative to one another. This facilitates the relative arrangement or positioning of the straps and / or belts to be connected. In particular, this also ensures a secure positioning of the strap and / or belt ends relative to one another.

[0021] In a next advantageous embodiment, the at least one connecting strap is designed such that it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the head and is preferably free of opening means. In this embodiment, the neck strap and the nose strap are held at a reliable and constant distance from one another. In the particularly preferred embodiment with three connecting straps, the neck strap and the nose strap are also held in position with regard to their orientation relative to one another. In this case, two of the connecting straps are preferably arranged such that, when the halter is worn, they extend along two opposite sides of the head, in particular along the cheeks of the head. A third connecting strap is preferably arranged such that, when worn, it extends from the chin strap to the throat strap of the halter and preferably centrally below the head.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the neck strap and / or the nose strap, in particular the neck strap and / or the chin strap, are designed to have integrated length adjustment means for adjusting the strap length. This allows the halter to be advantageously adapted to different animals, thus achieving more flexible use of the halter. The length adjustment means can, for example, be designed as metal pin buckles, as is known in the art in this field.

[0023] A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the neck strap and / or the nose strap, in particular the chin strap, have fastening means, in particular a fastening eyelet or loop or a fastening ring, which are designed for the selective attachment of a holding strap for the halter. Preferably, one or more of the connecting means are designed such that they can be used as fastening means. Particularly preferably, a fastening ring is arranged on the chin strap of the nose strap, or the connecting means that connects the chin strap of the nose strap to the connecting strap under the animal's chin, or a partial element thereof, is designed as a fastening ring. This enables, for example, the easy attachment of a rope to the halter in order to lead the animal or to tie it to a fixed object.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least one of the connecting means is designed so that it can serve as a fastening means.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the opening means and / or connecting means and / or length adjustment means and / or fastening means are made of metal, in particular of corrosion-resistant steel or steel protected against corrosion, for example by a coating. The metal design achieves stability, robustness, durability, and ease of maintenance. This is especially true if the opening means and / or connecting means are made of corrosion-resistant steel or have a corrosion-protected coating. This allows them to be used functionally over the long term, even in demanding environments with moisture, dust, dirt, and the animal's sweat.

[0025] In a further preferred embodiment, the halter is designed such that the connecting means between a neck strap and a connecting strap are designed as a fastening ring, wherein the connecting strap is arranged at least partially rotatably on the fastening ring. The fastening ring can be essentially circular or oval. This makes it particularly easy to adjust the angle of the partial straps to one another. On the one hand, this allows adaptation to differently shaped animal heads and, in an advantageous manner, it allows the halter to be easily constructed from straps that are straight in the longitudinal direction, even where the animal's anatomy requires that the strap does not run in a straight line around the animal's head.

[0026] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the merely schematic drawings.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1: a side view of the halter according to the invention, fully applied to the head of a horse, Fig. 2: a detailed view of the halter according to the invention with the opening means of the noseband, Fig. 3: a side view of the halter according to the invention on the head of a horse, with the neck strap closed and applied, Fig. 4: a side view corresponding Fig. 3 , wherein the neck strap of the halter according to the invention is closed and put on and the bridle (without bit) is completely put on, Fig. 5: a side view corresponding Fig. 4, wherein the neck strap of the halter according to the invention is open so that the halter can be removed. Fig. 6: a side detail view with the halter fully applied, showing a preferred embodiment with a length adjustment means in the nose strap.

[0028] The Figure 1shows a preferred embodiment of a halter according to the invention in the fully applied and closed state on the head of a horse. The halter comprises a neck strap 1, which can be opened using a first opening means 2, which is designed here as a bolt snap hook. Such bolt snap hooks are common for this application and have been tried and tested many times. The neck strap is composed of a neck strap 6 and a throat strap 7, and the nose strap 3 is composed of a nose strap 8 and a chin strap 9. The neck strap 6 and the nose strap 8 can, for example, be padded, which advantageously increases the wearing comfort for the animal because, when the halter is applied, these two straps usually rest against the head, whereas the throat strap 7 and the chin strap 9 are usually spaced apart from the animal's head.

[0029] The neck strap encloses the rear of the animal's head in an approximately ring-shaped manner, behind its ears, approximately in the transition area from the head to the animal's neck. In the front area of ​​the animal's head between the mouth and eyes, a nose strap 3 encloses the animal's head; the nose strap 3 is also approximately ring-shaped. By means of the opening means 5, the nose strap 3 can be selectively opened in the manner according to the invention. The neck and nose straps are connected to one another via connecting straps 4. In the preferred embodiment according to Figure 1The halter comprises three connecting straps 4, one on each side of the head and one along the underside. The connecting means 10 connect the straps to one another. The connecting means 10a on the noseband 3 are designed as an essentially square metal ring and the connecting means 10c on the neck strap 1 are designed as a circular metal ring. The connecting means 10b on the noseband 3 below the horse's chin are designed as two connected metal rings, one ring being circular and enlarged so that the holding strap or lead rope 13 can be attached to it. The metal design is stable and durable and has been tried and tested many times for this application. The connecting means 10a and c are also used to make the neck and noseband from several partial straps rather than as a single piece.Using the circular connecting elements 10c in the neck strap 1, the course of the neck strap 1 can be easily changed by adjusting the angle between the neck strap 6 and the throat strap 7, thus adapting it to the different anatomical characteristics of different animals. The connecting straps 4 can also be adjusted in angle and are thus adjustable by means of the circular connecting elements 10c attached to the neck strap 1. The adaptability of the halter according to the invention is further contributed to by the fact that the neck strap 1 is provided with a length adjustment means 11, in the example of the . Figure 1designed such that the neck strap 6 can be adjusted in length. The length adjustment means 11 is designed as a pin buckle in the example shown. Not shown here is an optional length adjustment means on the nose strap 3, for example for adjusting the length of the chin strap 9. A preferred embodiment with a length adjustment means for adjusting the length of the chin strap is shown in Figure 6 shown.

[0030] The Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the halter according to the invention with the opening means 5 of the noseband 3, here designed as a spring-loaded, self-closing snap hook. However, the invention is not limited to such hooks; rather, any opening means are conceivable, in particular bolt carabiners, snap carabiners, buckles, or magnetic closures of various types and designs, including one-handed versions.

[0031] The snap hook 5 is firmly connected to the noseband 8 and detachably connectable to the connecting means 10a. The connecting strap 4 to the neck strap (not shown) and the chin strap 9, which runs in the chin area under the animal's head to the other side of the head, are permanently attached to the connecting means 10a. Not shown is another possible embodiment for implementing the noseband 3, which can be selectively opened according to the invention, in which the opening means 5 is firmly connected to the chin strap 9 and detachably connectable to the connecting means 10a.

[0032] The Figure 3shows a side view of the halter according to the invention in a partially removed state. The neck strap 1 is closed and the animal can still be tied or led using a holding strap or lead rope 13. The nose strap 3, however, is removed, so that the entire front of the animal's head is free. In order to remove the halter from the fully applied state according to the Figure 1 To transfer the nose strap 3 into the partially removed state shown here, the nose strap 3 is opened with the second opening means 5, the nose is exposed and the nose strap 3 with the connecting straps 4 is then removed from the animal's head. The nose strap can optionally be closed again directly with the opening means. Figure 3shows that it is also possible to move the closed neck strap backward on the animal's neck. It can be seen that the exposed head of the animal could advantageously be washed and groomed, for example, without the straps of a halter getting in the way.

[0033] The Figure 4 shows a side view according to the Figure 3 , wherein another halter or bridle 12 is attached to the animal's head. The neck strap 1 of the halter according to the invention remains closed, and the animal can be tied or led using the holding strap or lead rope 13. It can be clearly seen that no area of ​​the animal's head is covered by the halter according to the invention, so that the other halter or bridle 12 can be attached without difficulty, while the animal remains secured at all times with the neck strap of the halter according to the invention.

[0034] With the bridle or other halter 12 attached, the animal can be tied or led to it, so that according to the representation of the Figure 5 the halter according to the invention can be opened and removed. To do so, the neck strap 1 of the halter is opened using the first opening means 2 of the neck strap. The neck strap 1 and thus the entire halter is released and can be removed, particularly towards the front.

[0035] To put on the halter according to the invention and to change from another halter or bridle, proceed in the reverse order.

[0036] The Figure 6shows a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of the halter according to the invention. The chin strap 9 is designed with an integrated length adjustment device 11. In the example shown, the length adjustment device 11 is designed as a pin buckle, which allows for easy adjustment of the length of the chin strap 9 and thus the circumference of the nose strap 3 in a robust and durable manner. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1Neck strap 2Neck strap opening device 3Nose strap 4Connecting strap 5Nose strap opening device 6Neck strap 7Throat strap 8Nose strap 9Chin strap 10Connecting device 10a Nose strap connecting device 10b Nose strap connecting device and fastening device 10c Neck strap connecting device 11Length adjustment device 12Bridle / other halter 13Holding strap or lead rope

Claims

1. A halter for placement on the head of an animal, in particular a riding animal, preferably a horse, comprising a neck strap (1) for placement on a neck region of the animal with first opening means (2) integrated therein for putting on and taking off the halter, and a nose strap (3) for placement in a nose region of the animal, wherein the neck strap (1) and nose strap (3) are connected to one another via at least one, preferably two, more preferably three, connecting straps (4) characterized by that the nose strap (3) has second opening means (5) integrated therein for selectively opening the nose strap (3).

2. Halter according to claim 1, characterized in that the second opening means (5) are designed as an opening means which closes independently, in particular by a spring force.

3. Halter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second opening means (5) comprise a snap hook, preferably a snap carabiner hook.

4. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second opening means (5) cooperate with connecting means (10a) which are arranged between the nose strap (3) and the connecting strap (4).

5. Halter according to claim 4, characterized in that the second opening means (5) are designed such that, in a closed state, they engage in a web of the connecting means (10a).

6. Halter according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the connecting means (10a) between a nose strap (3) and a connecting strap is designed as a substantially multi-link, in particular four-link, connecting element which connects the connecting strap (4) to one or more parts of the nose strap (3).

7. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe at least one connecting strap (4) is designed such that it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the head and is preferably free of opening means.

8. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the neck strap (1) and / or the nose strap (3) each consist of at least two partial straps (6 and 7, 8 and 9), in particular an upper and lower partial strap, wherein the partial straps are connected to one another by respective connecting means (10).

9. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the neck strap (1) and / or the nose strap (3), in particular the neck strap (6) and / or the chin strap (9), have integrated length adjustment means (11) for adjusting the strap length.

10. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe neck strap (1) and / or the nose strap (3), in particular the chin strap (9), have fastening means, in particular a fastening eyelet or fastening loop or a fastening ring, which are designed for the selective connection of a holding strap (13) for the halter, wherein preferably one or more of the connecting means (10) is / are designed such that it / they can be used as a fastening means.

11. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening means (2, 5) and / or connecting means (10) and / or length adjustment means (11) and / or fastening means are made of metal, in particular of corrosion-resistant steel or steel protected against corrosion, for example by means of a coating.

12. Halter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe connecting means (10c) between a neck strap (1) and a connecting strap (4) is designed as a fastening ring, wherein the connecting strap (4) is arranged at least partially rotatably on the fastening ring.

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