1 Junn, 1899.] . QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 495 
PATENT BITLESS BRIDLE. 
Tie common form of bridle in use at the present time, the chief feature of 
which is that the horse is controlled and guided by means of a steel bar called 
the bit, though a very serviceable article, has several drawbacks, which soon. 
become apparent to those who ride or drive horses. Many horses have a habit 
of pulling with their mouths, a practice which, besides being bad for the horse 
itself, is very disagreeable to the rider or driver. 
To overcome the evils of the ordinary bridle, Lieutenant-Colonel Wetherel 
has patented a bitless bridle, which is a simple, though certainly ingenious, 
arrangement. ‘The mechanism will be easily understood from the illustrations 
we reproduce. The bridle is shown on the horse’s head, and an enlarged section. 
shows the manner of working. 
A—The check strap supporting the fulcrum plate B. 
C—The nose band, secured to slot on fulerum plate B. 
E—A. small jaw strap to steady the fulerum plate B. 
F—The curb chain, to regulate adjustment, having leather underneath to- 
protect the chin. a 
G—The lever rein arm, pivoted to fulerum B. The hook which holds the 
regulating curb chain F, shown secured to the upper short end of rein arm G, 
where the leverage power is exerted. 
H—Represents what is known as the snaffle rein : ridden on this, very little 
leverage power would be exerted, consequently the horse’s head would be 
comparatively free. 
G I—The lever rein, which exerts the requisite leverage force to stop the 
animal and diminish the strain on the driver's arm. 
The bit, an instrument of torture to many horses, and not pleasant to any, 
is here entirely done away with. When the reins are pulled a considerable 
leverage is exerted, and the curb chain and nose band are tightened, so that the 
horse may be brought to a stop without tearing and tugging at his mouth. The 
mouth evil is entirely done away with, and when a horse finds that there is no bar 
in his mouth he gives up pulling. The force exerted by the new bridle may be 
regulated at will, for as the lever bar is lengthened the power is increased, while 
in riding the snaffle rein may be held so as not to put too much pressure on the 
horse’s head. When freed of the bit and its accompanying evils, the horse 
‘arvies his head in a more natural and easier manner, and no bearing rein is 
required. ‘The pulling at the rein is a great relief to the driver or rider, and it 
is claimed that an animal can be easier kept in hand than by the ordinary means. 
