Snaffle
A bridle is part of the bridle for horses . It is a mouthpiece with rings on each side for buckling the reins .
Colloquially in Germany, the entire head section of a bridle is often referred to as a bridle.
history
As the oldest snaffle gag (psalien) pierced antler rods , the so-called gags of the Sabatinovka type of the Sredni Stog, Gumelnita and Cucuteni-Tripolje cultures as well as the Ostorf tips of the late funnel cup culture , which can be dated to the late Neolithic and the early Copper Age, were discussed . Their use as a snaffle gag is controversial, however.
Objects from the Copper Age Botai culture of Kazakhstan (around 3500-3000 BC) should also be mentioned as possible early psalias . One site yielded around 300,000 horse bones, most of which, however, came from wild horses . However, since the secured Bronze Age toggle development of this room begins with plate and disc toggles, there would be no continuity.
Reliable evidence of toggles that belong to bridles made of organic, unserved material dates from the early Bronze Age (end of the 3rd / beginning of the 2nd millennium BC). In the different areas, very different forms of bone or antler are initially used. In the Eastern European-Central Asian region between Greece or the Carpathian Basin (although in a supporting role) to Uzbekistan , it is a question of plate and disc toggles (rueda calada).
- The plate toggles are long rectangular, arched lengthways, with a large hole in the middle. There is an additional perforation on the side. The upper end of the plate according to the finding is set off and has several small holes.
- The disc toggles are round with a large passage in the middle. One variant has two holes on the side, another, more frequent, has a stepped, straight or triangular side with several small holes in which locating pins are sometimes retained.
Plate and disc toggles usually have spikes or points on the inside, so they are sharpened. The use of such plates and discs as snaffle gag is secured by graves from the southern Urals . There they were found on the mouth of horse burdock. A further indication is provided by pictorial representations on Mycenaean frescoes . While the plate toggle was only used for a short time in this area, the plate toggle remained in use until the advanced Bronze Age. The side of the gag with several holes was attached to the noseband, while all other devices (other straps and the reins) must have been connected to the bridle that led through the large passage.
China is a separate province for snaffle finds . Here in the second half of the 2nd millennium BC Metal plate gag used. These consist of a rectangular plate with a central hole, a side bracket and two hollow ribs or additional eyelets. In contrast to the Eurasian plate gags made of antlers or bones, they are not sharpened.
In contrast to this, in the Carpathian Basin and the Ancient Near East, since the Early Bronze Age (end of the 3rd / beginning of the 2nd millennium BC) the
- Antler rod toggle used. In the Carpathian Basin, the disc and rod gag traditions met and isolated mixed forms emerged. In the course of the Bronze Age (mid to late 2nd millennium BC) the rod gag spread further west and were found in Italy, Western and Northern Europe, including the British Isles, until the Late Bronze Age (early 1st millennium BC) .) used. During this time they gradually replaced the older plate and disc toggles in the east and are in the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. Can be proven up to China. It is noticeable that in Western Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula and in Western France, no early bridle has survived archaeologically. The antler gags from France are mainly from the Late Bronze Age, although the horse was probably redomesticated there during the time of the bell-cup culture (3rd millennium BC).
When developing the rod toggle, there were both biplane (the large passage is on a different level than the smaller holes) and monoplanar (all holes are on the same level) toggles. These two systems continued to exist until the Late Bronze Age, but other variants also emerged. Already from the Early and Middle Bronze Ages we know bar toggles with two central passages, sometimes with additional tenons at one end.
In early modern texts, the term “the bite” for the horse snaffle can be found, for example in a “pisbuech” with images and explanations of various snaffles (part of a manuscript in the Augsburg city archive from the middle of the 16th century).
effect
In contrast to curb bits, the bridle only affects the horse's mouth. Depending on the strength of the pull, it creates pressure on the horse's tongue, palate and jaw. The thickness of the dentition is one of the factors that determine its sharpness . The thinner the bit, the sharper it has on the horse's mouth, as it addresses the areas of the mouth selectively. The reverse conclusion, that a thicker bit always looks softer, only applies to a limited extent, since a bit that is too thick can also disturb the horse if it takes up too much space in the mouth. The thickness of the bit must be adapted to the horse's mouth so that the horse can chew with the bit in its mouth without any worries.
materials
Metal bits can be either hollow or solid. A massive set of teeth lies more calmly in the mouth and cannot be bitten through. One advantage of hollow bits is that they heat up quickly in the mouth in cold weather. Bits can also be preheated, for example with warm water.
- Stainless steel : Stainless steel bits are popular because of their smoothness and durability and are also easy to care for.
- Iron : Promotes salivation through the taste of the metal.
- Copper : Copper itself is too soft as a bit material, but horses like it because of its good taste . Therefore it is either embedded in many dentures or used as a basis for alloys.
- Argentan : Argentan is a commercially available alloy, also known as "Neusilber" or "German silver", and consists of copper, nickel and zinc . It usually contains 47–65% copper, 12–25% nickel and zinc. Argentan contains a relatively high proportion of nickel, which is known to cause allergies.
- Aurigan : aurigan is a patented brass - alloy . It contains a high proportion (around 85%) of pure copper and no nickel. As a rule, copper is always found in connection with nickel, as it requires a special cleaning process to remove nickel from copper. The copper content in teeth is said to promote chewing activity. The oxidation behavior of copper creates a sweetish taste ("sweet iron"), which horses like to accept and are therefore better to chew on . Copper is very soft, which is why the wear and tear is usually quite high. For this reason silicon was added to the alloy .
- Leather : When well cared for, some horses will happily accept it. If it is poorly cared for, it becomes hard and rough.
- Nathe : Nathe is a plastic that is often used for dentures. It also glides very well in the horse's mouth when dry and is usually gladly accepted. Nathe is very soft, not very durable and is "chewed through" very quickly. Since natural bits have a wire core, you should regularly check for worn areas.
- Rubber : When saliva-insulated, it is a soft, horse-friendly material. In horses that chew poorly, it has the effect of an eraser, which in the long term can have a dulling effect, so that they react more poorly to the rider's aids. A rubber bite should always have a metal core, otherwise it can be bitten through.
- Foam : These bits with a metal core and a thick foam cover are used in racing.
Snaffle shapes
- The bar snaffle , or the unbroken snaffle, is seldom made straight today, but is usually adapted to the horse's mouth with a slight curve or multiple bends. A pull on the rein puts pressure on the respective side of the lower jaw, but also on the opposite side of the upper jaw. Therefore, this shape can be confusing, especially for young horses. A purely one-sided rein aid is not possible. When using the reins with both hands, the bar snaffle can jam in the mouth. It is particularly suitable for one-handed reins.
- The snaffle also easily broken bridle (Austrian Wischzaum , in Western riding snaffle bit called), consists of two equally long die parts, which are connected to each other via a hinge. Due to its simple construction, it is one of the first historically documented bridle types. For example, a snaffle ring was found during an excavation in the Celtic oppidum of Manching . Rubber washers can be used to protect the corners of the mouth. Where the rings pierce the mouthpiece, a ridge can form due to wear and tear, which can pinch the corner of the mouth. X-rays refute the assumption that the joint of the snaffle is pressing against the horse's palate. Instead, it was found that snaffles press on the tongue.
- The double- jointed bridle has three parts that are movably connected to each other. The middle part is usually shorter than the two outer parts. Because of its soft effect, the double-jointed snaffle is often used as a training bit. Horses usually like to accept these, as they adapt well to the anatomy of the horse's mouth. There are double-jointed snaffles with a rounded or olive-shaped middle link and those with a flat plate as a middle part (hinged snaffle, Dr. Bristol bit). A platelet-shaped middle phalanx can, however, press on the tongue and palate with the narrow edge when the reins are pulled. The middle part is also often provided with players (tongue players) in order to encourage the horse to chew more, but they are perceived as annoying by some horses.
- The gag snaffle has a crossbar at each end of the mouthpiece, which ensures a steady position in the mouth. The toggles prevent the gag bit from slipping sideways in the mouth and protect the corners of the mouth, similar to the olive on the olive-head bit. With some toggle snaffles, the toggles are slightly curved outwards so that the upper part of the toggle does not come too close to the horse's head and creates pressure on the molars.
- With the D-ring bridle , the ring is flattened towards the mouth. Like the gag, it lies quietly in the mouth.
- With the olive-head snaffle , the ends of the mouthpiece are olive-shaped, and this line is continued by the rings. The purpose of this construction is to prevent the corners of the horse's mouth from being pinched or the bridle being pulled through the mouth. Since the mouthpiece does not slide on the snaffle rings as with the snaffle ring, the olive-head snaffle has little leverage.
Bridles not approved by the FN are:
- Open bridle: The cheek piece and reins are made from a strap that runs through two eyelets at the top and bottom of the bridle ring. When taking the rein, the horse's mouth corners are pulled up with leverage. Because of its harsh impact, it is very popular in polo, often with draw reins or side reins.
- The spoon bit has a double-broken bit with flat, round metal plates on the middle part of the mouthpiece. These are intended to prevent the horse from putting its tongue over the bridle and thus largely avoiding the impact. The spoon bit is also called tongue extensor bit.
- The crescendo snaffle is a very sharp snaffle and is used in racing for horses that tend to run excessively and are difficult to control.
- The roller snaffle is equipped with rollers. Copper rolls, together with other metals, generate tiny tensions, which are supposed to stimulate mouth activity with their slight tingling sensation. If the rollers are integrated into the bridle in such a way that the surface is smooth, the bridle is only slightly sharper, but if the rollers form irregularities in the surface, the bridle has a very strong effect and can cause pain to the horse if the rider's hands are rough.
- Supplementary bridle chains are often used on racehorses. On the one hand as security in case the snaffle breaks, on the other hand this chain is often used as a "play chain" for horses that are rather nervous and can react a little by playing with the chain in their mouth.
- The snake bit is a leather mouthpiece. A leather strap is placed around the horse's lower drawer and connected to the reins. Depending on the force exerted by the rider's hand, the loop is either loose or tightened.
- Chain snaffle: Here the horse has a piece of metal chain in its mouth. This bridle acts like a knife in the horse's mouth, especially with hard reins, and is therefore classified as cruel to animals.
- Double snaffle: Between the snaffle rings, two mouthpieces are attached one on top of the other, both very thin and broken asymmetrically, one bit on the left, the other on the right. This means that the bit acts very selectively and sharply on the palate, store and tongue
Ring-shaped gag
Open bit half ring
Spoon bit
Crescendotrense
Additional chain
See also
literature
- Ch. Eger: Debellator Hostium: For the equestrian representation on the disc gag by Puente Genil.
- HG Hüttel: Bronze Age bridles in Central and Eastern Europe
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hans-Peter Hils: Master Albrants Roßarznei. About an unknown copy of Master Albrant's Roßarznei from the 16th century. In: Würzburg medical history reports. Volume 3, 1985, pp. 77-99, here: pp. 77-79.
- ↑ X-rays show dentition pressure , Cavallo check: This is how you find the right mouthpiece
- ↑ Exchange pages, Performance Examination Regulations (LPO) 2013 - changes / additions as of January 1, 2013, FN, page 287 ff.