The Truth About Dr. W. Robert Cook’s “Bitless Bridle”

Edward Allan Buck

Inventor of bitless bridle in 1988

The history of Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridle is as follows:

In 1988 Edward Allan Buck invented the cross under the jaw rein technology bitless bridle, now named the Spirit Bridle, and applied for a patent, to which the U. S. Patent Office issued an application number. Submitted were photographs and drawings detailing the same rein connector technology as seen in the Cook Bitless Bridle.

The birth of Spirit Bridle originated with several meetings held with Mr. Don Woodruff, the inventor of the Be Nice Halter. Mr. Woodruff and Mr. Buck tried to make the Be Nice Halter function as a bridle in the manner Mr. Buck had envisioned, however, the Be Nice Halter could not function correctly as that kind of bridle and subsequently Mr. Buck engineered the first version of Spirit Bridle with the rein connectors.

Mr. Buck subsequently changed the original design and the U. S. Patent Office issued a new application number without an interruption of the application date. The U. S. Patent Office issued the number because of the design changes that occurred when Mr. Buck discovered that the original design had a dangerous flaw. The rein connectors, which allowed for the owner of a bridle to use their own reins, maintained an interruption of the contact with the horse that could and did result in loss of control of the horse.

Dr. Cook was introduced to Mr. Buck through Ms. Sigourney Richmond-Darby, whom had read a book on racehorse breathing written by Dr. Cook and felt the two men should meet as Dr. Cook had theories on breathing while Mr. Buck had acquired the facts experienced through the invention of the bitless bridle and could/did inform Dr. Cook about breathing and muscle structure interaction in horses.

Dr. Cook met with Ms. Richmond-Darby, Mr. Charles Weed and Mr. Buck at the Showpark in Del Mar, California after Dr. Cook had attended a veterinary conference in Phoenix, Arizona at which he spoke of the bitless bridle. At this meeting Dr. Cook observed three horses in the bitless bridle and had extensive conversation with Mr. Buck, Mr. Weed and Ms. Richmond-Darby, regarding the operation of Spirit Bridle the bitless bridle and its notable success on every horse is was used on. Dr. Cook inquired about having the rein connectors instead of the continuous reins and was informed by Mr. Buck and Mr. Weed of the dangerous situation such a design created. Dr. Cook was informed that Mr. Buck had tested that design and rejected that exact design as dangerous, unreliable, unsafe and inefficient in creating lateral and longitudinal flexion, collection, and braking. Dr. Cook was shown the photographs used by Mr. Buck in the original patent application which contained images of the rein connectors.

Within a short period of time after this meeting, Dr. Cook and Mr. Buck incorporated Spirit Horse Ltd. in the state of Delaware to produce and promote Spirit Bridle. Mr. Buck was President and Dr. Cook was Chief Veterinary Officer. Dr. Cook began to write numerous articles about Spirit Bridle, however, referencing it most of the time

as the bitless bridle. Dr. Cook had made an agreement with Mr. Buck to obtain substantial investors that would provide for the financial stability of the company, thus providing a joint livelihood; however, Dr. Cook’s effort raised only $1500.00. Mr. Buck was forced to use monies received from sales of the bridle [which were few] to live and was unable to provide bitless bridles to customers due to Dr. Cook’s lack of promised capitalization of the company. During this time period Dr. Cook had begun a campaign of misrepresenting Spirit Bridle as Bitless Bridle and Dr. Cook quickly resigned from Spirit Horse Ltd.

Shortly after Dr. Cook’s resignation it was discovered that he was selling and representing Mr. Buck’s Spirit Bridle as Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridle, including informing potential customers, the media and others that Dr. Cook had “invented” bitless bridle. As a material fact of his illegal activities, Dr. Cook took Mr. Buck’s Spirit Bridle to Equitana 2000 representing it as Dr. Cook’s invention under the name Bitless Bridle and received the award for Best Innovative New Product. This information came to light after Mr. Buck received a telephone call from one of his customers stating they saw Dr. Cook and Mr. Buck’s Spirit Bridle at Equitana under the name Bitless Bridle. Subsequently, Mr. Buck spoke with the Manager of Equitana and he validated the information and apologized for the misrepresentations by Dr. Cook.

After repeated contacts from Mr. Buck, Dr. Cook changed the design and reverted back to Mr. Buck’s original 1988 design even though Dr. Cook was fully aware of the design flaws which included making the bitless bridle dangerous.

The Fraudulent Patent

On July 15, 2003, the United States Patent Office issued patent number 6,591,589 to Dr. W. Robert Cook for the “Bitless Bridle”. This patent is illegal under patent laws and the perpetration of patent fraud upon the United States is a federal felony.

1. Dr. Cook did not inform the U. S. Patent Office of his personal and business involvement with Spirit Bridle and Mr. Buck; this is a federal crime.

2. Dr. Cook’s design is not an ‘improvement on Mr. Buck’s design, it is in fact a complete reversal to a dangerous design.

3. Dr. Cook’s patent claims that the “Bitless Bridle” is humane and does not cause pain and discomfort to the horse is fraudulent.

4. Dr. Cook made false and fraudulent claims to the U. S. Patent Office which is a federal crime

5. Dr. Cook has made false and fraudulent statements on his website and in print media which constitutes criminal acts.

There are sufficient documents filed within the Federal District Court system to validate the claims set forth regarding Dr. Cook’s fraudulent procurement of a patent. The real question is functionality…the Dr. Cook bitless bridle cannot function correctly as the operating technology was created for…the Spirit Bridle does function correctly.

Spirit Bridle won a two and three-quarter mile steeplechase race in England on August 30, 1999 on a horse named Fabulon and the bridle was given full credit for the win.

Spirit Bridle was approved for thoroughbred horse racing in 2002 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Spirit Bridle received an endorsement in 2004 from Walter Zettl for use as a schooling bridle for dressage horses and riders.

Lateral flexion,

Longitudinal flexion,

Complete engagement of the back

Complete engagement of the hindquarters

Lengthening of the shoulder swing

Constant light contact by the rider

Lightening of the impact forces on the forehand

Natural balance of the horse {no rocking horse motion}

Full and complete braking system

These are just some of the attributes the Spirit Bridle [Bitless Bridle “the original”] releases for horse and rider.

As the actual and factual inventor of the Dr. Cook Bitless Bridle and subsequent copy cat bitless bridles, I can state unequivocally that if a client is seeking a bitless bridle product predicated upon the truth and is seeking the individual who presents integrity regarding such a bitless bridle product, then one should open their eyes to see, open their ears to hear.