File:Modern military bridle bit boss (FindID 522800).jpg

English: A cast iron British military bridle bit. It is a curb bit with cylindrical mouthpiece that is arched and its centre. At the head of the bridle the shanks have circular cheek rings to which are attached cast iron hooks that hold in place a separately cast copper-alloy curb chain of 15 links. Below the mouthpiece are oval rein rings (snaffle) from which the shanks arch to an integrally cast and slightly curved slobber bar. At each end of the slobber bar are integrally cast terminal loops with separately cast iron rein rings. At the juncture of mouthpiece and shanks each shank has on its outer edge a separately cast lead alloy military harness badge. Both are identical with circular, domed plate surmounted by a crown. The plate has a central motif comprising a rose, thistle and shamrock, surrounded by a legend that reads INFANTRY MOUNTED OFFICERS. Each badge measures 82.96mm in length, 43.21mm in width and is attached to the shank by means of two integral rivets with flattened heads, one at top and one at bottom of the mount. The entire bridle is relatively well preserved, although showing some evidence for corrosion of the ironwork. It measures approximately 210mm in length, 160mm in width, 67mm in height, 14.15mm in diameter at mouthpiece, 16.35mm in thickness at shanks/badge, and weighs 601g.

This is a military bridle bit of modern date. The badges on the shanks indicate it was utilised by mounted infantry and their form suggests a probable late-19th to 20th century date for the object, possibly relating to the periods of the Boer War (1899-1902) or First World War (1914-1918).