How to choose the right bit material for your horse.
One place you could begin your search is to start by looking at the different materials the brands we stock are using available and thinking about whether they will suit your horse. To save you from clicking in and out different brands, for this month’s blog we’re looking at all the bit materials our brands use, and what the unique selling points are for each. Let’s get started:
Synthetic Gel from Winderen
Winderen use a synthetic gel which is readily accepted by even the fussiest mouthed horses but is durable enough to last for as long as you need it to! They even gave the bits to some dogs to chew for a while to demonstrate that they really do last well. The Winderen bit system also allows you to change the cheek pieces of the bridle out, so it’s ideal for young horses as they progress in their training.
Polymer Plastic from Happy Mouth
Happy Mouth bits were some of the first bits to be produced with a plastic, rather than metal or leather, mouthpiece. Today, Happy Mouth bits are made from a space-age polymer plastic that coats the metal mouthpiece and is available with a full range of cheek pieces and mouthpiece shapes. This plastic is firm and durable, while the apple flavour encourages horses to chew, become more relaxed, and better accept the bit.
Salox from Neue Schule
Neue Schule has developed a unique material, a metal alloy called Salox Gold, which is used in all the brand’s mouthpieces. It has a higher copper content, which means the metal heats up within seconds of being placed into the horse's mouth.
Sweet Iron from Bombers Bits, Beris, Myler, Trust and more
Sweet iron bits were popular with Western riders for years before manufacturers of English-style bits took notice, and now they’re everywhere. Sweet iron can be blue, black or grey in appearance and is made from an alloy of black iron and copper, creating a metal that promotes moisture in the horse's mouth. The black iron and copper compound slowly oxidises and rusts. It’s totally harmless to horses and the oxidation has a sweet taste that horses like and which encourages salivation and the acceptance of the bit.
Titanium with Anoblast™ from Fager
Fager’s bits stand out from the crowd thanks to the thin, lightweight titanium mouthpieces, and the brand has developed a new Anoblast™ technique, making its products the most durable and highest quality titanium bits on the market. Fager combines titanium with sweet iron in many of its bits so that even the fussiest horses love them.
Inno Sense Flexi from TRUST
The TRUST Inno Sense Flexi range is made from a flexible metal core coated in a horse-friendly plastic, which is perfect for horses who don’t accept metal bits. Riders can choose from medium/hard or soft plastic in a straight or mullen-mouthed mouthpiece and a range of cheekpieces.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel bits used to be everywhere and are still used by lots of riders around the world. This material won’t rust and is very easy to keep clean. You may well see stainless steel combined with copper rollers or sweet iron to encourage the horse to mouth and accept the bit, and stainless steel is still used for cheek pieces in many cases. Copper used to be used for entire bits, but it can wear unevenly causing sharp edges and hooks, and there are now far better alloys and materials available.
Leather from TRUST
TRUST also has a range of bits with leather mouthpieces, which some riders swear by! The bits have a nylon mouthpiece which is then covered in naturally tanned leather (so no nasty chemicals), which softens when it’s exposed to the horse’s saliva. This flexible, soft mouthpiece is perfect for horses who fight a harder, fixed bit.