My Bit Is Rusty?!

You buy a shiny blue bit, use it twice and boom it's rusty?

Well yay! That means the bit is doing it's job. 

Sweet Iron is mild steel that has been heat processed, giving it the blue or black color you see new. What that also means is when the bit comes in contact with saliva or moisture the bit oxidises and 'rusts', which is where the sweet flavoring comes from. This process encourages your horse to salivate more and encourages acceptance of the bit.

The rust is only a light layer and will not harm your horse at all and is of no detriment to the bit - you will notice that the joins and edges are not made of sweet iron. This is to keep it free moving and longer lasting. 

To prolong the life of your bit, you should wipe it down with a damp cloth after every use and store it in a dry place when not in use. When not used for a period of time your bit may develop orange rust, this is also no harm to the horse and you can wipe it straight off. 

Sweet iron is a fantastic bit material choice and you absolutely should not let this process put you off purchasing one should it be the right bit for your horse!  

We love our Fager and Bomber Bits!