You bought a beautiful, gleaming bit in a colour of deep black (Black Steel) or shimmering blue (Blue Steel). After a few training sessions, however, you notice something worrying: the colour starts to wear off, and in the corners a… orange, rusty coating appears.
Your first reaction? “It is a manufacturing defect! The bit is broken!”. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the case of Sweet Iron bits, the appearance of a rusty coating is proof that the bit “works” and fulfils its function.
In this article we explain why rust on a bit is your horse’s best friend.
What is Sweet Iron?
Balotade’s Blue Steel and Black Steel bits are made of a special steel alloy that is subjected to heat treatment. It is precisely this that gives them their characteristic, beautiful colour.
However, “Sweet Iron” has one unique physicochemical feature: in contact with moisture (the horse’s saliva) and air, it begins to oxidise. This is a completely natural and… desirable process.
The secret lies in the taste: Why do horses prefer rust?
Ordinary stainless steel (silver) is durable, but for the horse it is “cold” and tasteless. Sweet Iron behaves differently.
The rusty coating that forms on the surface (iron oxides) has, for horses, a distinct, slightly sweet aftertaste.
- Encouragement to chew: The sweet taste stimulates the horse to play with the bit and chew it more strongly.
- Saliva production: Intensive chewing activates the salivary glands. Foam on the mouth is a sign that the horse is relaxed in the jaw and the poll.
- Acceptance of the bit: Horses that were previously stiff or “dead” in the mouth often more willingly accept contact on a bit that simply tastes good to them.
🔥 Discover the taste of Sweet Iron (Blue & Black Steel)
Looking for a bit your horse will love for its taste? Check out our bestsellers from the Sweet Iron series.
How does the bit’s appearance change? (What to expect)
You should know that a Sweet Iron bit is a product that changes over time. It is not a defect – it is a process of the material maturing.
- New: It is perfectly black or blue.
- After a few uses: In the places of contact with the teeth and the corners of the mouth the colour will start to wear off, revealing grey steel.
- Over time: These places will be covered with a delicate, orange-brown coating (surface corrosion).
This coating is completely harmless to the horse’s health. On the contrary – it is precisely this that is the source of that sweet taste!
How to care for a Sweet Iron bit?
If rust is good, then do you need to take care of it? Of course!
- After every ride: Rinse the bit with clean water and wipe it thoroughly dry. If you leave it wet in a damp stable, the rust can become too heavy and rough.
- Maintenance: If you are not going to use the bit for a longer time, you can wipe it with a cloth soaked in ordinary edible oil. This will protect it from deep corrosion.
Summary
If you notice a rusty coating on your Blue or Black Steel bit – do not panic, just smile! It is a sign that you hold in your hand a professional tool that “works” together with your horse. The sweet taste is the reward for accepting the bit, and the changing colour is a natural feature of this noble material.
Your horse does not judge the bit with its eyes, but with its taste. Let it choose what is tastiest for it.
