Shires Sweet Iron Three Ring Dutch Gag with Lozenge

Shires Sweet Iron Three Ring Dutch Gag with Lozenge is a practical choice in the bits category. Sweet iron helps encourage salivation and produces a pleasant taste in the horse?s mouth. The copper lozenge adds warmth. Raised copper ribs can support help prevent the horse taking too much of a hold. The 5" and smaller size options come with shorter cheeks to help provide the bit remains in proportion with the smaller head. Mouthpiece Thickness: 16mm, Cheek Height: 145mm (4.5", 5") 180mm (5.5") Please note: Sweet iron is crafted from black iron and copper, creating a metal that supports moisture in the horse’s mouth. The black iron and copper compound slowly causing oxidisation and rust. Slow-acting and harmless to horses, the oxidation has a sweet taste which the horse likes and which helps encourage salivation. This metal will almost always discolour. The cheeks and joint function of the bits are crafted from rust-resistant stainless steel which will not rust. A bit made of sweet iron will last for years and year and the rust will not flake off or harm the horse. The moisture in the air will also cause it to rust in the same way as it does with salvia. The only way to help prevent this from happening is to store the bit in a heated environment. You can easily rub the bit down with very fine sandpaper which will remove the rust and will have no adverse effects on the bit or its use. We would also recommend washing the bit after every use but make sure that it is dried thoroughly. You can also coat it with vegetable oil when not in use again to slow the oxidization process down.