Iron bits, commonly referred to as “Sweet iron” or “Black iron”, is a popular bit for western riders. With the iron bit, rusting is inevitable, so you will want to keep an eye on your bit. The taste of the rust won’t necessarily be undesirable to your horse, but letting it get out of hand can mean sharp edges and shorten the life of your bit.
Iron bits are frequently merged with copper inlays, as well, and/or combined with stainless steel rings.