Sweet Iron Hanging Cheek with Aurion Lozenge

Suitable for horses that:

• Cannot settle because the bit moves in the mouth

• Are worn or sore at the corners of the mouth

• Show wear on the front cheek teeth

• Are sensitive over the poll

• Come high in the neck and need to work down and forward

How it works

Mouthpiece. 14mm, double jointed, with curved cannons angled forward to follow the shape of the tongue. The lozenge lies flat on the tongue rather than standing upright between tongue and palate, so tongue pressure is spread across the width of the tongue. There is no nutcracker action and nothing reaches the palate.

Cheek piece.The upper cheek holds the bit to the bridle cheekpiece, so the mouthpiece stays in one position in the mouth. It does not drop onto the incisors, slide sideways, or move when the hand moves. The cheeks lie flat against the face and pressure is concentrated on the bars. A hanging cheek does not create poll pressure: with no lower shank and no curb chain there is no leverage, and cheekpiece tension reduces rather than increases when the rein is taken.

8211

Material. Sweet iron is low carbon steel with no chromium in it, so it is meant to rust. That surface rust is the working part of the bit. It tastes warm and sweet, which draws the horse to mouth the bit and salivate into a softer, wetter mouth. Ours is solid iron right through rather than a coating, so it keeps producing it for the life of the mouthpiece. Supplied blue, fading to brown grey as it oxidises in work. The centre lozenge is Aurion, a high copper concentrated alloy. Cheeks, eyelets and joints are stainless steel.

Fit closely, with the lip gently brushing the cheek. No clearance is needed. Aim for one to two soft wrinkles at the corners of the mouth.

Size and fit

4.5"

4.75"

5"

5.25"

5.5"

6"

115 mm

120 mm

125 mm

135 mm

140 mm

150 mm

Mouthpiece

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

14 mm

Rein ring

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

50 mm

Wipe dry after use and apply a light food safe oil to the joints. Surface oxidation after a period of storage lifts with a damp cloth.