Refined Control with a Softer Touch: The Shires Blue Sweet Iron Beval Bit

Finding that middle ground between a soft snaffle and a harsh gag can be a challenge when your horse gets a little too "on the job" during a jump round. The Shires Blue Sweet Iron Beval Bit with Lozenge is designed for exactly that—giving you just enough poll pressure and "brakes" to maintain rhythm without over-biting a sensitive horse.

Crafted with a blue sweet iron mouthpiece, this bit is a favorite in our barn for horses that struggle with bit acceptance. The metal is designed to oxidize, creating a sweet taste that encourages salivation and a relaxed jaw, while the double-jointed lozenge ensures there is no "nutcracker" action on the tongue or bars.

Why You’ll Love the Shires Beval Bit

• Promotes a "Wet" Mouth: The Blue Sweet Iron mouthpiece oxidizes quickly to create a pleasant taste, encouraging your horse to stay soft, salivate, and remain responsive to the hand.
• Eliminates Tongue Pressure: The central brass alloy lozenge distributes pressure evenly across the tongue, preventing the painful pinching or "nutcracker" effect associated with single-jointed bits.
• Versatile Leverage Options: The Beval (or Wilke) design offers two rein settings, allowing you to dial in the perfect amount of mild poll pressure for horses that tend to lean or get strong in faster work.
• Enhanced Comfort and Fit: Designed to be sized up for optimal clearance, this bit ensures the moving rings stay away from the sensitive corners of the lips to prevent pinching.

Best For

Show jumpers, eventers, and Pony Club riders looking for extra control and poll pressure for "strong" horses without the severity of a full gag bit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is my new blue bit starting to turn a brownish-grey color?

Don't worry—that’s exactly what it’s supposed to do! The Shires Blue Sweet Iron Beval Bit is designed to oxidize (rust) with use. This process creates the "sweet" taste that horses love, though the initial blue finish will naturally fade to a brownish-grey over time.

Q: How should I size this bit for my horse?

Because of how the Beval rings sit closer to the face, we recommend sizing up by 0.5 inches from your horse's standard snaffle size. This ensures the necessary 1/4-inch clearance on each side to prevent the rings from pinching the lips.

Q: Is this bit legal for dressage competition?

No, the Shires Blue Sweet Iron Beval Bit is generally not dressage legal under USEF or FEI rules due to its leverage action. It is, however, widely used and accepted in the jumper ring and for cross-country phases.

Item Number/SKU: 800405