How to Clean a SPRENGER SENSOGAN or AURIGAN Horse Bit

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Identify the bit and preserve its fitted orientation

Check the product information for SENSOGAN or AURIGAN and note any different-material components. Before detaching it from the bridle, photograph its orientation, markings, and attachment points. Keep leather out of the metal-cleaning area so polish and rinse water are not worked into it. Cleaning is not a reason to experiment with a different fit or reverse a model-specific mouthpiece. If the bit’s identity is unclear, ask a knowledgeable dealer before choosing metal polish or interpreting a textured area as damage.

Step 2: Rinse feed and saliva away after riding

SPRENGER’s bit-cleaning guidance recommends a water rinse after each ride. Remove visible feed and saliva rather than leaving them to dry around joints and ring openings. Move the bit gently so water reaches accessible recesses, keeping fingers out of pinch points. Use a clean container or sink that is free of harsh household-cleaner residue. Do not borrow a tack-room brush that is already loaded with leather dressing, stable disinfectant, or gritty dirt.

Step 3: Use a small brush for persistent deposits

Work a soft brush around accessible joints and ring openings where a cloth does not reach. Let water loosen the deposit and brush gently; avoid digging with a knife or screwdriver. Change the rinse water when it becomes dirty. Check whether the roughness disappears with the feed residue or is still part of the underlying metal. A deposit that needs cleaning, an intentional manufacturing texture, and wear that has formed a sharp edge require different decisions. More pressure is not a reliable way to distinguish them.

Step 4: Polish only a compatible metal surface when needed

If the bit is structurally sound and compatible polishing is wanted, SPRENGER specifies a small amount of its Diamond Paste on a soft cloth. Work it over the intended metal until visible polish residue has been removed, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Keep the paste out of adjacent leather and materials not covered by its instructions. Do not assume that household silver polish, automotive compound, or any product called metal polish is suitable for an item that goes in a horse’s mouth.

Step 5: Inspect wear instead of polishing it out

The SPRENGER equestrian FAQ distinguishes normal copper-alloy discoloration from unsafe wear. Examine ring holes, moving joints, and contact surfaces for sharp edges, heavy abrasion, cracks, or bending. Do not run a bare finger forcefully across a suspect edge. A bit bent in a fall or clearly worn should be taken out of use and assessed. Do not grind or file it at home to recover a smooth feel; any possible reconditioning requires the specialist-dealer assessment SPRENGER describes.

Step 6: Recognize intentional markings and dry the bit

On applicable single-jointed TURNADO models, a sandblasted area near the joint is an intentional visual identifier. Do not sand it away because it differs from the surrounding shine. Conversely, do not assume an unfamiliar rough patch is harmless merely because some models have that marking. Confirm the exact product and ask if uncertain. Rinse away all loosened material and paste, then dry with a clean cloth. Check recesses again so the bit is not put away with damp residue trapped around moving parts.

Step 7: Reattach correctly and keep a condition record

Return the clean bit to the bridle in the documented, model-correct orientation. Verify that attachments are secure and that no cleaning product remains on mouth-contact surfaces. Store it where dust and tack-care products will not immediately contaminate it again. Make after-ride rinsing the routine and polishing an occasional, condition-dependent step. Photograph developing wear so changes are easier to compare. If the horse has mouth discomfort or a change in behavior, seek appropriate professional assessment rather than assuming that extra polishing alone will solve it.