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Pelham Materials and Coatings in Canada 2025: Expert Guide to the Top 5 Choices (Korsteel Stainless Steel, Neue Schule Tranz, Bombers Blue Sweet Iron, Trust Inno Sense, Sprenger Aurigan): What Riders Need to Know to Avoid Fit and Corrosion Mistakes

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

This category covers material options and surface finishes for Pelham shanks and mouthpieces — including stainless steel, sweet iron, copper alloys, and polymer-coated treatments — and explains how those choices influence mouth comfort, corrosion resistance, and visual presentation. In Canadian markets, riders and trainers choose materials based on a mix of factors: seasonal durability against road salt and moisture, thermal comfort in cold weather, the horse's oral sensitivity and salivation response, maintenance time, and aesthetic preference. Practical concerns such as ease of cleaning, susceptibility to pitting, and how a material encourages or reduces salivation make some options more appealing in coastal provinces or regions that use de-icing salts. The result: stainless steel is often favored for low maintenance and durability, sweet iron and copper alloys are chosen to encourage salivation and acceptance, and polymer or soft-coated finishes are popular for sensitive-mouthed horses and contemporary visual styles.

Quick Menu

1. Best Budget Stainless Pelham

2. Best Angled Lozenge Design

3. Best Sweet Iron Coating

4. Best Flexible Soft Pelham

5. Best Aurigan Performance Pelham

1
BEST BUDGET STAINLESS PELHAM

Korsteel Stainless Steel Pelham

Korsteel

Korsteel Stainless Steel Pelham earns a best-in-class position in the Pelham Materials and Coatings set by offering a straightforward 304 stainless construction that prioritizes durability, low maintenance and predictable rein action. Compared with softer polymer-covered or reactive sweet-iron alternatives in this list, Korsteel is the most cost-effective long-term choice for programs needing minimal coating upkeep and the best balance of corrosion resistance versus initial outlay.

4
★★★★☆

  • Robust stainless finish

  • Consistent pressure delivery

  • Robust stainless finish

  • Consistent pressure delivery

Review Summary

80%

"Affordable, durable basic pelham that performs reliably; many users note it's heavier and has a rougher finish than premium bits but offers excellent value for occasional or budget-conscious use."

  • Sings in rain

  • Made from durable stainless steel delivering long-term corrosion resistance and low maintenance.

  • Sings in rain

  • Made from durable stainless steel delivering long-term corrosion resistance and low maintenance.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Korsteel Stainless Steel Pelham earns a best-in-class position in the Pelham Materials and Coatings set by offering a straightforward 304 stainless construction that prioritizes durability, low maintenance and predictable rein action. Compared with softer polymer-covered or reactive sweet-iron alternatives in this list, Korsteel is the most cost-effective long-term choice for programs needing minimal coating upkeep and the best balance of corrosion resistance versus initial outlay.

  • Robust stainless finish

  • Consistent pressure delivery

  • Sings in rain

  • Made from durable stainless steel delivering long-term corrosion resistance and low maintenance.

  • Traditional Pelham geometry providing clear curb and snaffle action for reliable control.

  • Robust stainless finish

  • Consistent pressure delivery

  • Sings in rain

  • Made from durable stainless steel delivering long-term corrosion resistance and low maintenance.

  • Traditional Pelham geometry providing clear curb and snaffle action for reliable control.

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$40-80 CAD

2
BEST ANGLED LOZENGE DESIGN

Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Pelham

Neue Schule

Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Pelham is positioned as the technical leader for mouthpiece geometry and refined contact in the Pelham Materials and Coatings selection; its angled lozenge design helps reduce poll rotation and deliver clearer communication. Technically it rivals Sprenger's premium alloy performance while usually offering a lower entry price than Aurigan products, making it an attractive mid‑range alternative for riders seeking precision without the highest alloy cost.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Angled lozenge comfort

  • Soft lateral release

  • Angled lozenge comfort

  • Soft lateral release

Review Summary

90%

"High-quality, anatomically shaped pelham praised for comfort and encouraging acceptance; users report improved steady contact and a good fit, though it commands a premium price."

  • Turns like butter

  • Angled lozenge mouthpiece designed to reduce tongue pressure and encourage a steady contact.

  • Turns like butter

  • Angled lozenge mouthpiece designed to reduce tongue pressure and encourage a steady contact.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Pelham is positioned as the technical leader for mouthpiece geometry and refined contact in the Pelham Materials and Coatings selection; its angled lozenge design helps reduce poll rotation and deliver clearer communication. Technically it rivals Sprenger's premium alloy performance while usually offering a lower entry price than Aurigan products, making it an attractive mid‑range alternative for riders seeking precision without the highest alloy cost.

  • Angled lozenge comfort

  • Soft lateral release

  • Turns like butter

  • Angled lozenge mouthpiece designed to reduce tongue pressure and encourage a steady contact.

  • Precision-manufactured from high-grade materials for consistent fit and rider feedback.

  • Angled lozenge comfort

  • Soft lateral release

  • Turns like butter

  • Angled lozenge mouthpiece designed to reduce tongue pressure and encourage a steady contact.

  • Precision-manufactured from high-grade materials for consistent fit and rider feedback.

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$220-300 CAD

3
BEST SWEET IRON COATING

Bombers Blue Sweet Iron Pelham

Bombers

Bombers Blue Sweet Iron Pelham is the market choice when deliberate taste and rapid acceptance are priorities—its blueing sweet-iron finish encourages salivation and a quick response at a lower purchase price than premium alloys. Financially it undercuts Aurigan and some stainless specialty bits, but the trade-off is higher maintenance because the sweet-iron coating intentionally oxidizes to achieve its effect, which buyers should factor into lifecycle costs.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Sweet-iron salivation

  • Blue oxidizing warmth

  • Sweet-iron salivation

  • Blue oxidizing warmth

Review Summary

87%

"Popular for its sweet-iron mouthpiece that encourages salivation and softer contact; riders like the balance and value, but note the sweet iron will rust and needs regular care."

  • Rusty blues sparkle

  • Sweet iron mouthpiece promotes salivation and acceptance through natural oxidation.

  • Rusty blues sparkle

  • Sweet iron mouthpiece promotes salivation and acceptance through natural oxidation.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Bombers Blue Sweet Iron Pelham is the market choice when deliberate taste and rapid acceptance are priorities—its blueing sweet-iron finish encourages salivation and a quick response at a lower purchase price than premium alloys. Financially it undercuts Aurigan and some stainless specialty bits, but the trade-off is higher maintenance because the sweet-iron coating intentionally oxidizes to achieve its effect, which buyers should factor into lifecycle costs.

  • Sweet-iron salivation

  • Blue oxidizing warmth

  • Rusty blues sparkle

  • Sweet iron mouthpiece promotes salivation and acceptance through natural oxidation.

  • Distinct blue finish offers both aesthetic appeal and the functional benefits of sweet iron.

  • Sweet-iron salivation

  • Blue oxidizing warmth

  • Rusty blues sparkle

  • Sweet iron mouthpiece promotes salivation and acceptance through natural oxidation.

  • Distinct blue finish offers both aesthetic appeal and the functional benefits of sweet iron.

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$150-240 CAD

4
BEST FLEXIBLE SOFT PELHAM

Trust Inno Sense Flexi Soft Pelham

Trust

Trust Inno Sense Flexi Soft Pelham stands out for sensitive‑mouth horses in the Pelham Materials and Coatings group by using a flexible, soft polymer-covered mouthpiece that reduces pressure points and dampens vibration. Technically superior for short-term comfort compared with bare-metal bits, it can require more frequent replacement than stainless or Aurigan options, so it delivers comfort benefits at a potentially higher recurring cost.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Flexible soft mouthpiece

  • Gentle pressure spread

  • Flexible soft mouthpiece

  • Gentle pressure spread

Review Summary

84%

"Soft, flexible mouthpiece many find gentler on sensitive mouths and effective for resistant horses; some buyers raise concerns about the long-term durability of the soft material under heavy use."

  • Plush feel surprise

  • Flexi-Soft construction provides a more forgiving, cushion-like mouthpiece for sensitive horses.

  • Plush feel surprise

  • Flexi-Soft construction provides a more forgiving, cushion-like mouthpiece for sensitive horses.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Trust Inno Sense Flexi Soft Pelham stands out for sensitive‑mouth horses in the Pelham Materials and Coatings group by using a flexible, soft polymer-covered mouthpiece that reduces pressure points and dampens vibration. Technically superior for short-term comfort compared with bare-metal bits, it can require more frequent replacement than stainless or Aurigan options, so it delivers comfort benefits at a potentially higher recurring cost.

  • Flexible soft mouthpiece

  • Gentle pressure spread

  • Plush feel surprise

  • Flexi-Soft construction provides a more forgiving, cushion-like mouthpiece for sensitive horses.

  • Designed to combine gentle contact with Pelham-style leverage for transitional training.

  • Flexible soft mouthpiece

  • Gentle pressure spread

  • Plush feel surprise

  • Flexi-Soft construction provides a more forgiving, cushion-like mouthpiece for sensitive horses.

  • Designed to combine gentle contact with Pelham-style leverage for transitional training.

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$140-220 CAD

5
BEST AURIGAN PERFORMANCE PELHAM

Sprenger Aurigan Dynamic RS Pelham

Sprenger

Sprenger Aurigan Dynamic RS Pelham is the premium market leader for Pelham Materials and Coatings thanks to its Aurigan alloy that promotes salivation without the rapid corrosion of sweet iron, paired with Sprenger’s Dynamic RS joint design for refined responsiveness. Although it carries a higher upfront cost than stainless or polymer-covered alternatives, its consistent alloy behavior and long-term durability can lower replacement frequency and deliver superior technical performance for high‑level or sensitive horses.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Aurigan salivation boost

  • Dynamic response control

  • Aurigan salivation boost

  • Dynamic response control

Review Summary

94%

"Premium Aurigan pelham widely acclaimed for encouraging salivation, excellent balance and consistent, horse‑friendly performance; users praise its durability and effectiveness despite a higher price tag."

  • Golden glow winks

  • Aurigan alloy encourages salivation and a softer, more accepting mouthpiece feel.

  • Golden glow winks

  • Aurigan alloy encourages salivation and a softer, more accepting mouthpiece feel.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Sprenger Aurigan Dynamic RS Pelham is the premium market leader for Pelham Materials and Coatings thanks to its Aurigan alloy that promotes salivation without the rapid corrosion of sweet iron, paired with Sprenger’s Dynamic RS joint design for refined responsiveness. Although it carries a higher upfront cost than stainless or polymer-covered alternatives, its consistent alloy behavior and long-term durability can lower replacement frequency and deliver superior technical performance for high‑level or sensitive horses.

  • Aurigan salivation boost

  • Dynamic response control

  • Golden glow winks

  • Aurigan alloy encourages salivation and a softer, more accepting mouthpiece feel.

  • High-end German engineering offers precise shaping and smooth joint action.

  • Aurigan salivation boost

  • Dynamic response control

  • Golden glow winks

  • Aurigan alloy encourages salivation and a softer, more accepting mouthpiece feel.

  • High-end German engineering offers precise shaping and smooth joint action.

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$300-450 CAD

What Research and Equine Science Say About Bit Materials

Scientific and industry research indicates that bit materials and coatings materially affect the horse's oral environment, behavioral acceptance, and the bit's longevity. Studies from equine dentistry, material science, and veterinary behaviour demonstrate how metal ion release, thermal conductivity, surface roughness, and coating integrity change the horse's reaction and the bit's performance. Below are beginner-friendly explanations of the key findings and how they translate to material choices.

Metal composition and ion release: Copper-containing alloys and sweet iron oxidize in the mouth and can increase salivation. Increased salivation often improves acceptance and a softer contact, according to multiple equine behavioural studies.

Corrosion and climate: Stainless steel shows superior corrosion resistance in wet and salted environments common to many parts of Canada, reducing pitting and the need for frequent replacement.

Thermal conductivity and comfort: Metals conduct temperature quickly; in cold weather, stainless steel and Aurigan can feel colder in the horse's mouth than polymer or soft-coated bits. Riders counter this with warm-up practices or coatings that moderate temperature transfer.

Surface finish and lesions: Smooth, polished surfaces and durable polymer coatings reduce the risk of sharp edges and abrasion. Veterinary reports link well-maintained, smooth mouthpieces with lower incidence of oral sores.

Coating durability: Polymer and powder coatings can reduce corrosion and change mouth feel, but inferior coatings may chip, exposing base metal and accelerating localized corrosion. Choose reputable brands and inspect coatings regularly.

In Canada, the right Pelham material balances comfort, corrosion resistance, and the horse's response. The Korsteel Stainless Steel Pelham is the best overall choice for many Canadian riders because of its durability and low maintenance in wet and salted conditions. Riders looking to encourage salivation and acceptance may prefer the Bombers Blue Sweet Iron Pelham or the Sprenger Aurigan Dynamic RS Pelham for their iron and copper alloy characteristics. For a softer, modern mouth feel and reduced bite impact consider the Trust Inno Sense Flexi Soft Pelham, and for polymer-engineered shaping and flexibility the Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Pelham is a strong option. I hope you found what you were looking for; you can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare materials, finishes, or to filter by brand, price, and Canadian availability.

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