Kind of a weird topic, but I'm just curious about your guy's opinions. Looking into adding another bit to my large collection, you have to have one for every occasion. And I'm just curious what metal type you prefer as a mouthpiece. I have a few copper ones, but now there titanium, aluminum, sweet iron, weird rainbow metals. Just looking for something to give me the happiest horse.

Most of my collection is stainless steel and various copper alloys. I recently threw away a very old sweet iron as it had rusted and the surface was really pitted, I think sweet iron has been superseded by the copper ones now and I'd consider it a bit old-fashioned, same as nickel bits.

I'm convinced a lot of the fancy materials are just marketing, bits last for decades so they need something to make us buy more. Saying that I'm tempted to try a titanium bit because they're meant to be so much lighter, my double has two sprenger bits and it weighs an absolute ton.

I know this could be controversial, but I think everyone should own some type of plastic/rubber/gel bit such as berris, winderen, innosense etc or even the good old fashioned black rubber. I have never owned a horse who wasn't content in those soft mouthpieces, at least on the flat. Just stay away from crappy happy mouth type plastic, I've always imagined they could give something akin to carpet burn and I've known a horse or two who snapped them.

If we're talking strictly metal here, without a doubt brass is my favourite. Is sweet but stronger than copper and warms nicely for our Irish winters. Stainless steel is too cold and I find my horses aren't too fond of it going in their mouth at first.

I have a few rubber bits, the horse I was bit shopping for has been out in a rubber loose ring mullen mouth, one of my favorite bits. I will look into brass though, living about as far north as you can get in Michigan means we have pretty nasty winters to, I like bitless during winter. Thank you!

Leather bits are pretty interesting if you're looking to start a bit collection! I've known a couple people who's horses liked them, they are very soft but of course won't last forever as they get broken down over time depending on how much the horse chews and works the bit in their mouth

i ride in a double link snaffle made out of stainless steel which i find very pleasing and simple for both my horses. Although i do love a brass bit because as medi said they warm nicely and is sweet and strong.

I do like rubber and plastic bits because they are very soft and comfy, but i hate how many sharp annoying edges they can get when horses chew on them. So i found these sort of sticky plasticy/rubbery/sillicone material little squares that you can actually stick to your bit and roll it over so it covers it. it sticks to the bit so you dont have to worry about it slipping, its hard for horses to chew. i only replace it (if im using them) about once a month. they just peel right off the bit. really good for horses who work wekk using a normal metal bit but could do with a bit more comfort. ill edit with a link to the plastic things when i find it. hugely reccomend.