Our Biosecurity & Bit Care Protocol
At EquiBit Exchange, the health and safety of your horse is our highest priority. Every bit returned to our inventory undergoes a comprehensive cleaning, inspection, and disinfection process before it is made available for another horse.
Our protocol is based on veterinary biosecurity principles and industry-standard cleaning and disinfection practices designed to reduce the risk of disease transmission while maintaining the integrity and performance of every bit we rent.
Every Bit Receives the Same Care
1. Thorough Inspection
Each returned bit is individually inspected for:
- Dirt, saliva, feed residue, and other organic material
- Rust or corrosion
- Cracks, sharp edges, or excessive wear
- Loose joints or damaged components
Any bit that does not meet our quality standards is immediately removed from service.
2. Deep Cleaning
Every bit is carefully cleaned using warm water, mild detergent, and soft brushes to remove all visible organic material. Special attention is given to joints, rollers, ports, and other hard-to-reach areas where debris can accumulate.
Removing organic material is an essential first step because disinfectants work most effectively on clean surfaces.
3. EPA-Registered Disinfection
After cleaning, each bit is completely immersed in Rescue™ Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide disinfectant using the manufacturer's recommended contact time.
This EPA-registered veterinary disinfectant is widely used in veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and equine facilities because it is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, and viruses while being compatible with stainless steel, titanium, and many other metals commonly used in horse bits.
4. Thorough Rinsing & Drying
Following disinfection, every bit is thoroughly rinsed with clean water to remove disinfectant residue.
Each bit is then completely dried before moving to the next stage of processing.
5. Final Quality Verification
Before a bit is approved for rental, a final inspection confirms that it is:
- Clean
- Properly disinfected
- Fully functional
- Free from visible defects
- Completely dry
- Ready for use
Each completed process is documented as part of our inventory management and quality assurance program.
6. Clean Storage
Once approved, bits are individually stored in a clean, dry environment to help prevent contamination prior to shipment.
Only bits that have successfully completed our cleaning, disinfection, inspection, and verification process are available for rental.
Our Commitment to Horse Health
Sharing tack can increase the risk of transmitting certain infectious organisms if proper cleaning and disinfection procedures are not followed. While no cleaning process can guarantee the complete elimination of every possible pathogen under every circumstance, our comprehensive biosecurity protocol is designed to significantly reduce that risk using established veterinary cleaning and disinfection practices.
When you rent from EquiBit Exchange, you can feel confident knowing that every bit has been carefully cleaned, professionally disinfected, thoroughly inspected, and quality verified before arriving at your barn.