Oh I forgot to mention that the NS Verbindend is an interesting bit for one that can be heavy. I find some hate it, and you know that right away. But it can be game changing for the ones that accept it.
Don’t get a Duo or Nathe or Trust flexi if you are worried about chewing through bits.
Fager bits has an alternative to the Waterford bits.
The Fager Wilma has three links in the center, like those in double jointed snaffles, with normal attachments to the side piece. This bit is a lot thinner than a regular Waterford snaffle.
It comes with 4 side pieces, Baby Fulmer, fixed rings, loose rings, and Baucher (which is on sale now at Fager USA.)
I bought one of these around a year ago. I have yet to use it because none of the lesson horses I ride need it much, and if they “need” it at all I just switch to a double bridle. When I showed it to my riding teachers they were intrigued but their lesson horses did not need one because they do not tend to lean on the bit with their whole weight.
It lives in my bit box because I never know when I might run into a lesson horse who needs it.
Both the Fager Maria and the Duo are here. The Fager is soooo pretty. Might just frame it. lol. Will report back asap.
I can’t remember if it was this thread, or one of the other “green OTTB bit” threads, but I recently tried a single jointed fat rubber pelham on my super, super sensitive tricky mare. I’ve had her going in a leather meroth, noseband-less, or a hackamore because despite a ton of experimenting I never found a bit that she was happy in. She is SPICY and very particular and overall a tough cookie to figure out - also very petite and parrot-mouthed. I always assumed that “less is more” for her and that the pelham would be way too much of everything. BUT YOU GUYS. I think the pelham might be a game changer for her. She’s going around like a hunter, relaxed and adorable. This is literally the only ‘real’ bit I’ve ever tried on her that she doesn’t grind her teeth in. I’m proceeding with caution because she could decide she hates it tomorrow, but I’m hopeful that this mare might actually have a career outside of hunter pacing and hacking at home (not that there’s anything wrong with that). And if she turns into my hunter, I will DIE a million deaths because this mare is a firecracker.
Have you tried any other “curb” bits? Or is that the first poll pressure bit you’ve tried?
Just asking cause I’m wondering if that’s what she may like - jaw + poll pressure vs solely in the mouth 
Yes, I knew she was good with poll and curb pressure because she goes well-ish in a hackamore. And the leather meroth goes under her chin like a curb strap. But she always kind of resented the nose pressure of the hack. I was inspired to try the Pelham because I knew she didn’t mind some leverage. The biggest surprise to me is that she much prefers the fat mouth piece. She’s so petite and a bit parrot-mouthed, so I assumed she’d prefer something thinner. Nope. Ride #3 in it today and she still likes it. I set some baby jumps and she was still spicy to the jumps, but much more relaxed on the back side and in the corners. I’m hopeful.
Update on HS Duo and Fager Maria baucher. The Fager is a keeper, however too big at 5 1/4 so getting a 5. Returning the Duo and will sell the larger Fager since it is not returnable.
Thinking back, when I got my OTTB after a layup from a bowed tendon off the track, he hated anything metal in his mouth. Did your horse race? Maybe he went a rubber D ring? something to try if you think it may just be what he is used too.
Update, the Fager was good! I only rode for 20 minutes, but he felt about like he does in the rope mouthpiece. I liked the full cheek myself.
I also picked up a used Myler comfort snaffle D ring to have on hand. I’ll give the Fager some time before I switch though!
Interesting about the metal mouthpiece - he opens his mouth to put his bridle on himself with the rope but I have to put a thumb in the corner of his lip to get him to accept the metal ones . Until the chomping goes away and I’m not worried about him chewing through stuff, he’s just going to have to deal with it.
Which Fager? Interesting that my guy does not out open his mouth either for metal but rides fine after initial chomp chomp. Got the 5"’ Baucher Maria in and used it today in my lesson. The fit is perfect and trainer/horse approved.
Mattias full cheek! It’s double jointed and supposed to give some tongue relief, locking upwards vs forward like some locking bits do.
My OTTB really prefers rubber but the Trust D ring with the leather mouthpiece has been magical for him.
My little TB really likes his Fager Martin, which is similar to the Mattias, and was fussy and wanted to tip his head in a d-ring with a lozenge. If you find that he wants less tongue relief the Martin may be worth a try.
Late responding but better late than never. He sounds like a perfect candidate for a Myler comfort style bit which I really encourage you to try since you already have it on hand. Fitted many horses and whenever I hear something along those lines, these bits on average tend to work best.
If you’ll go for a classic double jointed snaffle look out for something with a small diameter - preferably 10-12mm and a nice peanut style lozenge. Careful with rubber bits as they tend to be WAY too thick for that mouth conformation. If the tongue is fat I wouldn’t worry about the smaller surface area too much.
Based on what you’re saying we’d probably experiment with a loose ring, but Hunter Dee or a full cheek for extra lateral control might be worth a try.
Just a general note and observation: a lot of people tend to focus too much on the cheekpiece, I suspect because rulebooks can be quite prescriptive on them. But the mouthpiece is way more important for proper fit and acceptance. Unless the cheekpiece changes the rotation of the mouthpiece (ie Bauchers, curbs and gags rotate forward, not back so the action is somewhat different even for same mouthpiece), it mostly matters much less than the mouthpiece. Once you find a mouthpiece your horse accepts (no chomping, excessive pulling, hanging etc.) you can experiment with the cheekpiece to optimise the reactivity and lateral control.
This post (and Fager’s Labor Day sale) convinced me to finally order the Maria fixed-ring Baucher for my guy, which I’ve been curious about for a while. Of course after all that my horse hated it immediately 
I thought he’d like the extra stability of the Baucher but it just changed the angle of the mouthpiece too much, and he’s pretty particular. Luckily they also had the D-ring Maria that he likes for 50% off so my order wasn’t a complete miss, but now I really wish I’d gone with their trial option so I could return the Baucher.
Very interesting! My horse is still fussy but not in f you sort of way with this bit. He does settle in nicely and my trainer said this bit is much better than the traditional old school baucher we had before. Trainer not fond of baucher bits but this is a good starting point. He is a smart sensitive ride and the struggle is real. He appreciates a PERFECT ride. lol. Life is not so. May morph into the fixed ring Maria later.
Thanks for your input! Now I just need to unload the 5 1/4 one as the 5 fits perfect.
Haha update here too: the Myler was a triple thumbs up!! It’s the MB01 comfort snaffle (I’m pretty sure. No port) D ring. We only had like two chomps vs the “makes marks in the bit in a week” type of chomping we had. Even the Fager had some chomping, though it was the best until the Myler. Did it fix everything? No. He still defaults to “tilt head left and open mouth” when it’s hard or he doesn’t understand, but the bit made a lightyear’s difference.
I may need a size down though. I knew Myler tends to be weird and gambled a bit. I think it’s fine but if I find a size down I’ll be buying it immediately.
going to look at that Myler 
Turns out it’s the MB02, for what it’s worth. The center link is wider than the MB01.
Mine too! Leather bits are totally overlooked - https://equizoneonline.com/products/d-bit-leather
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