Hi OP,
How does your horse like the NS Verbindend bit? Any reviews you would like to share?
I have used the verbindend, turtle top tactio and novo contact as my bradoon. My horse finds the verbindend too harsh and we have a wonderful connection with the novocontact. The TTT is also good, but not legal, but I use it as my snaffle, which I don’t show in, as my horse likes it and goes well in it.
Ah, an update! Yes, I’ve been meaning to weigh in with my review.
Ms mare likes the bit - she feels steadier in the contact and I have been able to get her more stretchy and consistently “into my hand” on both reins, without as much fussing! She has lipstick! She bends better! Carries the bit more comfortably! Yay!
Like her dam, who was my competition horse for years and is now retired, she has a bit of a fussy mouth. Her dam was very particular about bits; I finally made her happy with a double-jointed Baucher - which would be too much bit in her daughter’s small mouth.
It took me a loooong time to get my young mare used to simply wearing/carrying a bit in her mouth (I was extremely patient), she would gape and clack her teeth and twist her head. And this was just leading her with the halter with the bit and bridle on underneath. I tried sugar, small pieces of apple, Bit Butter. But THERE IS A THING IN MY MOUTH!!! NO!! AAAACK! :lol:
Ah, mares…
I initially started working with her on giving to soft bit pressure in the stall a year before backing her, she has never been a particularly soft and pliable horse, and likes to brace and lean. She has a WB’s body insensitivity coupled with a mare’s emotional sensitivity. It took a LONG time to get her to softly yield. (FTR, I did briefly try a mullen mouthpiece, not large diameter, and she HATED it!)
Anyway, just some background since this NS has been such a revelation 
She reaches for the bit when I bridle her, and though there is a little “mouth busyness” when I first get on - even though I’m not taking up a contact and going to work right off the bat (especially if it’s cold and windy), I ONLY do soft stretchy walk work and then some easy lateral work for the first 15-20 minutes I’m on her, get her to focus on me, and she relaxes and accepts the bit nicely after that.
It’s interesting that the bit seems to help a bit with turning and getting her off the heavier right shoulder. I recently bought a dressage saddle (was riding in a GP), and between this and the bit she is actually MOVING better! More cadence, less rushing, more suspension and periods of real, soft, steady connection - it’s heaven!
Like all youngsters she’s a work in progress. Her latest thing is anticipating transitions and throwing her head in the air. Oy. Once she’s MOVING, it’s “all better.”
Sorry for the novel! But YES!, I love the bit
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Thank you! Glad things are going well
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