Bit for strong connemara?

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littlemissj

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Hi guys I have a connemara who is very strong and leans a lot. I've always liked to ride in snaffles but this boy just needs something more. I've got him in a port mouth snaffle currently, I've tried straight bars, hanging cheeks, links, rollers etc but he still leans and powers on. (He has had teeth and back done, he's just simply a very bubbly pony)
He has quite a big mouth. Any ideas? I've heard people say Connies/cobs etc with big tongues go well in Pelhams? What else should I look up?
(I have light hands and am experienced with strong bits)
Thanks :)
 
I know a lot of people hate them but the only thing my connie x tb would not hang on to was a waterford!

she was in the mullen mouth pelham and used to bite down on it and just go, I had no steering and no control! she was 16 when i got her and didn't enjoy schooling, so i only hacked her up until she was 27 but the waterford saved my life in later years!
 
I am trialling a NS universal bit at the moment after having the same sort of issues. Touch wood it seems to be working well. I tried the waterford but he hated it. Its a case of trial and error to find what suits.
 
I have 4 connies. 3 of them go well in a universal if additional brakes are needed. 1 plays polo in a single jointed Cheltenham gag, and if he hasn't hunted for a while he goes in a myler combination. My own connie tends to go like a snow plough left to his own devices and to hunt I either use a Pelham or a Waterford 3 ring gag which both give me brakes but make him chuck his head up a bit. I have just discovered the KY rotary bits though and he hunted beautifully on the last day in a 3 ring version of that with a grakle. He also likes the single jointed version for dressage. The NS Waterford elevator was hopeless as he leaned on it!
 
Two of the bits that have already been mentioned have worked with my connies: NS Universal or a waterford for jumping, cross country and hacking. For dressage with one we bypassed Novice and went straight into Elementary with a double bridle. All of them worked very well with thick tongues and minimal bit space. Also did lots of transitions in schooling, got voice commands established on the lunge and used them when riding (without lips moving during a dressage test)!
 
I've got a strong horse, I have him in a grackle and Cotswold Sport tongue saver Universal gag, he's still pretty strong tbh but I feel it gives me a bit more of a chance :)
 
I use a Beris universal bit. It's a low port which suits the Connies mouth. Softer than a normal universal as rubber but has the poll pressure when worn on the lower ring.
 
Have had almost identical problems. We too were told he should like a straight bar, unfortunately no one told him. He is now 17 and seem to have finally cracked it with a NS universal and a drop noseband.
 
Yep same problem. I have yet to find a bit that works for hunting. For hacking I am having most success with a low port straight bar Pelham with two reins so I can just use the curb when needed. Only needed for group fast work though. He Sj, XC etc in a snaffle.
 
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