To shank or not to shank

I have been looking for a new bit for about two months now. Seeing as my horse is six now and is in a "training" bit its time for a change. I found this first bit when I first started look and fell inlove with it. Its a Myler, and I have heard good things. I did the research on it and found that it was the perfect bit for what I want to be doing(western pleasure). But yesterday I was looking again and found the exact same bit but with a shank(the first is a western dee). So what do you guys think, to shank or not to shank? And do you think this bit could be used for speed? This bit would be the bit I use for western pleasure, but is there any other uses for it?

Western Dee: Western Bits - Myler Western Dee Low Port Comfort Snaffle (MB 04)

Shank: Toklat - Horse Tack - Saddle Pads - Horse Riding Apparel - Myler Bits - Bits - Short Shank

In western pleasure a horse above the age of 5 is required to be in a shanked bit anyway, and out of the snaffles. So really that rule answers your question. And that probably would work for speed, but you would just have to find out. Realy though if you plan on trying both i'd find a different bit for each so your horse learns the difference

I love the myler comfort snaffles. Of all types. I am no bit guru but heres my two cents.

For western pleasure, since your horse is older than 5, I believe you will be required to ride a shanked bit. They arent all the devil. If he goes light in a snaffle, he will go light in a shanked bit. The second bit (the shanked one) is basically a tom thumb without all the confusing mixed signals. I think it would probably be a very good transitioning bit.

As far as speed events, that kinda depends on the training you've put in. To me, a good gaming horse could be ridden on an o-ring snaffle. Its more about reinforcing the responsiveness in more than just w/t/c. That needs to come from leg, seat aaaand hands. Hands being last. I think a bit like that has more than enough brakes for even a hard runner.

Good luck!

Thanks for your input, I have yet to read the rules and laws of western pleasure. Im glad I have found a perfect bit for my little girl(: But I think you are right about another bit for speed. I leaning more towards WP at this time, and just having fun with speed and kinda using it as a break from the collection.

That appears to be a nice bit and should work well for both WP and speed events. The only thing that I don't like about it is the lack of tongue relief (I prefer something with a bit bigger port).

I looked at the exact same mouth piece with a med wide port, but they put that at a level 3. So I could see myself getting that bit when we are more advanced, Go to the link I put in this post(the med wide port) and where it says "Myler bits" with the big M logo click "selecting a bit" and it explains the levels and the training need for that level. I would put Raven and I at a level 2. Toklat - Horse Tack - Saddle Pads - Horse Riding Apparel - Myler Bits - Bits - Short Shank

I guess my philosophy is backward compared to theirs. In my experience, unless a horse has been taught to pack the bit properly and brace their tongue against it, any time you apply even the slightest pressure, they tend to gape thier mouths to get away from it. With some port, you don't have that problem.

Hummmmm, yea that seems right. Lol, this is why I post here, I have been going back and forth on weither to buy this bit or not. I think the only way I would truely know what bit is of most comfort is to ride in all of them(:

This is actually almost identical to the bits that I use on all my horses. I put my greenies in this directly from the snaffle after they have figured out the basics of neck reining.
Pinchless Low Port Reining Bit - Statelinetack.com

And this is usually what I end up with.

I went to a store and saw that they carried myler bits, and we actually got a chance to talk to someone about them. We found a bit with the same mouth peice but with a longer shank, and seeing it in a store made me feel so much better about buying it. And the woman we talked to said that the bit does use less tongue pressure. Heres the link
Toklat - Horse Tack - Saddle Pads - Horse Riding Apparel - Bits - Flat Shank