Which Bit do you like for Western Pleasure?

Here are some bits I was thinking about. Which one do you think will help encourage a proper WP head set with minimal contact. If anyone want to try to explain the bits to me too I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks to all!!!!

The top bit is a low port Correction bit while the others are different forms of a Billy Allen (which is the only mouth piece I use).

None of them, and it fact, no bit that I can think of, will cause a horse to lower his head. There are bits that will cause him to carry it on the vertical (referred to as "on the bit") but his head could still be high.

The Billy Allen mouth is about the mildest mouth piece you can get. The barrel in the center does not allow the nutcracker affect that a single joined mouth will cause but will allow each side of the bit to swivel without affecting the other side. The first bit is a "mullen" shape which gives tongue relief while the others are straight bar. There is only one snaffle in the group and that is the one without shanks. That bit is not allowed in WP except on a young horse. The most mild of all of shanked bits is the last one due to the radio of the purchase to the shank. BTW do not use any shanked bit unless your horse neck reins.

http://www.4dobbin.com/product_image...sbe8929047.jpg
That one is a low port barrel comfort snaffle by Myler. This is what I used for training. Very effective, and my horse loved it.

http://www.horsemall.net/images/HBTM...rt89_20065.jpg
Low port barrel with shanks. Also a Myler. They're virtually the same mouthpiece, but one works with direct contact and one works with leverage. The shanks are not very long on the curb bit, but with a seasoned horse you shouldn't really need longer shanks or a higher port to get the desired results. If you do, however, here's what it should look like:

http://www.bitsnmore.com/images/cata...y89-11435b.jpg

This bit has a high port and long shanks, and would require mimimum hand movement. However, it can be pretty severe if not used properly. This is also a Myler.

Whatever style bit you decide would work best, I suggest a Myler bit. They're the most humane and effective bits on the market, in my opinion. They're expensive, but you can get them used on Ebay for a huge discount. I sold off a bunch of my old bits, and I sold a $120 Myler bit for $70. So take a look there.

Hi Again. Looks like I have a lot of information needed and a lot of homework to do. Thank you all sooooo much. I will be trying some out and posting some new threads regarding my resulsts and experiences. If I have any further questions I know who to contact. Thanks everyone again.

I'd like to know why you consider is severe.

Due to the hinge action and the port shape, the correction bit is typically used to put a stop on a horse and to give him a head carriage. Depending on the height of the port you can easily contact the roof of his mouth and in all cases, as you engage the bit, his tongue will work into the port.

All bits can be severe and all bits can be mild. It all depends on the hands of the rider and his/her skill and knowledge of the way the bit works. Someone who asks about a bit typically does not know how it works and a bit like the correction bit can be severe in their hands. A skilled horseman can use a spade bit with such precision that their hand movement can be undetected but in the hands of a horse that is not accustom to one and/or in the hands of a novice to that bit, it can be torture.

So, the bit itself is not severe in the right hands but the rider needs to be trained in it's use. It is for those reasons that I prefer not to recommend that bit to someone who does not understand it.

Just puttin in my two cents here:
I am only asking about bits that are legal to show in WP as this is my first trained WP horse. I can work my horse or any horse for that matter in a O-ring snaffle accomplish what I want to. I understand how bits work and I understand that certain bits are used primarily in certain diciplines. Since Im new to the WP world, I was trying to find out what bit is prefered in this dicipline and if I should keep the same bit for training. By asking this one shouldnt assume they are inexperienced. This is just my opinion though.

Again, everyones advice has been very educational. Thank You!

Actually it is much safer to assume that the question is asked by someone inexperienced. That way there are all the warning that the inexperienced should know and the advanced rider should already know but may have forgotten. Besides, on an open forum, you never know who is reading the thread or their experience.

The experienced rider can get a refresher and the inexperienced can get a lesson.

As for what is legal, then a low port curb bit on a well trained horse is as mild as you can get and be legal.

What is completely frustrating to me is that makers try to reform bits and it seems like new and "improved" bits are out on the market everyday claiming to be the next best thing. After taking 2 years off from horses I really feel like I am behind the curb (no pun intended:) when it comes new and improved.

Don't worry about all that "New and Improved" crap cause that is usually what it is. Just crap. Just look around and find somthing that works for you and your horse likes and go with that. I have had the same type of bit all my life that my dad used to show horses in in the 70's and it still works fine. Just because something isn't the newest trend doesn't make it bad. :)