I have a 13yr old half arab that I want to switch from hunt seat to western pleasure for next show season. She has never had anything in her mouth except broken snaffle. She has a good headset and I don’t think id need a harsh bit. But I’m not sure what to use to introduce the arab show bit styles to her. Which one should I start with? And is there any respected arab western trainers you could recommend in NE ohio or western PA? Thnx 
You can still use a jointed mouth piece with shanks. I would start with a shorter shank bit for starters.
I’ve transitioned several horse to Western, and my bit of choice is a pelham to do so. Generally it’s not the mouthpiece, but the addition of leverage that is a change to a snaffle ridden horse. I would not use a shanked snaffle for western pleasure. Too severe with too much of a nut-cracker effect. Also, remember you’ll be riding with one hand, and if your reins are the slightest bit uneven, it will be readily apparent in a snaffle mouthpiece. Also, an Arabian western pleasure horse is expected to maintain his frame with little or no contact. I’ve always found that you want a bit with few moving parts. The weight of the shanks with a snaffle mouthpiece will cause movement in the horse’s mouth, particularly on a loose rein, and before you know it you will have a horse with a “busy” mouth.
Liz
I dont think you can use a pelham in WP, so check your handbook.
[QUOTE=NOMIOMI1;6508032]
I dont think you can use a pelham in WP, so check your handbook.[/QUOTE]
I think it was meant as a transition bit from a snaffle to a show bit, not the show bit itself.
When transitioning my Morgan mare, I ran the transition the same way, although I threw in a kimberwicke before the pelham.
