What’s the difference between these four bits as far as which is stronger and which is kinder?
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#2 (2 sizes of same bit)
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I’m not sure why you posted this in the H/J forum, but bits don’t fix your brakes on a horse, but proper training. A good trainer should be able to put brakes on in a snaffle. Big bits are a finished horse thing, not a starting thing.
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There won’t be a trainer involved. It’s just more saddle time for me as I don’t have a horse I can ride except in lessons. Not my horse so I can’t retrain him.
I’m going to revise my post to get a more specific response.
Softest would be the straight rubber pelham, then the broken rubber pelham. Then it could almost be a tossup between the two metal ones, since the straight one has the little port on it.
It also depends on the horse, since some horses would be more likely to lean on the straight pelhams than the broken ones. So you might end up using more hand with those bits as a result.
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It depends on the shape of the horse’s mouth.
A jointed bit might offer a little more tongue relief than the mullen mouth, or the nutcracker effect might be painful to a low palate.
The vulcanized rubber jointed Pelham is probably softer than the thinner metal jointed one, but a horse with a small mouth might find that to be too much stuff in the face.
The ported bit puts pressure on the bars and roof of the mouth and relieves the tongue. That one looks like it has longer shanks than the others, so there’s more leverage.
If the horse were currently in a single jointed bit, I’d start with the single jointed rubber and see how you do; otherwise I’d start with the mullen mouth.
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Deleting the picture of the the bit horse (a western bit if memory serves since you deleted) is actually trained in (and I imagine stopping just fine in) does not help much. You initially asked about brakes on a horse, often that is a user thing. I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned trainer and stuck to rider.
The horse is currently in a western ported bit, which the OP deleted in her quest for the perfect pelham. I think the ported pelham would be closest to what the horse is used to.
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I am interested in opinions on a jointed pelham.
Only ever used a straight pelham, thought the jointed might be a step down while still having the benefit of a shank longer than a kimberwicke, if needed.
But in action … the jointed, when used with the curb rein, seems to create some strange pressures on the bars of the mouth. I put it away.
But I might just not understand what it should be doing.
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I agree that a jointed pelham is a tricky bit that is better not used. There are better alternatives.
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I agree with all of this.
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Not just on the bars, when the bit rotates, it also pokes the tongue. I don’t like jointed leverage bits because they do this. Probably does work to make the horse tuck their chin, though.
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As would one with a shallow mouth as are common in many TBs and Western breeds. IME, less is more in bits and, IMO with little information on the specifics here, I like the thinner, ported pelham. IME the fewer moving parts, the quieter the mouth. Those jointed rubber mouth bits look softer but are quite the mouthful. Had some spend the entire ride trying to spit them out while some folks just blamed a “busy mouth”
If you are looking for a bit of lift, consider that Mylar Comfort Snaffle without hooks. Its a curved mullen mouth and has enough weight to stay properly and comfortably placed in the mouth. The horses I have ridden in it stayed quiet, light and responsive…and happy.
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How would a double jointed bit do that?
(I realize there are no double jointed bits as options in this thread, but there are double jointed pelhams.)
I agree that it really depends on the horse’s mouth. I have one in a rubber jointed pelham and his palate is so low that engaging the pelham causes him to be really fussy in the mouth, though he respects it. I found a better solution in the wonderbit for him.
While generally kinder feeling I’ve found the rubber-coated pelhams to be too much in the mouth for most horses. Not too much bit, but too much acreage in limited real estate.
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Thank you to everyone who responded. I ended up using the ported bit and it was perfect.
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Glad it went well - for next time the cheek piece attaches to the smaller ring at the top!
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??? 
I haven’t seen a photo. Where were the cheek pieces attached to the bit?
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On the snaffle ring.
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Oh. Well it’s good for the OP to come here and ask for help. Live and learn!
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My friend corrected that oversight before any actual riding commenced. I deleted the photo knowing it would cause conniptions! 
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