The “look” of the collected/teeny-tiny lope stride is less important than the consistency of the gait. I see horses in my area who have a big, forward stride, but who are consistent, place better than horses who have “the western pleasure look” but who aren’t as smooth/consistent.
My cob gelding is not built to do a lope like what the WP riders strive to get, so I instead focus on consistency, even if the speed is a bit faster.
I personally dislike single joints on any leverage bit, no matter how short the shank. This goes for pelhams, kimberwicks, western curbs, gags, anything other than a snaffle. And even then, I still prefer, and find most horses prefer, a double jointed mouth.
When I was transitioning from snaffle to curb with my guy, I went from his english snaffle (first his D ring, then his baucher [both with the same mouthpiece] because the baucher sits more like a curb would), then a short shank “colt starting” dogbone/french link curb with leather curb strap, then went to a Myler knockoff with shortish shanks and a low but wide port (the swivel action was great for riding two-handed, and for unlocking individual sides of his [ridiculously thick/strong] neck) with leather strap, then to a bit with a similar mouthpiece but more solid shanks (because I ride in romel reins), when he was going well in that and picking up on neck reining I then switched the curb strap to a double chain (because it was wider/flatter than a single width), and from there we finally switched to a low port copper mouthpiece with solid shanks that only have a slight hinge to them and a normal/singlewidth curb chain. I didn’t change until he was comfortable in what we were using in as many situations as I could put him in, and then went back to square 1 each time I switched (we would work our way back up over only a couple rides) and then start to finesse once we were at the point we were at with the previous setup, and for him, who can be anxious with his mouth, that was the key to making him rock solid no matter where we ride.
Haul out to as many places as you can, ride with as many strange horses as you can, and put in the miles with the tack you intend to use when you show. The more you do now, the less of a big deal it will be on show day.
Good luck!
