Shanked snaffle bit?

[BeachRiding]

Pete was always ridden in this western bit before I bought him:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/willielove/4a2ba8a1.jpg
He seemed to go quite well in it. I have heard bad things about it however, mostly from english riders. Something about the snaffle mouth and the combination of the shanks confusing the horse? like a snaffle mouthed pelham?

Problem is I can't find another shanked bit that he likes! I want to show Pete next summer ( he is already trained in neck reining) and you can't use a snaffle for showing once the horse is passed 6 y.o. He hates mullen mouthed shanked bits and ported shanks. So I have no other options left that I can think of.

What is your opinion on a shanked snaffle? If he likes it no harm done right?

[Wally]

If you are riding Western I dare say ( and I know nothing of neck reining and western stuff) the bit will be used in a totally different way to an English rider.

Just a thought I know nothing of Western stuff.

[8-legged-pony]

Agree with Wally, english riding and western riding use completely different techniques. With english riding that bit could be very severe, as we tend to have a light contact with the bit all the time, with the horse working onto the bit, we also use the bit to steer. With western however (from my limited knowledge!) the bit is not used for steering and because you tend to ride on a very light contact the bit doesn't come into use half as often. Therefore a shanked bit like that is fine for western, but wouldn't be so good for english riding. To be honest, if Pete likes that bit then I'd just stick with it. Also could be worth speaking to some western riders about what they think about the bit, as an english riders opinion won't really be useful in this situation!