Bits with a port - pros and cons?

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Hi! 💕 Bits with a port can often have the opposite effect to what the name suggests. The small part of the tongue under the port itself may take less pressure, but the tongue is wider than the port. The edges of the arch then become extra pressure points on the tongue, or they risk sitting against the bars. The port frees only part of the tongue, not all of it, and the rest takes point pressure instead. Much of this also depends on the type of port. If the port has a high or angular shape, it risks pressing straight up into the horse's palate, which is painful. Some models are more anatomically shaped, with a wider, only slightly curved form, and these can suit some horses. If you use a bit with a port, or want to use one, the best thing is to have an equine dentist out who can judge how much room the horse has in its mouth. A bit with a port generally suits a horse with a tight mouth or a low palate less well. Bits with a port are not something I generally recommend, so I think it sounds sensible to skip it! 🥰 An ordinary straight bit is one of the mildest bits there is in terms of how it acts, so it sounds like a good choice. I would not start using an identical one for dressage, though. It is important to vary between different bits and bitless options so the horse does not develop injuries in the mouth. The usual advice is to rotate between two or three options across the week. My suggestion is to start varying things with either a bitless option (a sidepull, for example), or a barrel bit, a double-jointed bit, or a single-jointed bit with a lock-up for variety. Good luck!