Does a High Port Mean a Higher Place?

Lifters, cathedral bits and tall ports are all bits that are known with pleasure horses in the show world. One of the most common bits used on the AQHA show circuit is a California Western Pleasure Bit, which is commonly used to get a low head set for a pleasure horse. I do not disagree with this technique but I do see a few flaws.

The first one is that in a few show circuits, mostly 4-H around where I'm from, have outlawed the use of high port bits. The length of the shank and the height of the port are both up to the discretion of the board of that county. Before going to show in a different county, it is important to look up their rules and regulations before going into a show. It really isn't worth it to go all that way, show, and become disqualified for having the wrong tack on!

My other problem is these bits can be so "harsh", and I use that term loosely, that they often times loose sensation after awhile. This means a stronger bit will be needed. Anybody who has had to buy one of these show bits knows that they can be extremely expensive compared to most bits. If you have to continually purchase stronger bits as the years go on, it can become very pricey!

So Who's to say a lifter bit is necessary?

My philosophy for riding is to use the softest bit on my horse that it will respond to correctly. I never allow my horse to "run through the bit" but I also don't have their mouth so tightened up with a high port that they can barely relax their body. As you can see from the Bay horse picture, a horse can have a low headset even in an D ring bit, which is one of the softest bits available. Although this horse is in english tack, it has obviously been taught to level out its head sucessfully! As you can see in the top picture, this horse has a very unnatural curve to its body because of the lifter bit. So what do y'all think? Do you guys feel you need a lifter bit to achieve a pleasure horse head set or do you have a different technique? Have you ever seen a horse who has been ruined by too strong of a bit?