Check that the saddle is the correct fit for the horse. Double-check that everything is tight because if it's loose and you get on you'll slide right off! First put the blanket down a bit too far toward the neck, then pull it back toward the horse's tail until it's in the correct position. NOTE: The near and off sides should be rigged the same way with long latigo tie straps, not off billets. One wraps the leather strap through a hole in the saddle and in the cinch 1-4 times. For a 7/8 Rigging your cinch would tie in at 7/8 of the distance from the cantle to the fork, 3/4 rigging at 3/4 the distance, and so on as illustrated in the picture at the left. Your first time through the cinch, loop it on the lower half, below the roller buckle. The rear cinch is optional on Western saddles and is used to keep the rear of the saddle from tipping upward during extreme activity, roping, barrel racing and fast stops. Have the person check to see if they can pull the girth itself an inch or more away from the horse's body while you are in the saddle. The process of getting the saddle and blanket in the right place might cause them both to slide too far back; in that case, start over with the blanket first. By using our site, you agree to our. Feed the tie strap through the center circular hole. While it’s tempting to overtighten a cinch for a saddle that rolls – don’t do it! Make sure the saddle fits correctly. })(); Then, just like you would with a man's necktie, wrap the extra around the tie and pull it through the top. Buckle the girth securely to the tie that hangs down by the horse's front leg on the right side of the horse. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. References. Easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions that will have you tacking up like a … As you put the saddle over the blanket, be sure that you grab the stirrups (the leather loops for the rider's feet), cinches, and straps (any leather hanging down) and hold them out of the way so that they don't get stuck under the saddle. One may check this by lifting up the horse's front leg and visually checking for these things. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. . It is more difficult to adjust the latigo through a rope loop, so be careful to get the cinch snug enough. That is how to properly cinch a horse. Don’t use a saddle … Cinch Materials: Most cinches are made of Mohair, Synthetics, or Neoprene.Each has its pros and cons. The three most common materials for cinches are fleece, mohair, and neoprene, all of which have pros, cons, and appropriate uses. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. This is one that is well-known and easy to do on any saddle. xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://awid9mr9fd.execute-api.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/prod/nobot'); It’s als… Last Updated: November 5, 2020 You shouldn’t have to force it! Position the Blanket or Pad. . Position the blanket slightly over the horse's withers (the ridge between its shoulder blades). It provides a simple and clear overview of how to tie off a texan T knot, Think of it like tying a maens tie, and its not so hard. Most people do prefer to use a latago (the strap that rund from the saddle) with holes in it and a buckle girth. xmlHttp.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json'); These are all things that slip out of my mouth on a regular basis…you can’t fully … This article has been viewed 15,547 times. Position the Blanket or Pad. Some horses intentionally take a deep breath right before you tighten the girth. Loop the tie strap through the cinch ring once. Cinch: The wide “belt” that attaches (by way of heavy leather straps) to either side of the western saddle and goes around the horse’s chest to hold the saddle in place. Be sure you brush the horse and ensure there are no burrs in its coat or any injuries to its skin. Now bring the latigo back up to the top ring that it is connected to. xmlHttp.send('{"store_id":"211910","timezone_offset":"11","timestamp":"2021-02-14T10:49:59.36535000Z","channel_id":1,"visit_id":"9b83d7e5-e677-4c5c-a0c2-e01ea29ded4a"}'); Hook the right stirrup up over the saddle horn so that it won't get caught under the saddle as you lift it, then swing the saddle up and over the horse's back so that your right arm is across the horse's back. Do so from the outside to the body of the horse and completely through pulling to the left hand side. This article has been viewed 15,547 times. How to Tighten Your Horse's Western Girth, http://www.thehorse.com/articles/18579/performance-evaluation-of-western-saddle-padsm, http://www.dekroo.nl/en/riding-school_grooming-your-horse.htm, http://esc.rutgers.edu/fact_sheet/saddling-and-bridling-horses-safely/, http://www.trinity-ec.com/Horse%20Handling.pdf, http://www.horseandrideruk.com/article.php?id=2923, http://www.equestriancupid.com/blog/starhorse_/shifting_seats_loose_saddles_29264_1.html?tid=, http://www.hillviewfarms.com/Saddling%20basic.htm, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. How to Tie a Cinch on Your Western Saddle Position the Saddle. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. You should wait until the horse exhales to cinch it, because if you tighten it while the horse has its lungs full of air it will be too loose when the horse exhales to be safe. Loop back through the cinch ring a second time. Be Her Village. This is the ring attached to the layer of leather under the saddle. Pull up the Cinch Strap. This will keep it up and out of the way of the horse's legs even if the horse runs. xmlHttp.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json'); This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Once the girth is secure, wait until your horse exhales and then gently cinch the tie so it feels snug, but not too tight. xmlHttp.send('{"initiator":{"id":"","session_id":"c84481465d4899aaa5265a6a5d341a693bd62123","type":"ANONYMOUS","visit_id":"9b83d7e5-e677-4c5c-a0c2-e01ea29ded4a","visitor_id":"edd7f038-7ac5-46c3-b9dc-32f0a379066e"},"referer":{"url":""},"request":{"url":"https:\/\/www.aussiesaddlery.com.au\/how-to-tie-a-cinch-girth\/"}}'); Most people do prefer to use a latago (the strap that rund from the saddle) with holes in it and a buckle girth. It provides a simple and clear overview of how to tie off a texan T knot. Columbia Falls, Montana | (406) 892-3650 If someone is with you, they can inspect the cinch for you. The backbone of a saddle is its tree, which is held in place on the horse's back by the rigging straps. You can keep the left stirrup up over the saddle horn (the knob on top of the saddle for the rider to hold) for better access, but bring the tie down to the horse's side. Run the strap through the saddle D-ring. No Cinch!. You don’t have to pull as hard to tighten the cinch/girth. Most importantly, your horse can breathe. When they do that they get bigger around, so when they breathe out the girth is too loose - just the way they like it! Keep in mind the overall shape of the horse. To tighten your horse’s Western-style girth, also known as a cinch, first pull up the girth to buckle it to the saddle. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. % of people told us that this article helped them. For the second loop, bring it … This method smooths the hair under the blanket so that it lies flat and doesn't itch or bother the animal. You can try to shift the saddle back by putting your weight on the opposite side stirrup, but if the saddle moves too easily it is probably too loose. If the saddle itself seems to leave the horse's body as you trot, you must immediately dismount and tighten the girth. If you cinch the tie when your horse’s lungs are full of air, then it may be too loose when your horse eventually exhales. The latigo ties the rigging straps to the cinch. The saddle may have shifted because it was too loose, or it may have shifted because you are putting too much weight on one stirrup and not evenly distributing your weight (this happens all the time, especially to new riders, and especially if you're riding the horse in circles). Make sure you double-check to make sure the girth is tight enough! Start today! a billet is what stays connected to the cinch, its about $4-$7 on nylon and $10+ for leather, the tie strap is the one that tightens the saddle its about $7-$10 and leather is $10+ tractor supply carries them though they are more expensive there. If it’s not well cared for, however, it’s most likely to clump and mat, which will make it uncomfortable. You should be able to slide two fingers under the gullet (the curve of the saddle just under the horn) without cramping, and have 3-4 fingers-width of space between the horse’s forearms and the cinch. Step 1: First, Cheryl threads her latigo through the cinch ring, back to front, and then through the saddle’s dee ring where the latigo is attached. First, tie an overhand knot several inches from the end of the rope (opposite the honda), leaving a tail at the very end. - Cowboys in the California/Northern Great Basin region prefer a single-cinch saddle. • Uses an off billet and 5′ long tie strap • Uses a traditional Western-style girth • Optional rear flank cinch set can be used on the straight hanging rear dee to secure the back of the saddle • A rear flank cinch set should be used if you’re riding over more rough terrain If they can, it's too loose. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Be sure to. Typically, this needs to be wrapped twice, which leaves four pieces showing in between the saddle and the cinch. Tying off is the traditional way and has worked well for many years, when done right. xmlHttp.open('POST', '/events/trigger-visit-event'); But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. The tail will be helpful when removing the rope and horn knot from the saddle … Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. The most important part of rigging is making sure your cinch strap is properly placed … You can secure the additional length of the tie by passing it through the D-ring at the top of the tie, wrapping it around the tie and pulling it through at the top (like a men's necktie). The double-rigged option is especially called for when the front cinch is in the full (farthest-forward) position, because without it, the back of the saddle is likely to rise. Learn to tie a western cinch. Any excess latigo can be placed in the remaining hole, or up in the latigo carrier. Make sure there are no twists in the straps and tighten the cinch. In Western-style riding, the "cinch" is the leather belt that must be tightened below the horse's chest to keep the saddle securely in place. To keep the tie away from your horse’s legs while you’re riding, pass whatever is left of it through the D-ring at the top of the tie. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The rigging of the saddle has little to do with how the saddle fits over your horse's back. (function () { You will get immediate grip so your saddle won’t slide back and forth. The best materials transfer heat and sweat away from the horses’s skin. Jul 3, 2014 - Learn to tie a western cinch. Gir- . By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If your horse does this, you might want to check that the girth itself is long enough for your horse and not causing irritation or pain. If you are using a Western saddle blanket, it will be generally folded in … The cinch strap is located underneath the fender of the saddle on the offside. (Here is the link as well http://youtu.be/9_CUDFsRykw ). Fleece.This is the softest against the horse’s skin. In general, we want the top of the cinch buckle to sit about 8” below (or 5-6” below if it’s a dropped rig saddle) the rigging on either side. Don’t forget to mount from the left side. Shop Cinches. Follow these four easy steps to learn how to tie a cinch knot: Just make sure it's folded properly. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can get a saddle blanket at any farming supply or agriculture store. Walk in front of the horse back to its left side, and then reach under the horse's body and pass the girth underneath the horse's chest. Make a note of what position the buckle is in before you remove it, and then ensure that you tighten it to the next notch (or two, if the saddle was very loose) as you re-cinch it. It should lay flat on the horse to … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. There’s more slip to this material than others, which means you must tighten it more against your horse’s girth area to hold your saddle in place. Our saddle accessories come in many styles. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tighten-Your-Horse%27s-Western-Girth-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tighten-Your-Horse%27s-Western-Girth-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tighten-Your-Horse%27s-Western-Girth-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid46603-v4-728px-Tighten-Your-Horse%27s-Western-Girth-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"