A properly fitted cinch isn’t just about keeping your saddle from slipping, it’s about keeping your horse comfortable and free from galling and cinch sores. The cinch material you choose, along with the length and width, can all impact how your saddle rides and how your horse feels. Brad Barkemeyer, a Ride TV coach, is here to teach you about the different types of cinches. You’ll also learn how to properly adjust a cinch when you’re preparing to ride.
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Choosing a Cinch Material
There are a lot of options when it comes time to select a cinch. The main thing is that you want to find one that feels good against your horse, doesn’t trap heat and moisture, is easy to keep clean, and will keep your saddle safe and secure for rides to come.
▶️ Watch the full video lesson.
Choosing a Cinch Shape
Another difference in cinches when you’re selecting one for your own personal use is the shape. This particular cinch is straight and a consistent width from ring to ring. This other cinch is a roper cinch. The term “roper style” doesn’t mean you specifically use it for roping, it simply describes the extra width in the middle of the cinch at the base of your horse’s belly. It gives you a little more surface contact with the cinch from ring to ring and is a little more secure.
▶️ Watch the full video lesson.
Check Your Tack
Before tightening your saddle, it’s always good to check the integrity of all the pieces. With the off billet, make sure there are no splits in the leather or nylon where it reaches the D-ring of your saddle. Also, check the integrity of the holes. Equally important is the hobble between the front and back cinch.
A good way to adjust the hobble so it’s an appropriate length is to make sure the distance between the D-rings above where the cinch is hooked to the saddle is the same at the bottom when the cinches are hanging parallel. You don’t want your cinches pulling together in a V or separating too much. That means once the back cinch is attached to the other side, you run the risk of it coming in contact with the flank of the horse, and we all know most horses don’t like that.
▶️ Watch the full video lesson.
Cinch and Saddle Placement
When securing your cinch to the horse, there are a couple things to keep in mind. First of all, the placement of the saddle in relation to the horse’s back and withers. You want to make sure there’s enough pad in front of the saddle and behind for equal coverage. Also, if you don’t have a contoured saddle pad like this one, I like to run my hand under the pad and lift up a little so it’s not applying pressure to the withers.
Once the saddle is in place, I want to make sure my D-rings are lined up for my cinch to come under the horse’s belly properly. Now it’s time to bring the cinch through. Make sure the cinch is in a straight line from side to side so that you’re lined up directly behind the horse’s front leg.
Once this is slightly secure, I like to pull the horse’s front leg forward to ensure there’s no pinched skin between the material and the horse. Again, this is another place to check and make sure your cinch is properly adjusted. If the D-ring on this side is much higher than the opposite side, and the center rings on the cinch aren’t lined up with the horse’s front legs, you know the cinch is out of alignment.
▶️ Watch the full video lesson.
Back Cinch Adjustment
The back cinch is personal preference. If you’re team roping or doing high-performance events, a lot of times the back cinch will be more snug. For trail riding or recreational riding, some people prefer a looser back cinch. The main thing is that if it’s loose enough to get a couple of fingers in there, that’s plenty loose. You don’t want it extremely loose, where there’s the risk of an unforeseen event, like something getting stuck between your horse and the back cinch—like a hind leg.
▶️ Watch the full video lesson.
