How to Cinch Up Trail Saddles

Riding horses can be an extremely relaxing way to de-stress and pass the time. Saddling up requires a certain level of skill, however, and if a saddle is not cinched up properly it could lead to a potentially dangerous situation. A loose trail saddle can slip under the horse's belly as you ride, causing you to fall and end up upside down or worse. It isn't hard to properly cinch a trail saddle and if done well, you will enjoy a long, relaxing day on the trails.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
  • Lead rope
  • Saddle pad
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put a halter on your horse and use a lead line to tether your horse to a secure, solid location.

    • 2

      Standing on the left side of your horse, place a saddle pad on your horse's back so that the front of the pad rests high on your horse's withers (shoulders).

    • 3

      Place the saddle on top of the saddle pad so that the pommel of the saddle rests on your horse's withers.

    • 4

      Reach under your horse's belly and grab the girth, drawing it up to the left side of your horse.

    • 5

      Put the cinch through the ring of the girth from back to front and pull up.

    • 6

      Put the cinch through the top cinch ring from front to back so that the cinch is now hanging down behind the loop you just created.

    • 7

      Repeat these steps once more.

    • 8

      Push the cinch through the girth ring from back to front and pull up until the cinch so that it is tight against the horse's side. You should be able to slide your hand between the cinch and the horse to make sure it's not too tight.

    • 9

      Push the cinch back through the cinch ring from front to back, pull it to the right, and pass it over the front of the cinch.

    • 10

      To make the knot, pull the cinch in through the back of the ring, and push the tail of the cinch under the horizontal cinch piece passing across the front of the cinch ring, similar to a tie.

    • 11

      Walk your horse a few steps to make sure he isn't sucking in air to expand his rib cage.

    • 12

      Check how loose the saddle by sticking your hand under the cinch to be sure your hand just fits in the space between the horse and the cinch, and tug the saddle to the left to make sure it doesn't easily slip to the side.

    • 13

      Tighten the cinch if needed by pulling up on the top vertical loop and feeding the extra slack up through the knot you created.