How to Use Two Latigos to Hold a Cinch

The latigo is a leather strap used in combination with a cinch to hold a western saddle on a horse. The latigo attaches to both sides of the saddle and secures the cinch around the girth of the horse. A special tanning process is used to give the latigo its durable and pliable qualities. While some western saddles use other types of rigging, the latigo has endured since the earliest days of the western saddle.

Things You'll Need

  • Western saddle
  • 2 latigo straps
  • Cinch
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Instructions

  1. Securing Off-Side Latigo to Cinch

    • 1

      Place the saddle on a saddle stand for easy access. It is easier to work around both sides of the saddle if it is off the ground.

    • 2

      Stand on the right, or off, side, of the saddle. The off side of the saddle is opposite the side on which the rider mounts a horse.

    • 3

      Lift the fender up and out of the way by placing it over the saddle or secure it by looping the stirrup over the horn. Saddle fenders are the wide sections of leather that drape down over the horse's sides. When mounted, the fenders are directly beneath the rider's legs. Stirrups are attached to the bottom of the fenders.

    • 4

      Locate the front rigging dee ring and attached latigo. The dee ring is located slightly in front of the fenders and between the saddle skirt and front housing of the saddle. The dee ring is normally made of metal. One end of the latigo is commonly secured to the dee ring by leather stitching or ties.

    • 5

      Thread the free end of the latigo through the backside of the metal cinch ring and back up toward the front-rigging dee and thread it through the front-rigging dee from front to back. Repeat looping the latigo through the front-rigging dee ring and the cinch ring until there is approximately 16 in. of excess latigo leather hanging from the top-rigging dee. Depending on the length of the latigo strap, several loops may be necessary. The length of the looped latigo section should allow the cinch to be centered under the horse's girth.

    • 6

      Pull the free end of the latigo through the front rigging dee so that it lies flat from behind the dee ring at a slight angle to the left.The rough side of the free section of latigo leather will be facing you.

    • 7

      Secure the latigo. The most common method of securing the latigo is to tie a basic latigo knot. Tying the latigo knot is similar to tying a man's necktie. Bring the free end of the latigo across the face of the existing latigo and rigging dee from left to right. Thread the latigo end through the rigging dee from back to front forming a loop. Thread the latigo down through the loop and pull tight.

    Securing Latigo to Cinch on Left Side and Tying the Quick-Release Knot

    • 8

      Stand on the left side of the horse. Lift the fender up and out of the way by placing it over the saddle or secure it by looping the stirrup over the horn.

    • 9

      Locate the front rigging dee ring and attached latigo. The dee ring is located slightly in front of the fenders and between the saddle skirt and front housing of the saddle. The dee ring is normally made of metal. One end of the latigo is commonly secured to the dee ring by leather stitching or ties.

    • 10

      Pull the end of the cinch hanging down on the off side, under the horse's girth and toward yourself. Thread the free end of the latigo through the backside of the metal cinch ring and back up toward the front-rigging dee and thread it through the front-rigging dee from front to back. Repeat looping the latigo through the front-rigging dee ring and the cinch ring until there is approximately 16 in. of excess latigo leather hanging from the top-rigging dee. Depending on the length of the latigo strap, several loops may be necessary.

    • 11

      Thread the free end of the latigo through the front-rigging dee so that it lies flat from behind the dee ring at a slight angle to the left. The rough side of the leather will be facing you.

    • 12

      Tie a quick-release knot in the latigo. Fold the free section of the latigo so that the rough sides of the leather strap are touching. The top finished side of the leather should now be facing you. Twist the free end of the latigo counterclockwise so that the rough side is now facing up. Thread the free end through the left side of the rigging dee from back to front and out through the center hole of the rigging dee. Pull the slack out of the latigo until the quick-release knot is snug. Secure the loose end of the latigo through a keeper on either the front or back of the saddle. If there is not enough slack to reach a keeper or the saddle does not have a keeper, the latigo slack can hang flat under the saddle fender. If the latigo hangs down too far and interferes with the horse's movement, you may need to take another loop in the initial rigging.