Instructions
Place a saddle pad on your horse's back, and put the saddle on top of the pad. Walk around to the left side of the horse, and lower the girth. Allow the girth to hang loose at the side of the saddle.
Move to the right side of the horse, and reach underneath to grab the girth. Grasp the cinch strap in one hand, and run it through the ring on the girth.
Run the girth strap through the left side of the ring at the top of the saddle, and pull it tight. Place the prong in the middle of the girth through one of the holes in the cinch strap. Not all cinch straps have holes prepunched, so skip this step if yours does not.
Pull the end of the cinch strap over to the right side of the ring at the top of the saddle and run it up through the ring. Pull the end of the strap down through the middle of the ring.
Grasp the leather strap nearest to you, and pull up on it. Pull the cinch strap on the left side of the ring down to tighten the saddle. Continue to pull on the leather nearest to you until the saddle fits snugly. Mount the horse and ride for a few minutes, then dismount and tighten the saddle again. Some horses puff up and inhale air when being cinched; when they exhale, the saddle could become too loose for a safe ride.
How to Tie a Cinch Strap to a Saddle
Cinching up a western saddle can be a difficult skill for new riders to master, but it is critical to having a safe ride. The cinch strap holds the saddle in place and keeps the saddle from slipping as you ride. If your cinch is too loose, you could end up falling from your horse. At first glance, tightening the cinch strap can seem confusing, but it actually is simple once you get the hang of it.