How to Saddle a Horse and Tie Front Cinch

Unless you are a very good horseback rider, you will need to saddle the horse before you take a ride. Western saddles are the only type of saddle that feature a cinch strap to hold the girth onto a saddle. Tying the cinch strap involves using a specific type of knot that allows you to continue to tighten the girth after the cinch strap has been tied. It may take some practice before you become completely competent at saddling a horse, so make sure to have an experienced rider check your saddle before you go for a ride.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle pad
  • Western girth
  • Grooming tools
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Instructions

    • 1

      Groom your horse thoroughly. Make sure to brush all dirt out from underneath where the saddle and the girth will go. If dirt becomes trapped between the girth and the horse's body, it can rub the horse raw and cause saddle sores to develop.

    • 2

      Place the western saddle pad on the horse's back. The front of the pad should just barely cover the horse's withers.

    • 3

      Place the saddle on the horse's back. Make sure the stirrups do not thump the horse in the back or neck as you put the saddle on top of the saddle pad. The front of the saddle should sit an inch or two below the front edge of the saddle pad. Make sure the saddle is sitting evenly, then slide the saddle back off the withers. The saddle should come to a natural resting place on the horses back where it will not easily slide back any farther.

    • 4

      Stand on the left side of the horse. Reach underneath the horse and get the end of the girth. Bring the end of the girth underneath the horse so that the D-ring of the girth is within 8 inches to a foot of the D-ring holding the cinch strap.

    • 5

      Pull the end of the cinch strap through the D-ring on the girth, then pull it back up and loop it back through the D-ring holding the cinch strap onto the saddle. Wrap the cinch strap around the D-rings twice. At the end of the second coil, the cinch strap will be sticking out the back of the D-ring on the saddle. Pull the cinch strap underneath the double wrap going to the right and then across the front of the cinch strap to the left side of the D-ring. Pull the end of the cinch strap back underneath the left side of the D-ring. This will create a loop of leather in front of the D-ring on the saddle. Tuck the end of the cinch strap down through the loop on the front of the coiled strap. Pull tight.