How to Adjust the Rear Cinch on Western Riding Horses

The rear cinch on a Western saddle secures and stabilizes the back of the saddle, improving the horse's comfort. However, proper adjustment of the cinch is essential. If the cinch is too tight, the horse will have trouble breathing. If the cinch is too loose, your horse can get a rear hoof caught in it, which will produce a major incident. If your horse is not used to a rear cinch, the first several times you saddle your horse using the cinch, lunge the horse first so it gets used to the new tack.

Things You'll Need

  • Two western girths with D-rings at center front and center back
  • Connector strap with two clasps or clips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand on the left side of your horse and place your saddle pad on your horse, a little farther forward than it should be. With both girths and the right stirrup draped over the seat of your saddle, place your saddle on the pad, then slide the pad and saddle back into place on your horse's back.

    • 2

      Walk around to the right side of your horse and remove the cinches and stirrup so they hang at the right side of the horse. Walk back around to the left and reach under the horse. Draw the front cinch toward you and up the horse's left side. Buckle or tie the cinch to the front latigo strap or billet. You should be able to get between two or three fingers to the entire flat of your hand between the horse and the cinch. The exact tightness depends on your horse's withers, your saddle and cinch, the type of riding you are doing, and your horse's preferences.

    • 3

      Draw the back cinch from the horse's right side to you. Ensure that the connector strap is clasped or clipped to both cinches. If that strap is missing, do not use the rear cinch until you have replaced it. Buckle or tie the rear cinch to the rear latigo strap or billet as you did the front cinch. It should be as snug as the front cinch.

    • 4

      Lead your horse out of the stables. At the mounting block, check both cinches by sliding your fingers or palm between them and the horse. If they are looser than they should be, tighten them again.

    • 5

      Ride for 10 minutes and check both cinches again, retightening them if necessary. Horses can enormously expand their rib cages, especially if they've had previous bad experiences with being cinched up. As they relax and let out their breath, cinches you thought were safely snug can become dangerously loose.