How to tighten your horse's western girth
One of the most important things to do when you're saddling a horse is to make sure that the cinch is properly tightened. Tightening the girth of a western saddle keeps you and your horse safe.
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Instructions
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Prepare your horse to have girth secured. Brush and remove any dirt that could irritate your horses skin under the saddle and girth. Place the western saddle with saddle pad on your horse properly. The saddle horn should be just behind the withers and the girth would fall from the saddle just behind the front legs.
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2
From your horse's left side reach under your horse just behind his front legs and grab the girth which is attached to the saddle. Ensure that the girth is not twisted. There is a long strap hanging from the saddle on a metal saddle ring. Use this to secure and tighten the girth.
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3
Loop the strap through the girth from the inside and loop it back up to the saddle ring. At the saddle ring, you are going from outside to the inside, toward the horse. Do not tighten it too much at this point. It will make it difficult to complete the knot. You will continue this looping 2 to 3 times depending on how long the strap is. Ensure that there are no twists.
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4
Tie the knot to secure the girth. On the last pass through the top of the loop, at the saddle ring, bring the strap to the left side of the ring. You are looping from the front to back here. After going through the ring do not continue back down to the girth. You will take the strap across the previous looped straps to the right side of the saddle ring. Take the strap under the ring from below the saddle ring. You will then take the strap down through the loop to make the knot. Imagine tying a man's dress die.
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Tighten the girth starting from the innermost loop through the knot. Many horses will actually expand their bellies a little during this process. Walk your horse a few steps to relax your horse. Do not tighten the girth too much. You should be able to slide your fingers between your horse and the girth.
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