How to Cinch a Western Saddle

You have the horse and you have the western saddle but how do you cinch a western saddle. Unlike those easy to buckle English saddles, you need to learn a special slipknot to fasten a western Saddle. If you make it too loose, your saddle could slip under your horse while riding. It really isn't difficult once you have practiced a few times to cinch a saddle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Western Saddle
• Cinch
• Cinch strap
• Saddle Blanket

1. 
   Check for twist in the straps

   Drop the Cinch to the horse's right side and the cinch strap to the horses left side after placing the saddle on the horse. Walk around the horse to make sure the straps are hanging straight and not twisted.

2. 
   Place the cinch strap up through the cinch ring

   Reach behind the horse's front legs and grab the cinch being careful not to twist it. Put your cinch strap through the cinch ring. Hang the strap down past the cinch ring and then place the edge of the strap under the top of the ring towards the horse.

3. 
   Go around the cinch ring and up towards the saddle

   Pull the cinch strap straight up towards the front rigging dee.

4. 
   Go over the top of the ringing dee

   Go over the top of the rigging dee and push the edge of the cinch strap down through the ring.

5. 
   Pull cinch strap snug

   Pull on the cinch strap until it is snug, but not too tight, you are not finished yet.

6. 
   Wrap loose end around the front of the snug strap

   Bring the loose edge around the front of the snug strap.

7. 
   Tuck the loose edge up under the rigging dee

   Tuck the edge back up through the rigging dee, only from the back this time. This has caused a loop to form around the snug cinch strap.

8. 
   Here is the loop, put the loose edge down through it

   Put the loose edge down through the loop you created in the previous step.

9. 
   Pull the loose edge

   Continue to pull the edge through the loop and watch the loop tighten.

10. 
    Before snugging the loop, pull up on cinch strap to tighten it

    Your loop is almost snug. Before tightening it down, grab the snug cinch strap and pull up towards the rigging dee. Pull it as tight as you can. Feed the excess strap up through your slipknot and loop. Then hold the loose edge to tighten.

11. 
    Drop the stirrup into place

    Drop the stirrup down into place if you hooked it to the saddle horn to get it out of your way. Before mounting the horse, check again to see if your cinch strap is still tight. If you need to tighten it, just loosen the knot a little, pull up on the outside strap, and feed it through the slipknot and loop again.

Tips & Warnings

• If riding for several hours you may need to tighten your cinch again after an hour or so.
• Replace worn cinch straps, if they break you can fall off with the saddle.

Resources

• Saddle Parts