It has been recommended to me that I put a rear cinch on my saddle.
Any suggestions of a place to find a good quality rear cinch? Anything I should avoid while deciding which one to buy?
Your desicion on back cinch style may be influenced by the type of riding and your saddle.
I use a 3.5" on all my saddles. Seems pretty sufficient for what I do. I rope a lot and don’t feel a need to sport a huge cinch.
I prefer the lined and stitched ones rather than just a single ply leather. My saddles all came with a back cinch, I haven’t had to replace one for years so I really don’t have any suggestions other than a saddle builder.
I have a Berlin Harness Company rear cinch, and it works wrll
for me. Mind you I mostly show on the flat in western dressage, and trail ride. I was always told that if a saddle maker puts the rear billets on the saddle they intend that design to be used with a rear cinch, so that’s how I ended up with mine.
Please make sure to use a strap connecting your rear cinch to the front cinch!
You can also see if a rear cinch can be purchased that is made by the manufacturer of your saddle.
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Just asking why “someone” advised you to use a back cinch? Are you participating in roping or ranch horse activities? A working situation gathering cattle or riding over rough ground?
I never use a back cinch in my trail riding, not a roper, so no issues of keeping the back end of saddle down in my activities. We did a lot of speedy things, games as well as pleasure and English. My Western saddle stayed in place, in all her activities. Never felt we needed that back cinch in anything I did, on various horses. I do think saddle makers just include a back cinch because customers expect one on a western saddle. Buying cheap harness, you ALWAYS get a check rein and usually a half-cheek snaffle bit included. It was the “norm” for harness sold to use on buggy horses in the times before autos took over as the main type of transportation.
I found having a back cinch got in the way of leg and foot signals to horse. My leg just laid on the cinch, heel was right on the buckle, so she just “didn’t hear me” when I asked her for things. She was not subtle, light, FAST in responses wearing a back cinch, when I needed those things. I thought if that cinch being in the way of my leg is true on one horse, it will affect the other horses I rode the same way. Once the back cinch came off I never put it back on. Never thought I “lacked” anything in being able to use my horse in, real riding work or showing.
A back cinch is dependent on the rigging creating an even pull on the tree and less to do with whether you’re roping or riding in rough country.
Hopefully one is picking a saddle that is suiting to the style of riding they are doing. For example, not using a barrel saddle to rope fat steers. If you are roping, choosing a roping saddle obviously. But if you’re riding a full double whether you are roping or not it is meant to be ridden with a snug back cinch. And riding with a 3/4 or centerfire one could easily rope without a back cinch as to why most rigged at that position don’t have one.
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I am also curious on the reason.
This may better help us recommend something, if we know why you want it or what you need it for.
I ride ranch/stock horse shows. I was working on cutting and one of my mentors told me to get a back cinch. I had previously been only showing pleasure, trail and reining but he indicated that if I am going to do some cow stuff it would be better if I had a back cinch.
If you’re riding a cutter or ranch cutter they are usually rigged for a back cinch.
The saddle has the rig for a back cinch but did not come with one. Some of the back cinches look very narrow and I wanted some brand or retailer suggestions.
Who built your saddle Bopper?
This is the style I prefer
http://capriolas.com/product/capriola-back-cinch/
Cap’s is pretty spendy but it shows the style, buckles are laid on the cinch not on the ends and I like the 3.5" cinches. I don’t think you need the big 7" cinch.
From doing a quick Google search, the Showman, Tough one brands were the first to show up. I definitely wouldn’t buy that junk. I think Weaver leather is crap too.
Why I ask who built your saddle, you may be able to call and order a cinch for your saddle.
It is a circle Y. I did not like the first few circle y back cinches that I found but I think more research is needed.
Did you check out the Circle Y site itself for back/flank cinches, they have several to choose from.
https://circley.com/product-category/tack-2/flank-cinches/page/3/
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Personally, I like a back cinch that is a middle ground between the thin ones and a roper cinch. I primarily barrel race so that is what works well for me. I’d have to measure it to tell you how wide it is, but here’s a picture. It’s not thicker on the sides, but a little thicker on the bottom.
Do you have a picture showing this? I’m not arguing, but I am really confused about how it is physically possible for a properly adjusted rear cinch to be in the way of the rider’s leg when used normally. This has never even crossed my mind. Maybe that’s because I have really short legs?
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I have this issue some times also. When working on really teaching my colt to move his hip over, the back cinch is right where my short legs go.
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Ah. Yes, in that situation, I can see where the problem might come in. I was picturing just general riding and very confused. But, like, I said I have extremely short legs (27" inseam!).
It still happens with longer legged folks, 32" inseam, in hitting the back cinch while trying to signal horse! My horses tend to be short coupled, short backed, so needing a “short skirted Western saddle” to avoid hitting their loins, also leaves less distance between front and rear cinch hangers. I prefer square skirts over rounded skirts, so I pay attention to skirt lengths. I also have big feet in boots, so I had no room to hit horse skin using a rear cinch, when I moved a foot or leg back for hindquarters control. I ALWAYS hit the back cinch with foot or leg! I usually don’t wear spurs, so no touching horse behind the rear cinch as happens with other riders in signaling. None of my present horses need spurs, all very responsive to leg and boot heel. They “like to help” a bit too much at times!
I want rather responsive horses when riding, so a light leg moves them sideways, leg back on one side moves hindquarters as needed. I think about needed move, horse is responding, pretty automatic on both our parts over time. Not show ring speed or crispness, but they get into desired position easily. I don’t want to WORK pushing horse over, usually don’t have time before I NEED horse properly positioned to use. Slow and very obvious signals of feet and legs are used on training young horses or horses we get in that don’t understand leg cues. I get the right responses from horses, with no back cinch. Saddles stay in position, never had a sore backed horse, even on long daily rides of 8-10 hours, many miles. Again, I am not roping off my saddle, so no extra forces pulling it that would need a back cinch to help.
