the rear (flank?) cinch stops the back of the saddle from coming up correct?
How tight do you adjust it? Is there supposed to be a strap to fasten it too the front cinch to stop it from slipping backwards?
thanks - English rider dabbling in western
I never use the back strap…take it off. If you are doing cow work or riding in rough territory, then maybe use. If you do use it, then yes it needs to be connected to the front cinch and do not adjust it too tight or too loose. Maybe 3 or 4 inches hanging below the belly.
Western saddles can be rigged as 7/8, 3/4 or center rigging.
That is where you attach the front cinch in reference to the front of the tree.
The more forward your front cinch is fastened, the larger and longer your saddle skirts, the more you need a flank cinch.
Yes, the flank cinch is there so the saddle doesn’t come up behind when you do more than walk along on flat ground.
Yes, very important that you have a “hobble” between cinches and it be the right size and length, so your flank cinch doesn’t work back and acts as a bucking strap in a rodeo bronc.:eek:
You really can’t rope and hold anything heavy from the horn on any but a center rigging type saddle without a flank cinch, or the pull of the rope may let the saddle come up behind and pinch the horse’s shoulders and withers.
You don’t have to use a flank cinch for plain riding, with the right saddle.
I don’t adjust my flank cinch very loose. I do it up enough to touch the belly and usually by the time I’m done riding it hangs down an inch or so.
thanks guys - not doing any serious work in western, I just have filly to train and sell who is a little too chestnut and little to short for a lot of the English crowd so I want to be able to show her as an all around horse. I didn’t want to have a wreck over double cinches if a buyer wants to try her in their saddle - no guarantees that the buyers actually know what they are doing, so I better have a clue, I’ve always just used one cinch when I rode western.
We always ride with the rear cinch. Better to get them used to it vs a surprise if you ever need it.
Unless it is a center fire, if the saddle is set up for a rear cinch, use it. As Bluey said, the further forward the front cinch the more you need it. If you don’t use it at all it can totally screw up the way the saddle functions on the horse Better to have it than not.
It doesn’t need to be as snug as the front cinch but no air. Hobble it to the front cinch to keep it in place.
[QUOTE=49’er;7086773]
I never use the back strap…take it off. If you are doing cow work or riding in rough territory, then maybe use. If you do use it, then yes it needs to be connected to the front cinch and do not adjust it too tight or too loose. Maybe 3 or 4 inches hanging below the belly.[/QUOTE]
…REALLY? :lol: Thanks for serving as the Opposite of the Correct Answer.
My neighbor using one of my horses to go check his cows.
That is how you adjust a flank cinch.
If he were to rope, he will get off and get it a bit more snug by a hole or two.
Once thru roping, then loosen it again before he puts the horse back in the trailer, as it may bind the horse too much when backing out.
The second picture shows how it gets tight when the horse coils it’s hind end a bit.
The other strap hanging loose is the hobbles, that is also used for a neck strap when roping tied hard and fast, as we do around here:
