Determining Cinch Length

[cyndi]

This may be a really silly question, but how does a person determine what size of cinch to buy? One theory is that there shouldn't be more than 6-8 inches of latigo between the saddle ring and the cinch ring. Are there any other "rules of thumb"? What about measuring halfway up the sides of the horse? Do you need it long enough to avoid the horse's elbows getting in the way?

[ghostrider]

I'd say that's about right on mine. I like about 6-8 inches of latigo and off side billet on each side. I don't like any less than about 5-6 inches either though. Just doesn't seem like you can tighten it enough if the latigo - D is too short. I don't know if it could be in the way of the horses elbows?

[cyndi]

I have a roly poly horse, so saddle slippage is an issue. I use a treeless saddle, but even a treed saddle slips on her. With a treeless saddle, sometimes using shorter girths (usually English girthing) that don't go more than halfway up the sides of the horse helps with stability (that's when you have to make sure the buckles aren't in the way of the elbows when they bring their leg back). I'm just wondering if the same would/could apply to Western rigging, for stability, or if it's a whole other ballgame.

I use "Y" rigging, and bought a pair of loooooong leather latigoes to use for that purpose...but with a space of 6-8 inches between the rings, they're still way too long. If I put them through the rings a few more times to shorten the excess, it's way too thick under my leg. Right now I've shelved the leather latigoes and am using six-foot nylon latigoes, which is better. Anyone need a pair of black leather eight-foot latigoes? lol

Just wondering what kind of horse you'd have to have in order to use up eight feet of latigo! lol

Been thinking of buying a new pad that is advertized as being really stable. But again, that statement may apply to when it's used with a treed saddle. I'm desperate though. I am so tired of constantly 'fixing' my position in the saddle

[ghostrider]

Yeah I know about fat horses LOL! This is Buddy, if you realize he's 16HH and his head is large enough I need to have a different neck strap made that's 6" longer (and still could be a little longer) you realize how big he is. Or should I say BEEFY? He's got a deep barrel and his withers are not big. He wears a size 4 cavello boot in front and a size 3 in back.
I've found with Buddy a navajo blanket works best for non slippage. The fleece pads seem really slick but I own a navajo that is extra large and thick. It folds in half and then goes on under the saddle with plenty of cushion and the saddle doesn't slip. I also have a pad with the waffle neoprene on the innards that works really good. It's made by Colorado but on their site I couldn't find it. I bought mine at the tack store. I also have just a thin neoprene liner that goes between any pad and your horse. Works great too. I have 3 way rigging but with Buddy's build I don't need it, not even on the mountains.

[tripledeuce]

I like the weaver neoprene "smart cinch". The neoprene really seems to help. I also ALWAYS use a breastcoller, usually a martingaile type.
For saddle pads, I always use a CorrecTor Pad. wih a thin Navajo pad over it.
he more pad/ thicker the pad, the more it tends to slip. I like @ 6-8" between he cinch and the saddle "d".
Respectfully
Terry

[cyndi]

Wow, Buddy is beautiful! His head is massive! (I mean that in a nice way, not an insult! ;D).

Is the neoprene liner a "Thinline" pad? I'd like to get one of those just to make my mare more comfy when I'm on her

I have my eye on a wool navajo blanket that I want to try.

Thanks for your input too, Terry. I've seen the Weaver 'Smart Cinch', so I might take another look at them. I used to have a neoprene girth with another treeless saddle I had, but it slipped something fierce too. Maybe I'll give the Weaver one a try. My other options are an alpaca cinch or the Flexi-Girth (elastic). I've heard really good things about the Flexi-Girth - you don't have to tighten the bajeebers out of it in order to be stable.

I'll also check out the CorrecTor pad.

Oh, and we do use a breast collar as well.

It sure is nice to have "Western saddle" people to talk to

[ghostrider]

Thanks Cyndi, yes he is a big boy. Although he's a captured mustang the herd he was in must have had a lot of Percheron blood in it because most people think he's a Percheron cross. His head is definitely predominately Percheron. Also probably where he gets his beefy build as well.

The pad is one I picked up at auction. Every Nov in Wy they have a three day auction which has a ton of new as well as used horse items including pads and saddles. I don't know if it even has a name on it. I got my navajo pad there as well and I am having a difficult time finding another as big and thick.

[Deleted]

I was just reading about this, as with my new pad, but girth is now too small. Most recommend 3-5" of latigo, and preferably closer to 3. It provides stability.

[ghostrider]

I had too much trouble with my last cinch. I only had about 3" of cinch between on both sides. I bought a new 32".
There are what, 4 types of rigging?? front, 7/8 or 3/4 and centerfire then there are multiple skirt riggings, you've got inskirt or a few different on the skirt riggings. All of which have different ways in which they can be cinched. Personally I like the inskirt and I like the front rigging but all these would be a factor in cinching your horse and how much cinch is best. Of course horses build has something to consider too.

[joseeandjade11]

ok so i've read all the posts here but no one really says how to measure your horse to know the right length of cinch to use. I have tried measuring the heartgirth gave me a 73 so i divided by 2 and subtract by 3 = 33.5 which means my mare would be a 34'' which is impossible because if i put a 34 the cinch would be too long and will interfere with the pad. So i decided to measure from my saddle left rigging to the right rigging, then subtract by 16 which was giving me 36'' again, way too long!
I am very confused with the cinch length now. i read that you want your cinch short but not too short that the d-ring interferes with the horse's elbow and some say you want it long to have less latigo touching your horse.
Plus there's the abdominal vein that you dont want your d-ring putting pressure on. It just gets too complicated So confused!

p.s my mare is 14'2 hh
She wears a 46'' fleece girth with my english AP saddle and either 46'' or 48'' with neoprene girth. With my western i have had a 30'' then thought it was too small so bought a 32'' and somehow some say it's too long for her and some say it's all good.
(Would post a picture but i don't know how :S

[cyndi]

It is complicated and confusing, isn't it?

I have a cinch that says "34 inches" on it, but it's shorter than that...more like 32 or 33 inches. I'll attempt to post a photo of my horse with that cinch. She is 14.2, but very chunky (we're working on that!).

According to what I've been told about only 6-8 inches of latigo between cinch buckle and D ring, I need a 36" cinch for her, which seems really long.

[Deleted]

Don't be offended, but I think you might be over thinking this. I can say that, because I am the queen of over thinking these things!!! I have been trying to determine the right cinch length for my new gelding, and even sent pictures to a saddle fitter. My gelding is okay with a 34", or a 36"....it's just whatever seems best to me. I was trying to hard to make it what I thought was "perfect".

Now... on to what you said about the length of his english girth? That helps me a lot. If I am using a 48-50" English girth, then I normally use a 32" western cinch on the same horse. I use only leather english girths, and right now only use mohair cinches.

[ghostrider]

This is Sarah riding Boomer I like the cinch around here.


This is the on-side of my new Tucker the first time I put it on Buddy, he was real enthusiastic!


And the off side..


I like the placement of the off side billet but the onside looks a bit long. Only because he's not cinched up tight. Buddy will bloat when saddled. So after I give him a few minutes I can tighten the cinch up another couple inches. The back cinch will not be as tight either.

[ghostrider]

I don't know if you can do a math calculation when it comes to buying the right cinch. I just put the saddle on the horse and if I don't like where it falls I buy one (or dig out an extra one from my trunk) a bit longer or shorter.

[joseeandjade11]

Thanks everyone! I think i got my answer and will go back to my 30'' fleece. I also saw nice 100% mohair cinch, since im going to stick with 30''..I was wondering if i should get a 28'' or a 30''? Some say mohair can stretch about 1 or 2 inches and some say it stays the same length after a few uses it only stretches with the horses movements. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you

p.s how do you post a picture? When i press the picture icon there's only this that appeas [/img]

this is the link to the mohair cinch i really want to buy
www.horse.com/item/mustang-pro-roller-mohair-roper-cinch/E005865/