|
Written by Patrick Duffy
|
Don't know what to do with your back (flank) cinch? Here's how..........The flank cinch. It came with the saddle but what is it for? As a business that sells saddles it has caused me headaches. Particularly with roper and ranch saddles. Customers have sent saddles back because when they cinch them down at the front the back lifts up! Therefore the saddle does not fit. This is not helped by various trainers who say the back cinch should be left slack under the horse.
A recent article in Western Horseman mag puts this straight. Most specialist saddlemakers and pro-cowboys insist that the flank cinch be tightened up. Some recommend that the front and back cinch should share the load equally. But take care - you must have a connector strap and this must be no more than 4-5"as the flank cinch must fit over the rib cage and not the soft underbelly - without a connector strap it becomes a bucking strap! I used to do mine up so that it fit snug but when I got in the saddle there was a little clearance. I now pull it tight so the load is shared approx 60% front 40% back. The horse is fine with this and my "seat" is better. |
