Clean Your Cinch!

Cinches are one saddle part that should be inspected and cleaned regularly. Dirt, hair, and sweat all build up on a cinch and can cause cinch galls on your horse.

The good news is that it's fairly easy to clean a cinch and you don't need a lot of fancy tools - just water, a small amount of a mild detergent (I usually use dish detergent), and a stiff brush.

You can let the cinch soak in some water first to let the crud break down a bit before attacking it with a good stiff brush and the detergent. The key is to make sure you thoroughly rinse the cinch after washing to get every trace of soap out. Left-in soap can irritate your horse.

If you have one of those fancy high-pressure washers, they'll really do the trick quick. Just make sure you anchor the cinch before you start blasting or you'll be chasing after your cinch.

What type of cinches can you use this cleaning approach with? Any cinch worth a dang.  If you have a cinch that can't be cleaned with soap and water, than you don't have a cinch worth having.