The Cinching Stretch

After you’ve finished tightening your cinch (Make sure to read about the proper way to cinch a horse), there’s one more step to ensure your horse’s comfort and prevent saddle sores. That’s the Cinching Stretch.

Lift and gradually stretch each front leg out in front as far as your horse will allow. If you’re doing this for the first time with your horse, make sure you move very slowly and gently to introduce the concept. After a few times, your horse will learn the routine and will willingly participate, but always be gentle and stretch slowly.

This stretch will remove any skin wrinkles that have gotten caught under the cinch that could cause irritation and sores.

Cinch Connecting Strap

The cinch connecting strap (also called a cinch hobble) connects the front cinch and flank cinch together. This is a small, but important, piece of equipment on double rigged saddles. Without this piece, the flank cinch can slip backwards into the horse’s flank and convert your well-mannered horse into a bucking bronc.

You should never use a flank cinch without this strap connected. A replacement is available from most tack stores. If you ever find yourself without one, just remove the flank cinch, and ride with only the front cinch. It’s that important.

The cinch connecting strap usually comes with the flank cinch, but can also be purchased separately. The strap is threaded through small rings on the front cinch and flank cinch and can have buckles, snaps, ties, or any combination of these. When connected, it must be short enough to keep the flank cinch in the correct position.

Savvy On-Saddle Cinch Storage Technique

Do you ever find yourself carrying your saddle with the cinch dragging on the ground? This is a problem worth solving and, fortunately, easily solved.

Many people just simply throw their latigo and cinch over the their saddle seat when unsaddling. While this is an easy technique, it’s not a very savvy one. The straps can easily fall down, getting stepped on, dirtied and damaged. And, well, it just looks sloppy.

Instead, learn this easy technique for securing your cinches (works for both front and flank cinches), and you’ll keep your tack in good shape, and establish yourself as a savvy horseman.

1. With both cinches unfastened, go to the off side (right side) to secure them.
2. Hang your flank cinch buckle on the buckle tongue of your front cinch buckle as shown in Photo 1.
3. Thread the saddle keeper under the cinch buckle and hook it on the buckle tongue as shown in Photo 2 and 3.

The cinches will now hang securely and neatly and are ready for your next ride.