are rear cinches important?

[Traveller]

The saddle I ride in now (a Billy Cook ranch saddle) has a rear cinch on it, but last night when I was ranch sorting, I knocked my ankle against the rear cinch buckle and, well, it hurt!

So I got thinking... when I finally order my custom saddle (right after I order a better economic outlook and Canadian dollar!), do I really need one?

I won't ever rope a cow, though I do expect to do some fairly serious back country riding, and I've just started ranch sorting. Eventually I'll do some penning, too.

I like the vaquero-style saddles, as opposed to the pleasure types, which could mean that even if I don't actually need a back cinch, it might look strange without one. And though I hope to be buried with my custom saddle, the truth is that I might want to sell it at some point, so it should have the things on it that most people want or expect, at least within reason.

Whaddaya'll think?

Thanks!

Joanne

Edited October 29, 2008 by Traveller

[Timbo]

My vote is no on back cinches, or belly bands. My opinion is only if you rope do you need one. I ride in the mountains and do not use one.

Tim

[kseidel]

Rear cinchas are certainly not required, even for most roping. The stability of the saddle is more dependant on how the front rigging is hung, and not having a tight rear cinch. If the saddle does not fit the horse well, the rear cinch won't help.

As for resale... having a rear rigging is certainly more popular and may make the difference to a prospective buyer. You can have the saddle made with a rear rigging and either not make the rear cinch and billets, or remove them. I make a lot of saddles with reverse loops on the billets as opposed to lace for easy removal.

Keith

[Steve Brewer]

Traveler,I personally don't ride a back cinch.If your rigging is put in right and the tree fits your horse it will be fine.We build 4 or 5 single rigged saddles a year.Most go to ranches were they roped off of a lot.

Steve

[Traveller]

Traveler,I personally don't ride a back cinch.If your rigging is put in right and the tree fits your horse it will be fine.We build 4 or 5 single rigged saddles a year.Most go to ranches were they roped off of a lot.

Steve

So does that mean back cinches are something people think they need if they're roping, much in the way they think they can't have in-skirt rigging if they're going to rope? Troy has that beautiful new in-skirt rigged saddle of his posted in the Gallery right now that's going to a serious roper, and I'm thinking both Troy and his customer know what they're doing!

And if you're not roping (and, as some have said, even if you are), it's just an extra piece of saddle that you don't need and which could get in the way, either when you bang your ankle against it or a branch on the trail or your horse's hind hoof gets caught in it. Am I right there?

Thanks, everybody! That custom saddle of mine is taking shape in my mind at least... now if someone would please prop up the economy for me, I could get the darned thing out of my head and into the shop!

[Traveller]

PS... that back cinch of mine is coming off today! The billets will still be there so the saddle's next owner can hook it back up, but you all have convinced me I don't really need it.

Thanks!

[Echo4V]

The only reason I have used a back cinch is because it's one more thing I can get a horse used to for the owner. As I've said I'm not a roper but I do train a few horses and when I do I try to get them used to anything I can think of so I ride a back cinch most of the time but as for an actual use for it I haven't really had one.

[Denise]

The stability of the saddle is more dependant on how the front rigging is hung

If your rigging is put in right

I am no authority on riggings, but I think the answer to your question is not a definite yes or no, but more of an "it depends". There are many types of riggings and different ways they can be put in that affect how they pull on the saddle, and that would determine how important a back cinch might be. Here are some threads (and there are more) where the saddle makers are discussing the hows and whys of different types of riggings. Maybe after reading these you will have a better idea how important your back cinch may or may not be depending on how your saddle is rigged.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...&hl=rigging

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...&hl=rigging

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...&hl=rigging Post #14

My own comment about back cinches is that if you are going to have one on your saddle - use it! i.e. snug it up. A back cinch hanging 3" below the horse's belly is doing absolutely no good and is a wreck waiting to happen.

[okiwen]

My mentor says that for the most part "No". He feels that his customer would feel 'ripped off' if he didn't include it but they have no need for it. It is his experience that ropers might find the use in that a hard hit on the rope puts stress on the horn and causes lift on the back. But...not many rope this hard or this long to require the rear cinch. Still, he includes one with every saddle.

Edited October 31, 2008 by okiwen

[TrooperChuck]

Joanne:

I've already given my ideas about rear cinches in a different posting, but here's a few more thoughts that come to mind. For back-county riding, there are two schools of thought with rear cinches...

Some feel that rear cinches are not needed, and are merely a "branch trap" waiting to be snagged by low bushes and trees.

Others feel that, when used properly, a rear cinch helps secure a saddle, thereby allowing you to use a slightly looser front cinch.

After lots of experimenting on back-country rides and packing trips, I've come to be a believer in the second theory. With my rear cinch snug, but not tight, against my horse I don't have to tighten the front cinch as much as I used to. That makes my horse very happy. By keeping the rear cinch snug, it also reduces the odds of something getting tangled in it.

If you've read my posting in regards to your question about breast collars, you've seen my other thoughts on those, and rear cinches. (Unfortunately, I saw that posting first, answered it, and then saw this one.)

happy trails!