Cinchas and Cinchas Ties

I received the following questions from a gent concerning cinchas and latigo straps: "I looked at several of your videos and photographs and I am trying to determine how you secure your cinch. I have a hard time with my cinch strap and the belt buckle on the cinch. Also what type of cinch(s) do you prefer or recommend? I used to have a cotton rope traditional cinch but have since went to a neoprene cinch as my saddle keeps slipping. thank you in advance for answering my question. Lawrence."

Hello Lawrence, I am assuming that the problem you mention is finding the right hole in your latigo where the tongue of the buckle can keep the cincha tight enough but not too tight. I haven't used the buckle tongue on a cincha for decades now. I just use a friction tie from the cincha buckle through the saddle D ring to the keeper. In fact, on many of my cincha, I cut the tongue off the cincha buckle. Once I was doing a demo in a indoor arena and one of the ladies got my attention to tell me my cincha latigo was not secured through the buckle tongue. I replied "I cut the tongue off the buckle, I don't ever use it." She looked at me like I was a heathen. Anyway, the pictures below are closeups of the 'cowboy knot' and the fleece cincha buckle.

I am not, by any means, saying that this is a better method. I've ridden with a bunch of people, much better than I'll ever be, and they use the cincha buckle as designed. I was just tired of chasing the right hole to get the right cincha tension. The way I secure the cincha, which I have heard people call a 'cowboy knot', works for me, at least in part, as my saddles fit my horses very well and all of them have at least a little bit of withers to help the saddle stay positioned.

Years ago I used to secure the cincha latigo with a girth knot. I see people do that all the time and its a legitimate way, but for me it place too big of bulk under my leg. The pictures below show that method of securing the cincha.

For the past twenty or more years, I have used mostly fleece lined cinchas unless I was riding someone else horse and equipment. I have a couple Mohair cinchas and felt cinchas, but again I prefer fleece lined. I am just not a fan of neoprene cinchas or saddle pads for that matter. I think they build up heat too much.

You did not mention what type of saddle pad you are using. While you likely can't fix a really poor fitting saddle by using pads and blankets, I think you can make it better and the horse more comfortable. I use CSI pads that are formed for the withers and have vent holes, as well as plastic pressure plates to even out the pressure from the bars of the saddle. The pads are two piece, felt on the bottom and automotive carpet on top. However, there are several different makers of formed pads like 5 Star Equine. I would start by setting the saddle of your horse's back and see how it fits his back conformation, and go from there.

I hope this helps, good luck and safe riding.

2020 Randy Rieman Horsemanship Clinic

Again this year we were able to get Randy Rieman to come down from Montana to do a Horsemanship clinic. This years clinic will be on Saturday and Sunday, 2-3 May 2020. His current prices are $150 per session which is a bargain in today's clinic costs.

Each day is two separate 3 1/2 hour sessions - one morning and one afternoon. I already have riders signing up to ride one horse on one day then a different horse the next day.

Randy rode with Tom and Bill Dorrance, and Ray Hunt, bringing that sort of approach to horsemanship. I meet and talk to horses owners a lot and it continues to surprise me that so many people have not heard of the Dorrance brothers, Ray Hunt nor all the top clinicians that their teachings have spawned, like Randy, Buck Brannaman, Bryan Neubert, Martin Black and many others. It just seems to me that if you are going to own and ride horses, even just for pleasure, then you would embark on a journey for knowledge which would led you to these gentlemen at some point.

In last years clinic, which was Randy's second visit to the El Paso, Texas - Las Cruces, New Mexico area, I think only one rider knew who Randy Rieman was prior to the first session. The others showed up on faith, and hope, that someone can make them better. Many of these riders were fairly accomplished in their own right - barrel racers, dressage competitors and team ropers.

Randy's clinic format's are such that there is no set format. He helps the horse and rider from where they are at, with what they need. It's problem solving at it's base. The education you can get from being helped, or watching someone with Randy's experience helping someone else, is priceless. A smart person never stops learning and a humble person knows it'll take a lifetime to learn what you want to know. These top shelf clinicians help speed up the learning curve. And as John Lyons told me one time, "People need to do less buying gear and more buying knowledge."

Two moments from last year's clinic are always fresh on my mind. One was a barrel racer who had issues backing her horse and opening gates. Randy helped her and her horse achieve those things, and at the end of the session with tears in her eyes, the rider commented - "this morning my horse was for sale, not anymore!" The second was a dressage rider whose horse does well being ridden in contact, but had the habit of speeding up just a bit - just wouldn't be consistent in keeping the same speed within that gait. Randy rode her horse and showed her how she could make her horse responsible for keeping the same gait and speed, and do so on a looser rein.

Anyway, if anyone is in the commuting area and wants a clinic slot, just get ahold of me. Or if you want to host Randy Rieman at your location, give Randy a call.