TACK & EQUIPMENT TIP: Keep Cinch/Girth Even During Tightening Process

Tack & Equipment Tip: KEEP YOUR GIRTH/CINCH EVEN during the tightening process!!!

Note: The “tightening process” includes all the times you check and adjust the girth/cinch during tacking, before mount, after mount, and during the lesson.

WHY is this important?

Keeping your girth or cinch even helps your equine stay more comfortable, keep cinch/girth pressure even on both sides of the equine’s body, also helps keep your tack centered.

HOW- English & Dressage saddles

As you tighten up the girth, count the holes on each side and try to get each side as even as possible (ex: left side buckles are on 4 and 4 and right side buckles are also 4 and 4).
As you tighten the girth make sure you check to see what side need to go up to stay even. You don’t always have to tighten on the left/near side!
Example: if the girth is on 4 and 4 on the left and 3 and 3 on the right and it needs tightened, you would bring the girth up on the right so it moves to 4 and 4)
Caution: Only tighten as needed! Don’t over tighten a girth just to get it “exactly” even on both sides. If you are within a hole on each side it would be ok…it when you get several holes difference that we start to see issues.

The left side is currently one hole longer than the right side. If/when this girth needs tightened, the left side should be brought up to maintain symmetry.

HOW: Western saddle

As you adjust the cinch, pay attention to the spacing between the top of the cinch and the bottom edge of the blanket. Try to get this as even as possible on both sides (assuming your blanket is even it works well as a reference)
Adjust the offside billet as needed to help even out the cinch.
Tip: if the saddle is shared between horses, write down the offside billet number and cinch length so you have a starting point the next time you tack up.

TEACH OTHERS!

This is not something only instructors can/should do!
Teach this to your volunteers and students!

“Real life” lesson example: My students check girth/cinch evenness and numbers when the tack up and/or when they do their “3 checks” before mounting. The student then tells me what side to tighten the girth on once they mount based off the hole counts (for English and dressage)…for western they say if the spacing between the chinch buckles and blanket are close to even.

Want to learn more about topics mentioned in this post? Check out the Intuitive Instructor Content below:

Tricks of the Trade for Tack & Equipment

This section in the IIC has several videos taught by Amy Sheets- PATH Intl. Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor that gives instructors top tips and tools relating to adapting tack and equipment such as stirrups, crops/bats/whips, reins, etc.

You are currently on Hoof Falls & Footfalls’ learning platform. Return to our main website HERE.

Hoof Falls & Footfalls is supported by YOU! Each time you buy through affiliate links from my site, I may earn commission (at no extra cost to you). Commissions help me continue to provide free and affordable education to adaptive/therapeutic riding instructors and other Equine Assisted Services industry professionals.