The back cinch, or rear cinch, is the second cinch behind your front cinch. If you rope or ride rough country, it does a real job, and how tight you set it matters. I build rear cinches, rear billets and cinch connectors in my shop in Eminence, Indiana. Here's how I set a back cinch, what goes wrong when it's too loose, and why I build the strap that connects it to your front cinch out of biothane.
How tight should a back cinch be?
I set my back cinch just snug against the horse's belly, with no gap. The front cinch is tighter than the back cinch. But the back cinch sits right up against the belly, ready for any sudden change in pressure.
Here's why. When you're roping, a snug back cinch keeps a constant pressure on the belly, and that evens out the pressure through the whole saddle. When the rope comes tight, the back cinch is already there doing its job instead of waiting to catch up.
Front cinch vs back cinch
| Front cinch | Back cinch | |
|---|---|---|
| How tight | Tighter of the two | Just snug against the belly, no gap |
| Saddling | Goes on first | Goes on second |
| Unsaddling | Comes off last | Comes off first |
| Its job | Holds the saddle on the horse | Keeps steady pressure on the belly so the saddle handles sudden pressure changes |
What happens when a back cinch is too loose?
A back cinch that's too loose can cause trouble a few ways:
- It hits the horse in the belly. When the pressure suddenly comes on, a loose back cinch slaps up into the belly. That scares the horse and puts unnecessary pressure on it.
- It never touches the belly at all. Then it gives you no stability when you need to pull what you roped.
- It hangs too low. It can hang low enough that a hind foot gets through it.
In every case, the back cinch isn't doing what it's there for.
Who needs a back cinch?
Anyone who's roping needs a back cinch. So does anyone riding extremely rough terrain, where the saddle could shift and needs extra help handling the pressure. If you're one of those riders, put one on and set it right.
Why the cinch connector matters
The cinch connector, also called a hobble strap, is the short strap under the belly that ties your back cinch to your front cinch. It keeps the back cinch where it belongs. Without one, a back cinch can slide back toward the flank.
I build my Cinch Connector Hobble Strap in biothane, and I build it that way on purpose. A broken cinch connector can cause one of the biggest wrecks I've ever seen. That strap sees more mud, water and moisture than any other strap on your saddle. Biothane never rots or dry rots, and it has a higher tensile strength than any leather I can find. For this one strap, that's what I want.
It's 5/8" biothane with stainless steel hardware. It clips to your front cinch and adjusts to your back cinch with a Conway buckle. It's $12.
How I put a back cinch on, and take it off
Order matters. When I saddle, the front cinch goes on first, then the back cinch, then the breast collar. When I unsaddle, the back cinch comes off first, then the breast collar, and the front cinch comes off last.
- Saddling: front cinch first, snug. Then the back cinch, just snug against the belly with no gap. Then the breast collar.
- Unsaddling: back cinch first. Then the breast collar. Front cinch last.
Putting the back cinch on first is a common mistake. If the horse spooks or moves, there's nothing holding the saddle on. Front cinch first keeps the risk of a wreck as low as you can get it. The whole routine is in how to saddle a horse western.
While you're cinching up, look at your latigo, too. It wears where it hooks on the saddle's D-ring, and you want to catch that early. I cover what to look for in when to replace your latigo.
My rear cinches and rigging
My rear cinches are cut from heavy harness leather and lined with latigo, with heavy 2" stainless steel roller buckles. Each one comes with a connector strap. Rear billets are sold separately. My rear billets are also where my water bottle holder mounts; I explain why in my saddle water bottle holder guide. If you're replacing rigging, look at your stirrup hobbles too. Here's what stirrup hobbles do.
| Piece | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3" Rear Cinch | Straight, harness leather, latigo lined | $150 |
| 4" Rear Cinch | Straight, harness leather, latigo lined | $160 |
| 8" Contoured Rear Cinch | Contoured, harness leather, latigo lined | $240 |
| Harness Leather Rear Billets | Pair, 30", double-ply harness leather | $95 |
| Cinch Connector Hobble Strap | 5/8" biothane, stainless hardware, Conway buckle | $12 |
| Latigo Cinch Strap | 12 oz latigo, 1¾" x 6', for the front cinch | $55 |
You can see all of it in the cinches and latigos collection. If you want to see where each strap goes on the saddle, read parts of a western saddle.
Taking care of your rear cinch
A rear cinch sees a lot of sweat, mud and water. Brush the dirt and sand off it, clean it with liquid saddle soap, let it dry completely and put on a thin coat of conditioner. Let it sit a day, then wipe it down with saddle soap again to take off any tackiness. The full routine is in how to clean and condition leather. I'll also clean and condition any leather product I sell for free, for life. Get it to me and I'll ship it back at my cost.
My lifetime warranty
Everything I make has a lifetime warranty. It covers anything that breaks or fails in normal use. Parts that wear with use, like latigos and off billets, aren't covered once they've worn out. If it can be repaired, I'll repair it. If it can't, I'll replace it, at no charge. If you have any questions, contact me. The details are on the warranty and leather care page.
Frequently asked questions
How tight should a back cinch be?
Just snug against the horse's belly, with no gap. It shouldn't be as tight as the front cinch, but it should sit right against the belly, ready for any sudden change in pressure.
Should the back cinch be as tight as the front cinch?
No. The front cinch is tighter than the back. The back cinch is set just snug against the belly with no gap.
What happens if a back cinch is too loose?
It can hit the horse in the belly when the pressure suddenly comes on, which scares the horse and adds unnecessary pressure. Or it never touches the belly and gives you no stability to pull what you roped. It can also hang low enough that a hind foot gets through it.
What is a cinch connector?
It's the short strap under the belly, also called a hobble strap, that ties your back cinch to your front cinch so the back cinch can't slide back toward the flank. I build mine from 5/8" biothane because that strap sees more mud and water than any other, and biothane never rots or dry rots.
Who needs a back cinch?
Anyone roping, and anyone riding extremely rough terrain where the saddle could shift and needs extra help handling the pressure.
Why is your cinch connector made of biothane?
A broken cinch connector can cause one of the biggest wrecks I've seen, and that strap sees more mud, water and moisture than any other. Biothane never rots or dry rots, and it has a higher tensile strength than any leather I can find.
Tyler has been building Western tack for more than fifteen years, the last six of them full time, from the shop at his house in Eminence, Indiana. Growing up around some of the top professionals in the pleasure horse, barrel racing and racehorse worlds gave him the chance to ride high-quality horses in each of those disciplines, and years spent as a pickup man and riding ranch horses today are where most of his ideas for better tack come from. Every piece he builds is made in the USA and guaranteed for life.
