Measuring for western cinch out if shape horse..

So I have a couple questions here..my mare is a little on the pudgy side right now..should I go by her current measurement or wait until she's in better shape..
Her current hearth girth is 79" so I know you divide by 2 and then minus 3"
So that's 36.5 should I round up to 37.. and buy a 38" cinch..or take into consideration that she's out of shape should I just buy the 36"..
Thanks..
Sarah

Wow, 36" is big, even for a pudgy horse. Even my overweight draft cross doesn't wear a 36".

Another way to measure is to put your saddle on her, run a string/rope under her belly and through both cinch d-rings. Pull it snug, mark both sides, measure between the marks, and then subtract 16"...rounding to the nearest 2 inch increment.

Given that you get the same measurement, a 36.5, I'd go with a 36". If you went with a 38, it wouldn't be long before it was too big as she looses weight.

I thought it seemed big too! And she's not obese just out of shape from not being ridden all winter..I just bought her.
She is a 16 hand quarter horse..not a draft.. I just went out and took a piece of string measured starting at the top of her withers then down around her cinch line and back to the top..is that right?

I will bring my saddle out in the morning and try the method you suggested

Most of my horses are fine in a 34. We have a big. 16hh thick rope horse and a 34 fits him nicely. The only thong that has a 36 is our 16.3 hh quarter horse gelding. Neoprene roper cinch and if it was a mohair or cotton I would need a 34 because both of the two latter stretch with time.
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A robs a got a 36 for the measurement..you can kind of see in this picture that she does have a big barrel..34 has been my go to length but I guess I will be needing to pick up a 36!

Since I prefer to use a mohair or cotton cinch..should I go with a 34 seeing that it will stretch? ..

Had to laugh cause I thought 36 was small, ha ha. My two take 38 and 42, . But they are huge!

It's uncomfortable to have too much latigo (the leather) down to the cinch, and if too little, it's difficult to tighten. I doubt your horse's girth measure will change very much from idle to good shape.

You Know?
Saddles have all different rigging positions. There is No add this divide by that. Need to put the saddle you have on the horse, then measure where you want the girth to be.