My western cinches have buckles but my none of the cinch straps on my saddles have holes. I've never seen a western saddle buckled, only tied. So whats the point? What the point of having a cinch with a buckle and a cinch strap with no holes? I'm just wondering why its there, and if I'm missing out on somthing.
I use the holes versus tying. Tried to find a youtube video but basically instead of tying the knot, you wrap two loops as usual, find a hole and pull the leathers back down until the buckle catches. Then you wrap up any extra length.
It's sort of like the sprung 'safety' catch thing, on English saddle stirrup bars. You should never use them (though some people persist) because they stop the leather coming off in an emergency. Really they're just a hangover from the days before recessed bars when panels were far less bulky and there was often not enough wool behind the bar to keep the stirrup leather in place.
Yep, pretty much the only cinches I've ever seen that didn't have buckles were the cinches used on bronc saddles and some that are designed for pack saddles.
As others have said, some people prefer to tie their cinch and others prefer to use a latigo with holes and buckle their cinch. I've never tied one...wouldn't even know how, but I really don't have any desire to learn either. I like the ease and speed that the buckle provides.
If the buckle gets in your way or you don't like having them, you might consider buying a bronc cinch next time. They just have the rings with no buckles on them.
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