Western Riders: Poll

I didnt until I started riding drill. We need to have one when doing rodeos so it's on my saddle and i'm too lazy to take it off so now I ride with one.

No it is different that a bucking strap but if is on loose like allot of them it can become one. exspecally on a gelding or stallion. That is why allot of people buy a strap to tie it to the front cinch.

Always. Most of my riding is done on trails that can be very steep, depending on which direction I take. Plus, I use the same saddle for riding trails, working cattle, roping, and training horses. My philosophy is that it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I had a friend that trained horses but he didn't think a back cinch was necessary on a young horse. Well one day he was riding a young horse that got spooked and went to bucking. The horse got his head down and really started bucking hard and sucking back and the saddle just went BLOOP, right down over his head and my friend face planted in the dirt. Wouldn't have happened with a back cinch.

Plus, it would be too much trouble to take it on and off depending on where I was going to ride.

Thanks everyone for replying.
Smrobs,
What would I use? A latigo strap? And another girth? I have an extra latigo. I am leaning toward using a back cinch. The land is all flat where we live, but I plan on taking her into the mountains a lot where my family lives.

I think that most tack stores sell the billets and cinches separately so that you can get what matches your saddle. My tack store does anyway. I don't recommend anything any skinnier than 3 inches or thinner than two-ply because if the need arises that you have to tighten it up, the more surface area to spread the pressure, the better it is. Many ranch hands keep 6 inch scalloped back cinches on theirs just because they do have to tighten theirs really tight when working cattle. I would personally avoid the cheap ones that are 2 inches wide and made of single ply leather. I would go for something more like this.
or this
And the billets that you will need for each side will look like this


But then again, I believe in doing everything heavy duty. However, I think these types of flank cinches just look, for lack of a better word, dinky.


And IMHO, it is better to get her used to it now on flat ground that she is familiar with. Has she ever had a flank cinch used on her before?

I always use a back cinch. usually I'm not doing anything that requires it, but it can't hurt, can it? I've just always used them and I feel like it looks empty without one!

I use a back cinch on my green horse, to get him used to it, and so if he does silly stuff, the saddle stays in place better. I will also use it when we start doing poles and barrels.

I never use it on my mare. I just don't feel the need too. She is just an old trail horse and I am not heavy at all, so the saddle never shifts or anything.

Just remember, when you use it, NEVER leave it loose! People think that they should for some reason, don't! It doesn't have to be super tight, but should be snug against them.

one of my saddles has one and one doesn't ... i want to find one for my victor but i want it to be a nice one that matches ...

normally you don't use one unless you are roping or doing something where you need the saddle to REALLY stay ... but some people just like the look

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I agree with SMROBS i use one though i dont do any fast paced events or work cattle, but id rather have one and never need it than have my 16.2 hand gelding decide to buck me off and have the saddle do something screwy, better safe than sorry imo! Plus they look cool, really cowboyish! Maybe i am just an over doer in the whole protective equip thing though, i always use boots on my horses when i ride, i wear a helmet,i boot and helmet them when i trailer, and if im trail riding i usually have a rope halter under my bridle and looped to my horn just in case.... of course ive had instances where all my safety measures have helped sooo much as well, so it just reinforces it i guess!

I'm getting one soon. Does it matter if its felt, nylon, or leather? There is all 3 at my tack shop, and I don't really want to spend a lot of money on the leather one so I was thinking of the hospital felt one. What do you guys prefer?