For our western riders

Nope never have used one . . . Willowwind Tack in Rockton can get you one i dunno about price though

 

Don't use one, but you should be able to find one at any tack store, or they can get you one. But they are not cheap if you are looking for a good one. We used to use them when doing a lot of riding on hills and such, but don't get to those trail much anymore so we don't even bother. Never tight, but snug enough not to get a branch or anything caught under it, and ALWAYS make sure it is attached to the ring on the front cinch so it cannot slide back into the flanks. Some horses don't mind them, others hate them. I usually just take the rear billets off any saddle.

 

I've never used one either but most tack shops sell the cinch.

Never felt it was necessary, usually take it off the saddle when I get one with it on.
A friend tells me she trains all of her horses to use a flank strap for trail riding, ??? don't know why except maybe it holds the saddle down. duhh

 

Make sure the rear cinch is taken up enough that a horse can't stick a rear foot in it when kicking at a fly or swimming. Learned this when a friend of mine swam his pony across a stream and the pony rolled over on his side and started floating

 

Only when I was cutting or team penning with my cutting saddle.

Fit as BUC said, loose, but not hanging.

 

Dummie western novice here...how does a back cinch help you in a bucking fit? (What are the mechanics of it?)

Thanks!

 

Keeps the saddle from flipping up in the back and possibly(you and the saddle) going right over the horses head.

 

How loose? Maybe like 2-3 fingers distance?

Good theory for using one, how would I get my horse used to one though?

 

Whoa! Thanks...wow, I've never seen that happen but that would be terribly scary!

 

We kept ours one finger max because we rode through brush a lot and any looser and you can get a stick caught up and that is a very bad thing!! You just add one to your saddle, and lunge or walk around a lot and make sure you pull the back of the saddle up a few times so it actually touches them. Then they get used to it. If the first time it actually touches them is when you are leaning forward in the saddle, migh not be a good thing!

 

yep what she said...

 

See you guys have taught me something new here- since I am starting to ride off the property (no trails yet) I am going to get myself one and work on getting sissy pants used to the feel of it before I go anywhere.
:fluffb

 

AND if you have one of those synthetic western saddles it is even more likely to happen.

 

synthetic saddle--- yes

Breast collar--- yes

flank strap----- AS OF RIGHT NOW!

 

Never used one, though they look good. Haven't been on the trails much and when I have, pretty flat land. Thank god my mare doesn't have the will to buck!