| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | a front cinch only you have Single Rigging. |
| Explanations as to how to rig a western saddle often | | | | Further refinements were made with either the |
| go into much more detail than is really needed by the | | | | performance of the horse or comfort of the rider in |
| recreational rider. Rigging is quite basic in concept | | | | mind, or both. If your cinch is halfway between the |
| although it should be noted that in installing the rigging | | | | cantle and the pommel you have Center Fire Rigging, if |
| the saddlemaker must be very careful and precise in | | | | the cinch is under the pommel you have Full Rigging - |
| doing it correctly. While the basic function of the rigging | | | | but you know that already. What if the cinch is three |
| is to attach the saddle to the horse, this must be done | | | | quarters of the way from the cantle? The answer - a |
| correctly. | | | | Three Quarters Rigged saddle - seven eights of the |
| Ask a little kid (or someone who draws "stick pictures" | | | | distance (i.e. about at the rear of the pommel - a |
| like I do) to draw a horse with a saddle on it. The cinch | | | | Seven Eights Rigged saddle). |
| will probably be depicted as dropping down from the | | | | What about a saddle with a rear cinch only? I haven't |
| center of the saddle and going around the middle of | | | | seen any write-ups on that one although somewhere |
| the horse's belly. This would seem natural and in fact | | | | along the line someone may have experimented with |
| the "old timey saddles" of the 19th century were | | | | the idea. They may not have lived to tell about it! In any |
| essentially rigged this way. It's called Center Fire rigging | | | | event don't try it. |
| and requires a rather wide cinch (6-8 inches) to keep | | | | Knowledge is Power - Impress Your Friends |
| the cinch in place. | | | | Armed with the above knowledge you can impress |
| The evolution of Rigging Design | | | | your friends with your knowledge of saddlery by |
| Like so many other parts of a saddle, the rigging got to | | | | taking them with you to the saddle shop and asking to |
| where it is today largely through evolution. Someone | | | | see what they have in the way of a "seven-eights |
| would change something that needed changing, | | | | single rigged saddle" . You likely won't impress the shop |
| experiment a bit, and come up with a new "design". | | | | owner since that's how the majority of saddles are |
| Circumstances relating to the use of the saddle would | | | | rigged nowadays. Actually seven-eights with either |
| often dictate the need for changes in the approach to | | | | single or double rigging are the most popular |
| the rigging. | | | | configurations. |
| With the advent of the saddle horn as an aid in roping, | | | | You could also ask for a double rigged center fire |
| Center Fire rigging was found to have some | | | | saddle in which case the shop owner would likely roll |
| disadvantages. Rope the calf and stop the horse and | | | | his eyes and talk about you long after you've left. The |
| the saddle would tend to be pulled forward with the | | | | reason - with center fire rigging a back cinch is so |
| cantle perhaps rising. The answer to the problem was | | | | close to the front cinch that it serves no practical |
| found in Full Rigging where the position of the cinch is | | | | purpose. |
| directly below the fork or pommel rather than at the | | | | Single or Double Rigging? |
| center of the seat. Tightening the cinch on a full-rigged | | | | Double rigging adds stability which is an advantage if |
| saddle actually pulls the saddle forward slightly while | | | | you're going to be riding in very rough couontry (ups |
| also pulling it down so the saddle is pulled into the low | | | | and downs) much of the time. Otherwise, the back |
| part of the horses back. If you look closely at the | | | | cinch is "just another piece of leather to worry about" |
| full-rigged saddle you'll note that the cinch doesn't drop | | | | according to some, and they prefer single rigging for |
| straight down but comes forward at a slight angle, | | | | that reason. |
| going around the horse's sternum rather than the | | | | Rings and Clamps |
| center of the belly. | | | | There are several ways in which rigging is attached to |
| Full rigging still had some disadvantages as a roping | | | | the tree or the skirt. If you're buying a quality saddle I |
| saddle and as a recreational saddle when traveling | | | | wouldn't worry too much about O-rings, D-rings, or |
| over rough terrain. The cantle would tend to rise when | | | | plates. Sit in the saddle and see if it's comfortable and |
| going downhill or roping a calf. Texas cowboys are | | | | then decide if seven-eights or whatever is right for |
| credited with solving the problem by the addition of a | | | | you. |
| billet or back cinch attached in a line below the cantle. | | | | Copyright © 2005 W. Savage. All Rights |
| Add the back cinch and you have Double Rigging, with | | | | Reserved. |