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