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