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