Performance Cinches & Girths
A cinch or girth is the one piece of tack holding your saddle to your horse — and the wrong one rubs, pinches, or galls a horse right behind the elbow. Performance cinches are built to hold securely while letting your horse breathe and move at work.
What Riders Are Actually Asking
Mohair, neoprene, or fleece — what should I ride in?
Natural mohair and roper-style cord cinches are the long-distance favorite: they breathe, wick, and rarely gall. Neoprene cinches grip and rinse clean but trap heat on long rides. Fleece-lined girths add cushion for sensitive or thin-skinned horses.
How do I size a cinch?
Measure from a few inches below the spine on one side, under the barrel, to the same point on the other. A correctly sized cinch buckles at the rigging "sweet spot" — not so high it pinches the elbow, not so low the buckles dig in. Common Western sizes run 28"–36".
My horse gets cinchy — what helps?
Often it's pressure or pinch. A contoured or roper cinch that relieves the elbow area, plus cinching up slowly in stages, makes a real difference. Galling behind the leg usually means the cinch is too wide or riding too high.
What's a contoured or smart cinch?
Contoured, elbow-relief designs like the Professional's Choice VenTECH cut away material behind the leg to stop pinching while keeping a wide, stable bearing surface.
How to Choose the Right Cinch
- Material for the ride: mohair/cord for long miles and heat, neoprene for grip and easy cleaning, fleece for sensitive skin.
- Size it right: buckles should sit clear of the elbow — measure before you buy.
- Look for elbow relief: contoured shapes prevent galling on hard-working horses.
- Check the hardware: stainless roller buckles cinch easier and last longer.
Brands Riders Trust
Professional's Choice VenTECH and contoured cinches lead for elbow relief, while Weaver Leather and Classic Equine offer mohair, roper, and neoprene options for every saddle and discipline.
Thirty years outfitting working horses, fast shipping, and a team that rides. Happy Tails, Happy Trails.
