Measuring Cinch Size
There are 2 primary ways to measure for western cinch size:
1: Measure an existing cinch that fits your horse properly.
Applying medium tension, measure buckle tip to buckle tip. Most commercial cinches are made in 2" increments, in even sizes. If your current cinch measures an odd number, there's a good chance that it has stretched a bit.
2. The buckles of the cinch MUST be clear of the horse's elbow and also below the the highest point of the curve of the ribcage. The cinch will settle into to the narrowest point of the horse. The LOWEST you'd want your cinch buckle to sit, is about 3-4" ABOVE the elbow. We want to AVOID the buckle being on the thin, sensitive, wrinkly skin of the horse's elbow.
How to measure using a string or soft measuring tape:
-Place a string 3-4" above the elbow, run it underneath your horse, to the same point on the opposite side (3-4" above elbow). Measure the length of the string and you will have the exact length that your cinch should be, buckle tip to buckle tip.