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Cinches (also called cinchas) have long been
made of cord or strings of various fibers. In recent years some
cinches have been made of solid material. Traditional string cinches
are usually a single version between 14–17 individual strings or a
double version between 27–31 strings rather than a single solid
piece of material against the horse’s skin. This allows the horse’s
skin to breathe and the hair to dry as the horse works and sweats.
The traditional and most desirable fiber for string cinches is
mohair, the soft hair of goat kids or Angora goats. Mohair is
breathable and somewhat elastic, so it allows the horse’s rib cage
to expand to maximize his lung capacity. Wool is often blended with
mohair for economic reasons and synthetic fibers such as rayon and
nylon are blended with mohair to make the cinch yarn stronger and
more resistant to dirt and sweat. The trade off is that synthetics
are not as soft or as breathable as natural fibers. Also, some
synthetics have no give and thus are more restrictive to the horse’s
breathing.
When properly cared for, woven string cinches can have a long
lifespan. It’s important to keep these cinches clean not only
because they’ll last longer but for the horse’s comfort. A dirty
cinch is more likely to gall a horse (rub the skin raw) because the
crusty, sweaty fibers act like sandpaper on the tender skin behind
the horse’s elbow where there is little protective hair.
Woven cinches are either straight or roping style. Straight cinches
are the same width their entire length. Roping cinches are wider in
the center. Some riders who don’t rope prefer roping cinches because
of a wider surface bearing area. This spreads the pressure of
anchoring the saddle and the rider’s shifting weight over a larger
area, making it more comfortable for the horse.
FACTS ABOUT THE “ROY” CINCH
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The buckle design is a “ROY” original and
is unique in design. It is made of solid stainless steel with a
roller that is truly “State of the Art” that prevents tweaking or
turning.
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Latigos have never pulled so easily or so smooth. No more jerking
to cinch your saddle.
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“ROY” cinches have the same quality, balance, and craftsmanship
that Roy Robinson offered 41 years ago with his famous bits and
spurs.
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Roy has hand-woven “American Pride” into each and every cinch.
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The “ROY” cinch is made of 27 strings of 100% mohair and comes in
two styles, STRAIGHT (sometimes referred to as “CUTTER”) or FLARED
(sometimes referred to as “ROPER”)
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Extra added bonus for “ROY” cinch owners: The buckles will last
forever, so when the mohair shows signs of wear and needs
restringing, send your cinch back to us and for a reasonable fee we
will make it like new again.
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