Horses are powerful animals, and we throw a saddle on them to train and make runs every day. It's sometimes easy to forget, but it's very important to keep ourselves and our equine partners safe by making it a habit to double check equipment and tack before each and every ride. Before you step up into the stirrup and swing your leg over your horse, make sure your saddling routine includes a daily check-up on your gear.
Latigos & Flank Billets: Why Annual Replacement Matters
Pronounced Latties, Lat-ee-gos, Ladda-gos, or Lat-i-goooo. Named for the type of leather it's made from. However you say it, latigos should be replaced every year. It's an inexpensive form of insurance if you think about it. The best way to do this is to purchase a high-quality latigo leather 1-3/4" or 1-1/4" x 6'6" latigo for the cinch side, along with a 1-3/4" single or doubled and stitched off-side latigo.
Choosing the Right Latigo for Your Discipline
There are different types of latigos for different disciplines. Make sure you're using the one best suited for your sport or hobby.
- Ropers, Cutters, Ranch Use: Use a single-ply off-side latigo, looped through the cinch first and then doubled up through the saddle rigging and back through the cinch.
- Speed Events, Barrel Racing, Performance: You can use a doubled and stitched latigo or a single-ply off-side latigo, looped through the cinch and doubled up through the saddle rigging and back through the cinch.
We recommend both the cinch-side and off-side latigos be tied by a professional, someone who specializes in leather work or has experience, or you can watch instructional videos on how to tie them correctly.
An incorrectly tied latigo is just as dangerous, and just as devastating, as having a latigo break. Annual latigo replacement is one of the best insurance policies for you and your horse.
Checking for Wear at the Break-Over Point
On all latigos and flank cinches, the center break, the over-fold where the leather attaches to your saddle, will oxidize against the metal rigging over time and become fatigued, making it prone to breakdown. Along with checking the latigo ties, check the condition of the leather underneath its break-over point in all four locations: D-rig or C-rig, and the back cinch of your saddle.
Flank billets, or back billets, don't wear as fast and therefore don't usually need to be replaced as often, but they should still be checked at every saddle session.
Flank Hobble: A Small Piece With a Big Job
Make sure your flank hobble, the little, unassuming buckle strap that holds the back cinch to the front cinch, is always in working order. It comes in contact with a lot of heat and sweat, which causes it to break down over time. If this piece of equipment breaks, you could find yourself unintentionally entered in the bronc riding. Martin's flank hobbles are made from BioThane, which has no stretch and help resist horse sweat and heat.
Make Safety Part of Your Routine
Remember to check everything on your saddle every day. Make safety part of your routine by staying aware of the condition of all your saddle's parts.
