I would love it if you could check out this product! My father invented it three years ago. He recently passed away. It was never promoted, so if you would check it out and let me know what you think, I would appreciate it. You can check it out at www.cinch-kwik.com.

Its a hand-held lightweight tightener for tightening the girth strap of a saddle, has a handle for leverage,a broad curved cam surface to act as a fulcrum, and a prong to fit in a belt hole on the girth strap. The rolling action allows you to tighten one hole at a time, until the desired tautness is achieved,and the tightener removed.

Thanks for looking www.cinch-kwik.com
Dan

Hi Dan,
I took a quick look at it. It's a little hard to judge without trying it out in real life but here are my general thoughts. If I compare the relative strength that is required to safely hold on to a horse and to ride a horse that will occasionally pull a little it seems that tightening the girth of an English saddle would not require more strength, especially if the rider makes the effort to girth up gradually, giving the horse a chance to get used to the pressure gradually. Therefor I would see the danger of overtightening with any kind of leverage device, esp. since it's a little harder to feel for this from the saddle. I could possibly see the benefit for a rider with a disability that limits the physical strength in their hands or arms, but don't know whether those riders are likely to go and ride without help around. It might be worth it to talk to people with NARHA (non-profit organization for equine-assisted activities and therapy). Just my two cents worth.
Birgit

Question Dan, sorry But in the other message you said step father and here you say your father? Just strikes me as odd that's all. Now I call my step dad also 'dad' so that could be it. Just wondering.

@Birgit, for normal healthy hands a tool would never be required to fasten a girth, I'd say.

Hi Dan,

I looked at it and to me I must say it looks great!

Indeed, I don't have that much strength in my hands and my saddle is quite difficult to adjust.
My saddle always turns around when I want to mount, therefor I hardly used it...
It seems such a logical tool to me... wonder why it never came out sooner
Congratulations to your father, God bless his soul.

I think also it will be better for the leather straps to do it like this because the force will be on the full strap rather than on a tiny area of it.

Question: can you use it also when you are on the saddle? As I have the same problem with the last whole once I sit on the horse.

Will you be exporting to Europe also?
I would certainly like one and would even want to promote it after we have moved to Italy.

Succes!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

First, he is my step father, but was in my life for 26 years. I refer back and forth, so apologies for any confusion.

Second, thanks AnneMarie for your kind words. We are willing to ship anywhere and would appreciate any help you could provide promoting the product in Europe!

Dan

You're very welcome Dan!

We expect to move to Italy May-June, but it will take us some time to setlle in first.

Maybe give me a pm with details how we can keep in touch?

AnneMarie --

Just letting you know that the Cinch-Kwik can be used while sitting on a saddle. You just need to use it in the opposite way you would use it while standing on the ground, pulling up toward you instead of up and away. If you already tighten while in the saddle, the tool will make it a lot easier.

Now thàt's another great point!

Tightening up in the saddle is absolutely necessary with my kind of saddle, which always comes loose due to the weight of the rider.
And than keeping your balance while you have to hang down to try tightening up... not easy!
At least for me, who has very little experience in the saddle.

I must say the great thing about all this is:
1. my saddle still looks perfectly new after about 8 years
2. When I did ride (not often as mentioned) I got used to ride bareback and walk a lot next to my horse