Hello all! I seem to be having an issue with my cinch. I have a six year old dapple grey AQHA gelding who is VERY small in the shoulders. He wears a 30in cinch and I have a billy cook saddle on him. When I bought the saddle it came with a really cheap rope cinch. However, the cinch was the correct size for him so I used it until I purchased a pretty expensive neoprene cinch. My problem now is, he hates the neoprene cinch! He nips me every time I tighten, and I make sure to cinch slow and make sure it doesn't pinch his skin folds. The new girth also leaves bad rubs (it slips forward) and he doesn't seem to like it AT ALL. Yesterday just out of curiosity I put that old dingy rope cinch back on and he barely even looked at me! I rode him in it and no rubs! We trail ride a lot, so stuff gets stuck to that rope girth which I don't like at all. Should I trash the expensive neoprene girth and just use the rope one? I'd heard bad things about rope girths but he seems to like that one much more? Help!

First, Welcome glad your here.

Yes, You've already correctly answered your own question.
Written on the stirrup thread.
New isn't neccessarily better.
Personally, I own mohair/string cinches & 1 felt covered for my Western saddles.
To get clean, put in old pillow case wash in washer on gentle cycle.

A test- try to wear something neoprene & workout, you also will be grumpy, sore & irritated.

Don't throw away the old one, still thousands of people on Ebay/Craigslist who are willing to pay full price.

Curious as to what "bad" you been told.

Hello, and thanks for the welcome! Sorry to reply so late, I actually went on a camping/trail ride this weekend. And the bad things I've heard about the rope cinch is that 1)the ropes on them sometimes break and 2) some said that the buckles aren't backed with fabric so they pinch/rub the horse. I'm not so sure about those theories though because I rode him all weekend in that cinch and there are no rubs and the ropes are still intact. Thanks for the advice on washing it! I've only ever used fleece covered cinches before so for those I just slipped that covers off to wash and wasn't quite sure how I was going to be able to wash the rope one with the metal buckles still on it! You've been a lot of help, thanks so much!

Your welcome-Glad you had a good weekend.
& your equipment is working out for you.