How to Make a Lash Cinch

When riding in the back country -- you need an adequate store of supplies -- whether your trip is an hour long, or days in duration. Considered an art by some equestrians, packing requires a delicate hand -- and a sense of balance -- lest your horse become injured by the weight. Used in conjunction with a lash rope, lash cinches help evenly distribute the weight, when packing your horse. Lash cinches also keep the load secured on rugged terrain.

Things You'll Need

  • Nylon webbing
  • Scissors
  • Lighter
  • Lash cinch hook
  • D-ring
  • Sewing machine
  • Leather scrap
  • Leather shears
  • Leather needle
  • Thread
  • 4 double cap rivets
  • Rivet-setting mat
  • Rivet setter
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a piece of 4-inch-wide nylon webbing to the length of your choice. The standard lengths for lash cinches are 30 inches, 33 inches and 36 inches long. To determine the proper length for your lash cinch, measure across the underside of the horse, where your pack sits.

    • 2

      Hold the ends of the nylon webbing over the flame of a lighter. Hold the nylon about 6 inches above, so that the nylon is not directly in the flame. Melt the ends with the radiant heat. This keeps the webbing from unraveling.

    • 3

      Cut two ovals from a piece of leather scrap, using leather shears. Each oval should measure four inches wide by eight inches long.

    • 4

      Thread one leather oval through the attachment ring on a lash cinch hook. Pull the leather -- so equal amounts -- extend out either side of the attachment ring.

    • 5

      Sandwich the nylon webbing inside the leather oval, with the lash cinch hook at the terminus. The leather oval overlaps the nylon webbing, about four inches on either side.

    • 6

      Sew the leather to the nylon. Use a leather needle and cotton coated polyester thread.

      Make small, even stitches -- one to two millimeters in length -- around the perimeter of the leather.

      Follow the contours of the oval.

      Make sure the needle pushes through the top layer of leather, the nylon webbing and the bottom layer of leather.

      Position stitches 1/8 inch from the outside edge of the leather.

      Do not sew along the top of the webbing, beneath the lash cinch attachment hook.

    • 7

      Loop the second leather oval through a large, 4-inch wide metal D-ring. Tug the ends of the oval, so four inches of leather are hanging from either side of the ring.

    • 8

      Place the leather oval over the unadorned end of the nylon webbing. Sandwich the webbing between the leather ovals. The leather should overlap the nylon webbing about 4 inches on either side, with the D-ring held snugly to the terminus of the webbing strap.

    • 9

      Sew the leather ovals to the nylon webbing. Position stitches about 1/8 inch from the outside edge of the leather. Make small, even stitches and sew through all three layers of material. Do not sew the top of the loop beneath the D-ring.

    • 10

      Place the lash cinch on a rivet-setting mat. Position one terminal end of the lash cinch -- with the leather oval -- on top of the rivet-setting mat.

    • 11

      Punch a double cap rivet into the leather, just below the D-ring or lash cinch hook.

      Position one double cap rivet on both sides of the leather oval -- about 1/4 inch from the edge of the leather -- and 1/2 inch below the D-ring or lash cinch hook. Do this for both the D-ring side and lash cinch hook side of the project. The rivets add security to the hardware, but also ensure they can move freely during use.