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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| After my off billet (part that holds the cinch to the saddle on the right side, in case you call it something different) broke while I was racing a few weekends ago, I got thinking about this. I have always used leather ones, and never ever had a problem until the other day (which has wrecked my confidence, but that is another story entirely). I bought a nylon one to replace it because that's what everyone else said to get because they were better and less likely to break with wear. Even though my leather one only had 4 rides on it when it broke.
So what kind do you guys think is better and why? |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
 
Location: WI | They each have their place. If you use nylon off billet, try to use a 'forgiving' cinch like mohair. If you use a neoprene or nylon cinch you should use a leather off billet. |
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| So my off billet is nylon because i do not inspect it as often and my cinch strap is leather on all of my saddles. This still allows a bit of give with a neoprene grith |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I'm not a fan of nylon. I only use leather and I check my tack over pretty good before I step on. Leather breaking after 4 rides would be scary. Was it old leather by chance? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 956
Location: Washington | I like a nice thick leather off-billet. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I prefer nylon. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Leather,
As well I check mine before I get on,
I also change mine every spring whether they need it or not.
I don't buy cheap ones either
I buy the 2 layered stitched off billets
Edited by cheryl makofka 2014-03-31 6:25 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | My new (3 months old) leather off billet broke on me this summer. I replaced it with nylon.
Edited by memory 2014-03-31 4:57 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 527
Location: afton, mn | I use nylon for both the off billet and tie strap. We sell more nylon then leather, our nylon is a 6400lb test strenght, in ten different colors. The problem with new ,or old leather is people don't oil them enought. I tell everyone that buys a new leather off billet or tie strap to oil them before using them. Maybe 1 out of a 100 people will do that, leather drys out when just sitting on a shelf. Also if your changing a off billet or tie strap, change both, The new one will be stronger then the one you didn't change, so guess which one is now weaker and will break. Memory, I bet you didn't oil it before using it.
Edited by runhard 2014-03-31 9:00 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| CYA Ranch - 2014-03-31 1:40 PM
I'm not a fan of nylon. I only use leather and I check my tack over pretty good before I step on. Leather breaking after 4 rides would be scary. Was it old leather by chance?
Nope, not very old, and while not the best quality out there, it wasn't bad by any means and had NO wear on it, not even the black mark where it shows its been rode in. Very scary, I hate those kinds of accidents that I had no control over. It's not like the horse bucking you off or you just falling off, it's hard to trust anything on your saddle when a brand new peice just rips into shreds like that. (It broke at the saddle and at the hole, ripped it into several pieces. Very crazy, and unpredictable accident, because we did check it before I got on)
I am currently using a nylon off billet and very nice quality leather cinch strap with a neoprene girth. I have used leather everything for the last 8 years since I have never liked nylon either (as it seems cheap to me). NEVER had a part holding the saddle on break. I've had tie downs, stirrup leathers, and minor stuff that that, but you can generally run through that. You aren't running through the girth falling off, haha. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| runhard - 2014-03-31 9:57 PM
I use nylon for both the off billet and tie strap. We sell more nylon then leather, our nylon is a 6400lb test strenght, in ten different colors. The problem with new ,or old leather is people don't oil them enought. I tell everyone that buys a new leather off billet or tie strap to oil them before using them. Maybe 1 out of a 100 people will do that, leather drys out when just sitting on a shelf. Also if your changing a off billet or tie strap, change both, The new one will be stronger then the one you didn't change, so guess which one is now weaker and will break. Memory, I bet you didn't oil it before using it.
Oh it was well oiled and everything, I take very good care of my equipment ever since I had a tie down break and almost broke my nose from my horse smacking me in the face with her head. Like I said, both sides only had 3 rides on them. They were not worn, they are cleaned and oiled before every race (try every ride if I have time, but I always do it before a run to try to prevent this very thing), then if they are sitting for a while, I try to clean and oil them around once a week and is kept in a nice saddle bag when not on a horse. The tie strap was slightly better quality than the off billet, but again, not crappy stuff at all, we don't use bad quality anything around our horses.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | Runhard, No I did not oil it. It was brand new Martin Racer. |
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Regular
Posts: 84
| FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-31 12:20 PM
After my off billet (part that holds the cinch to the saddle on the right side, in case you call it something different) broke while I was racing a few weekends ago, I got thinking about this. I have always used leather ones, and never ever had a problem until the other day (which has wrecked my confidence, but that is another story entirely). I bought a nylon one to replace it because that's what everyone else said to get because they were better and less likely to break with wear. Even though my leather one only had 4 rides on it when it broke.
So what kind do you guys think is better and why?
were you running at diamonds and dirt when it broke? goint to the second barrel? if that was you I saw it and I also saw yoyur off billet when krystal picked it up... it looked brand new to me.. brand new leather. I was shocked how that happened.... I use nylon, but I was wondering what others used also..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| myvwranch - 2014-03-31 10:28 PM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-31 12:20 PM
After my off billet (part that holds the cinch to the saddle on the right side, in case you call it something different) broke while I was racing a few weekends ago, I got thinking about this. I have always used leather ones, and never ever had a problem until the other day (which has wrecked my confidence, but that is another story entirely). I bought a nylon one to replace it because that's what everyone else said to get because they were better and less likely to break with wear. Even though my leather one only had 4 rides on it when it broke.
So what kind do you guys think is better and why?
were you running at diamonds and dirt when it broke? goint to the second barrel? if that was you I saw it and I also saw yoyur off billet when krystal picked it up... it looked brand new to me.. brand new leather. I was shocked how that happened.... I use nylon, but I was wondering what others used also.....
Haha, nope, my mare ain't nearly ready for that, she way too out of shape and truthfully, probably ain't fast enough. It was just a jackpot here in Indiana. haha |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 527
Location: afton, mn | It doesn't matter what brand of leather, or where it came from, leather dries out over time. No one knows how long after makeing the off billet or tie strap it was on the shelf at the manufactor before being sold to a store, then how long was it on the store shelf before you bought it? It may look like it is real good but all new leather should be oiled before using it.
Edited by runhard 2014-03-31 10:50 PM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I HAD a wonderful off billet awhile back. It was leather, but it was backed with nylon. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, it wandered off. :( |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | I dont' have a saddle for every different thing I do, my Ammerman is an older one with a very flat seat, I have cut in it and run barrels as well as gather cows, the woman I bought it from ponied horses on the track at Los Alamitos in it. I use a leather off billet because I use a nylon latigo, leather latigos for me are a PITA on a cold morning at 5 am headed out to gather cattle. The leather gives a bit more so I like to have that option on at least the one side. |
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Regular
Posts: 84
| FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-31 10:22 PM
myvwranch - 2014-03-31 10:28 PM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-31 12:20 PM
After my off billet (part that holds the cinch to the saddle on the right side, in case you call it something different) broke while I was racing a few weekends ago, I got thinking about this. I have always used leather ones, and never ever had a problem until the other day (which has wrecked my confidence, but that is another story entirely). I bought a nylon one to replace it because that's what everyone else said to get because they were better and less likely to break with wear. Even though my leather one only had 4 rides on it when it broke.
So what kind do you guys think is better and why?
were you running at diamonds and dirt when it broke? goint to the second barrel? if that was you I saw it and I also saw yoyur off billet when krystal picked it up... it looked brand new to me.. brand new leather. I was shocked how that happened.... I use nylon, but I was wondering what others used also.....
Haha, nope, my mare ain't nearly ready for that, she way too out of shape and truthfully, probably ain't fast enough. It was just a jackpot here in Indiana. haha
well I saw it happen here and I saw the off billet afterwards. broke in the hole. and it looked brand spanking new to me.. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | Leather and I dont use the fold in half one piece kind. Mine is in half thru the girth then folded up thru the rigging and then back down to the cinch hole if that makes sense? I like the way it lays better IMO. Chaney has the best leather latigos! |
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 MaMa Hen
Posts: 12223
Location: Louisiana | Wow, that's scary! My leather off straps are of very good quality, and I've never had one break. However, some of my saddles have had nylon off straps and billets, but I use mohair girths, so it's OK. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Leather ( latigo) only. Not skirting leather or harness. I have had the same one for over 10 years and ride daily. I won't oil my tie straps I might saddle soap them off once in a while. I won't use a double sewed off billet. I use the half breed.i have yet to see a nylon billet over 5 feet long just way to short. |
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What kind of off-billet do you use?