Abstract: A cinch and a buckle therefore and a method for tightening and securing the cinch about the body of a horse to secure a saddle on the horse. The buckle has a rigid frame with a base bar, an intermediate bar and an outer bar extending between a pair of side frame members. The intermediate bar forms a pair of intervening apertures with the outer and base bars for receiving a free end of a cinch strap looped therethrough. The intermediate and outer bars have roller sleeves mounted thereon to reduce the sliding friction of the strap moving about the bars when tightening the cinch about the horse. A locking tongue is attached to the base bar and extends through a selected hole in the strap and lays against the intermediate bar to secure the cinch and strap in an adjusted tightened position.