Does anyone have a picture of the correct way to tie a scabbard to the saddle. Is there a correct way?

There's a couple of different ways to hang the scabbard. I highly reccomend the Texas Style. The rifle hangs along the left side of the horse, under the stirrup leather with the butt toward the rear and the muzzle lower than the butt to help keep the rifle in. The scabbard should have two latigos or straps on it, one near the muzzle and one near the butt. If your lucky your saddle has two small D-rings on the skirt one in front on the skirt the other on the skirt at the rear, you can use those. If not just use the rings on the rigging. Now this isn't the only way but it's the way I know. If there's a saddle string, latigo, on the rear jockey skirt and one on the front edge of the side jockey you could use those too.
The Texas style of carrying a rifle keeps the rifle under your left leg. Even if your pony rolls your rifle should be ok. BUT the rifle must be secured so it doesn't slip out while riding. When you dismount the rifle is right in front of you.
The style where the rifle scabbard is in front of your stirrup with the butt up allows easier access from the saddle but exposes the rifle to catching on things and if the pony rolls you can bet the butt will break or at least be damaged.

It is just preference. I like it on the left side with the stock forward and as high as possible. With the top leather strap threw the gullet of the saddle and the bottom one threw the rear cinch ring. That puts your scope on top and the bolt not touching your leg.
Buff
I see Mike and I post at the same time. In this steep country around here I have seen 2 rifles fall out with the stock to the rear. In not as rugged of country his way works fine.

[ September 13, 2007, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: Buffalo ]

The saddle ring on lever actions was often used, in times past, to tie the rifle in the scabbard. We don't have many hills around here but there are places you can ride up on a high point and see for yards in any direction.

Thanks for the replies. I found one at a sporting goods store and may get it.

I'm getting ready to go hunting, so I thought I would take a pic for you. You might take a hole punch with you and try your scabbard in a few different positions. A rifle under the leg can get very uncomfortable. Also if the bolt bumps into the horse they don't like that much either. After moving it a few times you should find a way you like. Some saddles are not built very strong. The gullet is by far the strongest place to run a strap around.
Buff

Thanks for the picture. I really like that saddle and scabbard.
Good luck hunting.

There are as many ways to do this as there are places on a horse. Here is the way I do it and why. I don't like to place the butt of the rifle forward as it tends to catch and hang up in brush. Also, if the butt is placed very high, you risk getting a mouth full of rifle butt if you get in any kind of a storm. That leaves butt to the rear, with choice of near or off side. Even though the scabbards with their round top look like the straps should go around that side and then up to the saddle, that would place the rifle upside down, resting on it's sights. This might not hurt some open or iron sights, but is a definite no-no with a scoped rifle. The rifle should hang right side up, with the straps going around the narrow or sharp side of the scabbard. If you are packing a bolt action rifle, hanging it on the near side would place the bolt into the horse. Not a good deal, so that just leaves the off side. If I had a lever action rifle, I would hang it on the rear side, as there are no projections to dig into the horse. Hanging it on the off side is not as awkward as it might seem. It is possible to grab the rifle out of the scabbard as you dismount, and most times it is possible to reach over the horse after dismounting and grab the rifle. Practically speaking, there are very few times when the extra time taken if you have to walk around to the off side to get your rifle will make the difference between making the shot or not. As mentioned before, the rifle should always be secured in the scabbard, as even on flat ground you never know when old dobbin' might pitch a fit. In the barrel forward position, make certain the barrel end of the scabbard does not intefere with the horses elbow when he is moving. My two cents, for what it's worth. Good hunting!!