UPDATED with pics! Western newbie - how to get the cinch tight enough??

[cloudy18]

I prefer leather (nylon is too slippery) and usually use the buckle. It’s less bulky. On the occasion where the buckle won’t line up with a hole, or I run out of holes and don’t want to punch a new one, I use the knot.

Tuffy makes a cinch with elastic. https://www.ehcampbelltrading.com/products/tuffy-shoulder-relief-cinch
It’s cheaply priced and I can so far give it rave reviews. And I don’t typically like neoprene, but this works well for my barrel of a mare. It’s super easy to clean and I’ve used it on trails with no rubs or other issues.

And I typically end up hopping down to tighten the cinch (which could be avoided if I took the time to walk and trot her before mounting.)

[GhR009]

My latigo is brown nylon with black magic marker lines at the correct spot plus some one inch markers above and below. I tie, which has almost no bulk with a nylon latigo. Haven’t had one slip yet. Good saddle fit & location makes the cinch less important. Also, as the horse moves, an improperly placed saddle or cinch will drift to where it ought to be. Remember that sometimes the cinch needs to angle forward to be at the smallest circumference.

With a strange horse, I put the saddle on loose and then lead the horse through a couple of figure 8s. That usually causes the saddle and cinch to drift into a stable spot. With my own horse & saddle, I know where the front of the saddle needs to be in relation to the end of his mane. Makes an easy marker for me.