CSI saddle pads?

[Draftmare]

I went to a clinic yesterday, and at the end of the clinic they were nice enough to look at a couple of saddle options with me (they actually think that this saddle that I sold to my friend and now friend has up for sale is a fairly good fit for her: https://goo.gl/photos/HyDCQQTAeXyaG1539). It was so nice to have somebody else look at my horse’s back and immediately say “I bet this horse is hard to fit!” Makes me feel a bit less crazy about the amount of saddles I have tried without success. They also said that they didn’t think there would ever be a perfect fit for my mare unless I spent $$$$ on going totally custom. I don’t have $$$$ to go totally custom, so she suggested that I may just have to get creative with what pads I use. She was a huge lover of CSI saddle pads, and since one of my friends at the clinic has one I got to feel the difference between having my hand squished between a fence post as a CSI pad and my hand squished between a fence post and my 5 Star pad. The 5 Star hurt! While the CSI pad I didn’t feel anything.

Does anybody have any experience with these pads? Even with feeling the difference between the two, I am still hesitant about spending close to $400 on a saddle pad. Can a saddle pad really make that much difference for a horse that is fairly close on fit with a saddle?

[beau159]

@Draftmare;8903575

She was a huge lover of CSI saddle pads, and since one of my friends at the clinic has one I got to feel the difference between having my hand squished between a fence post as a CSI pad and my hand squished between a fence post and my 5 Star pad. The 5 Star hurt! While the CSI pad I didn’t feel anything.

I don’t have any experience with the CSI pads myself although I do know people who like them. If I hear anything negative, it’s that people think they are too bulky.

As far as the “demo” you speak of with using a fence post … if your saddle provides that much of a pressure point to your horse … you shouldn’t be using that saddle and no pad is going to fix it.

Sure, a saddle might not be quite a perfect fit. But if it is at least a decent fit, it’s still shouldn’t have an extreme pressure point like that. JMO

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=beau159;8903759]
I don’t have any experience with the CSI pads myself although I do know people who like them. If I hear anything negative, it’s that people think they are too bulky.

As far as the “demo” you speak of with using a fence post … if your saddle provides that much of a pressure point to your horse … you shouldn’t be using that saddle and no pad is going to fix it.

Sure, a saddle might not be quite a perfect fit. But if it is at least a decent fit, it’s still shouldn’t have an extreme pressure point like that. JMO[/QUOTE]

She wasn’t saying that my saddle caused that much pressure, it was just to show how much the CSI pad distributed the pressure vs a regular pad.

[Pocket_Pony]

I tried one and didn’t like it…too bulky.

[Aces_N_Eights]

I agree with beau.

I see what you’re saying Draftmare. You want to help your hard to fit horse yet you don’t want to use the pad as an excuse for a poor fitting saddle.

I’ve never used a CSI.
I’ve actually gotten to the point if I’m looking for horses to buy I look at their backs and withers.
Why buy a $1000 horse then have to spend 4x that amount in pads and saddles to make it work? It’d have to be a pretty talented horse to justify…

[Draftmare]

@Aces N Eights;8904504

I agree with beau.

I see what you’re saying Draftmare. You want to help your hard to fit horse yet you don’t want to use the pad as an excuse for a poor fitting saddle.

Yes, that is exactly where I am now. I am wondering if I can make a saddle that is pretty close to fitting work with the help of a pad. Not looking to fix a saddle that clearly doesn’t fit.

[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8904504]I’ve never used a CSI.
I’ve actually gotten to the point if I’m looking for horses to buy I look at their backs and withers.
Why buy a $1000 horse then have to spend 4x that amount in pads and saddles to make it work? It’d have to be a pretty talented horse to justify…[/QUOTE]

That is also where I am at! I consider my horse to be talented, and I want to make her as comfortable as I can so that she can work to the best of her abilities, but I am also not keen on the idea of spending $4000 on a saddle. It would probably take me a long time to save up that much more anyway!

As the clinician said, I likely won’t find perfect for her within my budget, I guess I have finally accepted that. So now I am just more looking for “really darn close.”

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8903983]
I tried one and didn’t like it…too bulky.[/QUOTE]

My friend is letting me borrow one of hers. That was my first impression too, but the “smash test” was also pretty convincing.

[Palm_Beach]

Draftmare, there is surely a special place in heaven for you!

About the fence post test, remember that your horse’s back moves and changes as she moves, so maybe not the best test. Hope you find the perfect combo!

[apha_at_heart]

Our vet recommends classic equine pads. Or something that is thick

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8903856]
She wasn’t saying that my saddle caused that much pressure, it was just to show how much the CSI pad distributed the pressure vs a regular pad.[/QUOTE]

Right, I know. But what I’m trying to say is why would you NEED a saddle pad to distribute the pressure of a fence post, if you are never going to have that scenario with your horse?

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8904919]
Draftmare, there is surely a special place in heaven for you![/QUOTE]

Well, I’m not sure about that!! I have been accused a few times of being too much of a perfectionist. Or that I should just ride my horse and not worry about the saddle so much. But to me I feel that if I am going to ask her to perform to the best of her ability, I should give her the tools to allow her to do that.

@Palm Beach;8904919

About the fence post test, remember that your horse’s back moves and changes as she moves, so maybe not the best test. Hope you find the perfect combo!

I hope so too. I am actually mildly considering going treeless. I haven’t had the best experiances with english treeless saddles in the past. I hated Sensation (glorified bareback pad if you ask me) and Barefoot felt like riding on a pillow strapped to my horse. I did like the Heather Moffett saddles, but they had a leather tree in them, so not sure if they would be considered treeless. I am looking at Bob Marshall. I got to ride in one at the same clinic and liked it better than I thought it would.