I suspect my new saddle might be too wide (sigh) on my wide horse, and thought the CSI flexplate would provide the stiffness and support to keep the saddle up a little in front. I really wanted it to work, because I think the concept is good – but even with a lot of fiddling, I couldn’t get it consistently adjusted. Sometimes it would ride fine, but others times it tended to slip back and tighten on withers. (Not unheard of with a saddle that is too wide!) Sometimes I would get dry spots for a sweat pattern, sometimes perfect sweat marks. I used a 1/2" liner, because with the Flexplate, the total width would be 3/4" I tried some shimming, but it didn’t seem to make a consistent difference that I could tell.
I also tried a 3/4" SPH pad. It was super easy to adjust from the get-go. The wide wither split meant you could easily adjust each side up into the gullet, and I didn’t need to be concerned about placement on the Flexplate… My saddle seemed to nestle into the SPH, whereas it felt more perched on CSI. I got perfect sweat patterns, too. And I didn’t need to fiddle with it, or worry it would slip back. I might still need to shim, but since I was within the CSI 30-day trial, and it is an expensive pad not to feel 100% about it, I sent it back.
In a way, I don’t feel I gave CSI a complete test – maybe I needed shimming, maybe I needed a thicker liner, maybe it needed to break-in more, but the SPH was so easy in comparison (and cheaper!). The proof will be in the pudding.
I have also used a 5Star in the past, with the wither relief, and I liked that pad too. I didn’t try it for this saddle because it was too thin and too long, but the wool quality is identical to SPH. I may still get a thicker shorter one for a second pad.
Just my 0.02!
