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| I need some feedback from everyone please. I have a barrel horse with high withers and I'm looking for the best pad to use where he is comfortable. What are the pros and cons of 5 Star, CSI, Best Ever pads, etc,? Do they last, are they worth the money, or is there another brand that is better. From your experience what works best? Thanks in advance.
Edited by D'nell Ranch 2014-09-16 7:51 AM
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
   
Location: Riding Crackhead. | All I use is 5 Star pads. Yes they last and yes they are well worth the money. |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | My next two saddle pad purchases are going to be a CSI and the corrector. I have seen them both in action and really think I need one of each for my own tack room. So I am on a craigslist crazy month trying to find them used. ;) |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | See you're going to get tons of different idea's. Here's my experiences, I started with classic equine with the memory foam, good pads, last forever, but my saddles roll and they're thick. Thought I should try something better-went to a 3/4" five star-nice pad-really soft, until you have one in your hands you will not know what they feel like, it worked good for my barrel horse but my saddle didn't fit too great so thought I'd try a saddleright with a different saddle that fit better-honestly the saddleright is really nice BUT the horse I was riding it on is tiny-short cinch and that thin pad still didn't snug him up great with the saddle plus I was starting another horse and that short cinch/thin pad combo just wasn't cutting it so I sold that pad and bought a CSI. (during all my pad trading my hubby took the five star and roped a summer with it-only change he made was using that pad and both horses he rode it on come up with white marks) My hubby is actually the one that turned me onto the CSI pads-it's the first "gimmick" he actually lives by. I think that if you spent the time and money it took to properly fit EVERY horse you ride with a correct saddle, the saddleright pad would be the best out there. However, the CSI makes it possible to ride a not so great fitting saddle without rolling and good protection for the horse. I'm sold on them. |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | cowgirl_3207 - 2014-09-16 9:14 AM
My next two saddle pad purchases are going to be a CSI and the corrector. I have seen them both in action and really think I need one of each for my own tack room. So I am on a craigslist crazy month trying to find them used. ;)
I just so happened to find a used CSI on here-$140 shipped with 2 different sized liners!! hahaha JACKPOT!  The liners need a good pressure washing but they are in really great shape and the 2 liners are awesome, I like the thin one for running barrels and the thicker one for heeling!! Yippeeeee... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | I like csi, 5 star, and saddleright. In that order. I'm currently searching high and low for a black 29 or 30" csi. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| I guess I'm old school, but I love my impact gel and wouldn't trade it for anything. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
Location: Texas | I've tried a lot of them and ended up with a Saddle Right Pad... |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | I have used 5 star for years and have been happy with them. When I did the Horseman's ReUnion event this year they gave all of us Best Ever pads that were custom made for each horseman. I really like it for both my horse and how my saddle stays put. It seems like it would be too thick, but that is not the case and it fits great. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Texas | CSI all the way!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | Generally for me 5 Star. But I do have a CorrecTor I have used a few times to help shim a saddle. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | cowgirl_3207 - 2014-09-16 9:14 AM My next two saddle pad purchases are going to be a CSI and the corrector. I have seen them both in action and really think I need one of each for my own tack room. So I am on a craigslist crazy month trying to find them used. ;)
I have both a CSI and CorrecTor, plus a Saddleright. I like different ones for different saddle/horse combos. All these distribute pressure well, but have some stiffness to offer that kind of support. I hear some horses prefer the softness of a 5Star, but I haven't owned any. I did have one that got grumpy if you used something besides a Saddleright on him. I left my pad in a friend's trailer once...they lived in TN and it took about 10 days before I got it back. It was a very unpleasant 10 days. LOL |
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 Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | I have 2 CSI, a Saddleright, 2 Classic Equine memory foam, CorrecTor, and probably a couple others...everything gathers dust except the CSI pads!! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I have used impact gels, 5 star and CSI - I would say easily CSI pads are my favorite especially for a high withered horse. I ha problems with the other bads sliding down and rubbing his wither on either side of the wither opening. The CSI not only leaves him room but also doesnt rub. |
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Regular
Posts: 98
| cowgirl 3207 pm you i know somebody with a used one for sale
Edited by taburunthemgood 2014-09-17 7:06 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I love love my 5 Stars, my saddles fit pretty good so dont need to fix the fits.  |
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 There Could Be Aliens Out There
Posts: 1393
Location: North Central Kansas | We have a best ever pad, and I'm not a fan of it. We also have multiple 5 stars and they are awesome! I have had one for 6 or 7 years now and it is still in good shape. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | 5stars! My best ever was scratchier and rough feeling. I've had tod stones that were nice too but again scratchy. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I love my 5 stars, but I'm really thinking about making a CSI my late Christmas present next spring when the weather breaks - I want to make sure I get a good 30 days of riding in it before the money back expires, just in case. I talked with them at Jr High Nationals and I was impressed. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Not to highjack the thread but... How thick are the CSI pads? |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | After buying a 5-star.....I will never use any other pad!!! |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Buckles - 2014-09-18 7:54 AM Not to highjack the thread but... How thick are the CSI pads?
You can get liners that are 1/2 or 3/4, and then the pad where the plates are is probably 1/2. Even with the 1/2" liner, I find it too thick for a lot of horse/saddle combos. I AM using it with the 3/4" liner on my 4 year old right now because I moved her up to a saddle with some growing room (7 to an 8" gullet crown c). |
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 Double Standards Don't Fly
Posts: 1283
Location: At the barn | 5 Star, hands down they are the best!
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 887
Location: MN | I've just recently learned that just as there is no single best saddle or bit, there is no single best pad. 5 Star was what I always used and loved (and still love). However, the mare I'm riding now is hollow behind the shoulder and the 5 star compressed too much. This made the saddle not fit properly. I have her in a Wade pad now and love the way it fits for her. |
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boon
Posts: 1
| I know this thread is a little old, but I wanted to weigh in anyway. I prefer the 5 Star Saddle pad because these pad contain 100% virgin wool which offers superior quality, wicking, cooling, and compression protection. The cut of the pad, a French curve back line with wither slope, provides a comfortable fit on your horse's back that protects against pressure points. These western saddle pads are all natural which is really important. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | I was recently given a 5 Star for a Bday present and my mare absolutely loves it. It seems she was just a tad more comfortable with it and thus rode better. I'm really excited to see where we are at 30 days from now. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I've had a few wool pads including 5 star and classic equine and they're well made and everything but I really don't get why everyone is so into wool. It just doesn't impress me in any way. I LOVE CSI pads but even with the 1/2" liner the one I had was WAY too thick for my saddle (which works best on my horse with a 1/2" pad). The CSI had the best wither contour I've ever seen and the flex plates were amazing. I put my hand underneath, grabbed a hammer, and went to town trying to hurt myself. I couldn't! I think a saddleright will be my next pad since it's thin and also has a decent looking wither profile. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I will only use the air rides... (not the crappy cj air ride) or the ed wright pads.....M |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-09-18 8:29 AM
Buckles - 2014-09-18 7:54 AM Not to highjack the thread but... How thick are the CSI pads?
You can get liners that are 1/2 or 3/4, and then the pad where the plates are is probably 1/2. Even with the 1/2" liner, I find it too thick for a lot of horse/saddle combos. I AM using it with the 3/4" liner on my 4 year old right now because I moved her up to a saddle with some growing room (7 to an 8" gullet crown c).
You can also get a csi merino insert which is less then 1/4" this would be probably equivalent to 1/2" thick 5 star |
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
| My horse owes his life to the CSI pad, all the bucking he was doing was fixing to earn him a spot in sale barn. CSI pad and hes back to 1d to 2d. He bucked for 4 owners over 10 years....and stopped with me after buying him a CSI pad. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| BuckarooBob - 2015-11-12 2:13 PM
I know this thread is a little old, but I wanted to weigh in anyway. I prefer the 5 Star Saddle pad because these pad contain 100% virgin wool which offers superior quality, wicking, cooling, and compression protection. The cut of the pad, a French curve back line with wither slope, provides a comfortable fit on your horse's back that protects against pressure points. These western saddle pads are all natural which is really important.
Where is there wool coming from?
I heard china, is that true? |
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 Quiet Riot
Posts: 2568
Location: North Dakota | I love 5 stars - for my high withered horse I like to get the 5 star with the "no gullet hole" option (there is no extra fee for this) |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | After getting the Ortho pad from Ed Wright I'm not sure there is another pad out there. Most of the rest of the "ortho" style pads I realized have the Ortho piece designed almost backwards to how the horses shoulder is built. |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | 1. I don't think best ever pads compare to 5 star or CSI
2. I think you have to try both to understand the difference. If you can I would buy a used on eof both and try them out. I promise you can resell both of them. Those pads sell used in 5 minutes.
I personally prefer CSI, but that doesn't mean I won't buy another 5 Star and I ever find a perfect fitting saddle I would probably try a saddleright. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | As far as wool pads go, I've used it Bayou west, classic equine, Tod Slone, and 5 Star. My favorite by far is the 5 star; it is soft and it will last you for years. I believe it should be a staple in everyone's tack room. However, I am interested in trying a Saddleright and a CSI.
Bayou West pads are stiffer and I guess offer more support for a saddle that doesn't fit well. The classic equine, I don't like the top line of it and it fell apart pretty quick. The TS-- they will last forever but they're not as soft as the 5 Star and they don't have the contour like the 5 Star does. I absolutely love the top line contour on the 5tar pads. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | True story...guy I know works pick up man at pro rodeos...his horse was always sore due to the taxing nature of the work...he bought a CSI pad and never had another problem. Convinced me, thats my next pad. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | My go to pad is 5 star...usually a 7/8th thickness ...unless I'm roping then I use a 1 inch thickness...but love love love! |
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She's a Tough One
Posts: 3199
| Wyatt ranch pad |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I have a saddleright for sale on the saddles and tack page that is worth the money! |
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What's the best saddle pad, 5 Star, CSI, Best Ever pads, etc.?