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Veteran
Posts: 268
 
| I'm looking into investing in a really nice pad that will hopefully be more comfortable for my two horses. I haven't had much trouble with my gelding as far as him being back sore after riding, but I've noticed that my mare has been sore in two particular spots the last few times I've rode her. Looking for something that will hopefully help fix some inconsistencies in saddle fit that could be causing this as well as offer some shock absorption without having to sacrifice breathability or freedom of movement.
I'm looking into Impact Gel, 5 Star, and CSI. At this point, I'm leaning more toward Impact Gel but am open to other pads. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| If you can affort the 5 star, it is worlds above the impact jel in my opinion. But you may need to look into getting a different saddle if it is making your horse sore. No pad can fix an ill fitting saddle completely. Its different if you just have a little dry spot, but the horse actually being sore is a big deal to me. But that is just my opinion. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | 5 star or saddleright are the two I have had good luck with. CSI pads are awesome but I found them to be bulky, even the 1/2" one was too bulky for me. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
 
Location: North Dakota | CSI are hands down the best pads I've ever used. Love mine. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Watch the demos on numerous pad reviews on Facebook - The Truth Tack Review.
I love my Thinline! https://www.thinlineglobal.com/product-category/western-saddle-pad-blanket-liners |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I had a Best Ever that fell apart after six months, and never seemed to be very comfortable for my mare.
Hubby bought me a 5 Star at Cowboy Christmas and it is awesome. Wouldn't ever ride with a different pad. They are well worth the cost. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 5 Stars is all I ever use now adays, the impact gels I was not impress with and I like the csi pads but I dont like how bulky they are if you have a good fitting saddle. I would check to make sure your saddle is a good fit since its making your horse sore. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I ride 5 Stars when I can and own most of the thicknesses now. I have a CSI that I keep around for saddle fit issues and I'm using it on one horse now until my new saddle comes in. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | 3/4 inch 5 star, you will regret getting a CSI they make your saddle roll
https://www.5starequineproducts.com |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN |
I agree with this - I've had both but the 5 star is the best! It works on everything where the CSI fit some horses/saddles good and others not at all (rolling saddle and saddle not able to sit down on the horse's back). |
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Veteran
Posts: 268
| Thanks for all the input! My saddle fits my gelding great but my mare is still young and growing so I hate to spend a bunch of money to custom fit one for her until she's done. In another year or so I'll be looking at getting a new saddle but until then I'm just trying to get a better pad to make things as comfortable for her as possible. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
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I have CSI pads and with a proper fitting saddle or a saddle that is too big, I have never had a saddle roll, and I ride with a loose cinch.
5 star nice pads, but for the price go with an Ed wright pad, they are cheaper made in the same factory, honestly I like the quality better in the Ed wright no wrinkles pressed into the material. (I haven't seen a 5 star without wrinkles since wells sold the company) |
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 boon
Posts: 3
| I just purchased an Ultra ThinLine Western Pro Tech saddle pad. I've owned all the mentioned pads and I can say my horses thank me. I'm sold on the pad and the protection it offers to my horses' backs. Here is a video that talks about materials used in saddle pad.
https://youtu.be/5LFxG5kBDZ0 |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad. |
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| I would say 5 star......2nd choice is Classic Equine Zone pad. I have 2 Zone's and love them. They aren't that pricey.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| cheryl makofka - 2016-06-06 7:43 PM
I have CSI pads and with a proper fitting saddle or a saddle that is too big, I have never had a saddle roll, and I ride with a loose cinch.
5 star nice pads, but for the price go with an Ed wright pad, they are cheaper made in the same factory, honestly I like the quality better in the Ed wright no wrinkles pressed into the material. (I haven't seen a 5 star without wrinkles since wells sold the company )
I can second this since I own 3 Ed Wright pads. I have had mine for I think about a year and a half right now?? but you can barely tell they have been used much. But I do make sure I clean them really well a few times a year and in between I get a brush and brush the excess hair out. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
5 Star pads arent felt, they are wool. There is a big difference. I am with you on felt, that is the worst material made for horses EVER. But the wool pads are really nice and if you take care of them they stay soft. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| horsiace1025 - 2016-06-07 8:20 AM
cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
5 Star pads arent felt, they are wool. There is a big difference. I am with you on felt, that is the worst material made for horses EVER. But the wool pads are really nice and if you take care of them they stay soft.
I believe if you get on the 5 Star website, and any other site that sells 5 Star pads, you will see them listed as WOOL FELT. They're felt either way.... There is a big difference between wool and wool felt. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Burn n' Turn - 2016-06-07 11:43 AM
horsiace1025 - 2016-06-07 8:20 AM
cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
5 Star pads arent felt, they are wool. There is a big difference. I am with you on felt, that is the worst material made for horses EVER. But the wool pads are really nice and if you take care of them they stay soft.
I believe if you get on the 5 Star website, and any other site that sells 5 Star pads, you will see them listed as WOOL FELT. They're felt either way.... There is a big difference between wool and wool felt.
I always thought they said they were 100% virgin Wool? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| horsiace1025 - 2016-06-07 10:20 AM
cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
5 Star pads arent felt, they are wool. There is a big difference. I am with you on felt, that is the worst material made for horses EVER. But the wool pads are really nice and if you take care of them they stay soft.
You are incorrect on 5 star pads.
Felt, is a process, not a product.
5 star pads take the wool send it up to Canada (same place as Tod Sloan, and Ed wright do) where it is felted into the saddle pad |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| cheryl makofka - 2016-06-07 12:17 PM
horsiace1025 - 2016-06-07 10:20 AM
cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
5 Star pads arent felt, they are wool. There is a big difference. I am with you on felt, that is the worst material made for horses EVER. But the wool pads are really nice and if you take care of them they stay soft.
You are incorrect on 5 star pads.
Felt, is a process, not a product.
5 star pads take the wool send it up to Canada (same place as Tod Sloan, and Ed wright do ) where it is felted into the saddle pad
Ahhh gotcha!! Thanks for the info! Ok, well 5 star pads are a lot different than normal "felt" pads. They are softer. Thats where I was going with that lol |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 9:23 AM
I know I'll be the only one on here, but I hate felt pads. HATE them. Pads like 5 star are well made, don't get me wrong. BUT from a scientific standpoint, felt is really a poor material in every way as a saddle pad. Also, if your saddle is too narrow or the wrong shape for your horse, forget about it. NO pad will do a darn thing for you. If your saddle is the right shape but just a hair wide, you may be able to get away with a CSI. They are neat but bulky (and obviously I do not like the felt liner...but the plates inside are really cool. I stuck my hand underneath one and tried to smash it with a hammer. I felt nothing.) I personally am really impressed with the shock absorbancy, heat dispersion, and design of Toklat Matrix pads and Thinline sheepskin contour pad.
You can actually special order a merino sheepskin wool liner for the csi pads. The liner is the same material as the pro choice shearling cinches. This will be my next purchase, I just keep forgetting to measure my One pad |
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Saddle pads