What brand do you prefer and why? I have a CSI right now someone let me borrow, and I do love it, but they are kind of outrageous on price. I can get a brand new one for about $380 (due to a discount) but I really would rather not spend that kind of money if not needed. Most of the used ones I've seen people still want $300-$350 at least so if I'm going to pay that, might as well buy a brand new. The other brand I was considering was maybe a 5 star? I have seen used ones for more reasonable prices than the CSI's. My horse has high withers and I need shems. Honestly not sure how to put on shems for other pads lol...the CSI I put it inbetween the liner and the pad so if someone could tell me how to put shems on something like a 5 star that would be great. Anyways, I will need a pad that will stay up off my horse's withers like the CSI does. I wonder if the csi is my only option for him, his topline is doing much better and his back showed no signs of soreness when I go thim checked.

Shims. If you may need shims, I'd lean toward a 5 star. They are a great pad. You can order black Classic Equine shims. They come in a pack of 2 or 3 (different thicknesses). They are easy. You just place them on top of your pad where you need them before you put the saddle on. I think 5 star even sells wool shims, but I'd guess they'd be more expensive than the versatile CE ones.

I have both 5 star and CSI. Both have their purpose. 

Idk why I always put shems instead of shims. Lol but you don't need a liner over top, you can just put the saddle straight on the shims? Does your 5 star seem to adsorb impact like the CSI?

Shims go on top of saddle pads. They don't go under the pad.

CSI and 5 star are totally different and give a totally different feel. CSI is very firm and rigid. 5 star is moldable and very shock absorbing. They are just very different and it is hard to describe. I go through phases of grabbing one or the other out of the trailer. Just depends. If you have saddle fit issues or concerns, I'd lean toward CSI. If you don't, I'd lean toward 5 star. That is not to say, however, that a CSI is only useful in a saddle fit concern scenario. Just up to personal preference. I bought my CSI used off of a FB group. Got the like new pad and 2 liners (1/2 and 3/4) for $400 shipped. Had only been tried on her horse once. 

I've been riding in a CSI for close to year and overall I've been happy. However, a few weekends back I put a SaddleRight pad on my horse and really liked it! I havent bought one yet but I think I will be soon. They are priced like CSI's though so if you dont want to spend the money then you will want to look at cheaper options. I have several 5 star pads and love them but they porbably wont stay off your horse's withers like you are wanting. However, you can just shim right on top of the pad like this:

Awesome, thanks!

For shims, I buy cheap yoga mats and cut them up exactly how I need them, add additional layers for thickness, etc. Then I tape them down. A little redneck looking but it's cheap and it works.

Oh, and I've done this with 5 stars, classic equine, and Saddlerights. 

I have both CSI and 5 Star pads. It depends on the shape and needs of the horse which pad I use. If I need shims I use the CSI with no shims. The CSI is built up already and for my horse if I use the CSI shims are not necessary. 

Shims can potentially work in the correct situation. Bar angle must be correct on the saddle tree for shims to work.

Can you post pictures of your saddle (no pad, and not cinched) on your horse's back? It might be best to first to help you evaluate how your saddle fits.

I can never upload pictures right so the best I can do is describe it. It tends to lean down on the withers, which is why my saddle fitter let me borrow her csi pad and shims. She wants me to buy a CSI pad, they're just so expensive so I was wondering if anything else compared I guess. 

I have a lot of 5 stars but I'm going to throw SADDLERIGHT pads into the ring. The regular one is amazing but they carry a legacy that will support up to 600 pounds. Ive used them on all types of horse shapes. Love them. I love 5 stars to. I have one horse that doesn't like saddlerights, so she gets 5 star. 

You should just be able to click the "insert" button and upload a photo from your computer (or phone).

A saddle that "leans down" in front can either be one where the bar angle is correct but the gullet is too side (which is where a shim could possibly work), or it can mean the bar angles and/or gullet are too wide and then the saddle weight is going to "dump" onto the front end (and will often sit down on the withers). This is a case where shims often do not work well, because your saddle just doesn't fit.

I would assume if you are working with a saddle fitter, then the bar angle is correct? What has your saddle fitter said about the saddle?

I personally am not a fan of CSI pads but that is just me. I borrowed one, one time and didn't like it. I have used a 5 star pad with Classic Equine shim before. Yes, as already stated, the shim goes on top of the pad, and you always need the shim more forward than your saddle (sticking out a little bit in front of the tree/saddle). You don't want the shim "hidden" under the saddle, because then you will create a line of a pressure point on the front of the shim.

I don't rememeber what she said about the bar angle, I just know she let me borrow a CSI pad and she put the shims in and so far I have had great results. That is why i was afraid to switch pads because he is doing way better in his topline now I just don't know if the shims were the key or if the pad itself has helped as well. I used to use an impact gel. He has high withers though, and even if his topline was absolutely perfect, his withers would still poke out high, they're just really high. I really don't know of any saddle he could use without shems now that I have seen how it should look on him. The fitter recommended a Bob Marshall treeless if I ever switched saddles, although she doesn't see the big issue in using the one I have now as long as I use shims. I'm going off memory though.

"Total Saddle Fit" has a saddle pad that I have started using for my high withered horse.  It has a sleeve in each side where you can put the shim and it'll stay in place.  It comes with 6 shims.  I thought the price was resonable.  I've only had it about 2 months and really like it.  I also like that it has the 1" gap at the spine.  I use a treeless saddle and this has the saddle/pressure up off his witheres.  If you want to check them out.  www.totalsaddlefit.com