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| I saved up for a bit to buy a CSI pad sense everyone talks about how much they love them and idk if it's just me or what but I don't absolutely love it... I ride in a double j Lynn Mackenzie special, had my gelding fitted for it and the special is what fit him, so i know my saddle fits but honestly I just didn't love the pad.
Any other thoughts? I liked my 5 star but sold it to get this CSI.
Isn't the way it's supposed to go is if your saddle fits correctly you want a thinner pad? And if not thicker? Please correct me if I'm wrong.  |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I have always understood that if your saddle fit a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch pad was usually the way to go and if your saddle was a little wide 1 inch and/or shims might work. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I ride my McKenzie special with a 3/4" liner on my CSI, because the Special does fit a more narrow backed, higher withered horse. I make sure to really pull the front forward and all the way to the gullet of the saddle to allow as much room and shoulder movement as possible.
I ride my Nueva with same pad, all with good results, on my wider, flatter backed guys.
If your Special was already tight or almost too tight, I can see the CSI being too thick. Be sure you're adjusting the CSI pad correctly though, or it ruins the feel and fit of any saddle. Adjusted correctly though, they can be a magical thing. I've fired all of my other pads and only own CSI anymore. Good luck! |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5408
| I have the same dryer spots on my horses back with my CSI as I did with my wool pad. Don't know if it is any better but I do like the way they are made to stay up off of the top of the withers. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1552
 
Location: Texas | If you bought the CSI new, I believe there is a 30 day money back guarentee. Check it out. May want to consider using a Saddleright Pad. You can PM me forany info you might want on the Saddlerights.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| I love my CSI pad on my rope horse, he works amazing with it, but it does not fit right under my double j barrel saddle.
It makes my more narrow horse buck, and makes my saddle roll on my slightly wider horse. I just cant get it to fit right under that saddle. I love the 5 star under that saddle, and seems to be the best fit.
For sure check into the money back or different liner if you are unsatisfied, they are great pads! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | It took me a little bit to get used to it, but once it was broken in, I love it. He suddenly developed the white pressure marks with my five star and they're now gone with the CSI. His back has changed a lot in the last year and I think he's finally stopped growing, but I'll stick with the CSI. I love it. I want to order another one.
I'd give it a little more ride time and try to break it in a little more before you make your final decision. They are super stiff when you first get them and take a little getting used to. There is a specific way to position them - they don't just go on like a regular saddle pad. Read ClassicPotatoChip, she explains it well.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| 8I keep my CSI around for saddle fit problems on younger growing horses or horses we get in to ride. Everything that is staying on the farm for an extended period and is done growing we find a saddle that fits them well and use a 5 star with it.
I don't like that thick a pad on barrel horses, I don't think a well fitted saddle should need a 1" thick pad. 7/8 is my thickest 5 star for barrel horses and most of mine ride in a 1/2 or 3/4. We rope in the 1 1/8" 5 stars, but that's for concussion reasons and that rope saddles are built to accommodate the thicker padding. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Dreamingofcans - 2016-08-25 8:09 AM It took me a little bit to get used to it, but once it was broken in, I love it. He suddenly developed the white pressure marks with my five star and they're now gone with the CSI. His back has changed a lot in the last year and I think he's finally stopped growing, but I'll stick with the CSI. I love it. I want to order another one.
I'd give it a little more ride time and try to break it in a little more before you make your final decision. They are super stiff when you first get them and take a little getting used to. There is a specific way to position them - they don't just go on like a regular saddle pad. Read ClassicPotatoChip, she explains it well.
I agree with Dreaming! We had a 5 star too and we had 2 heading horses with white patches they are either completely gone or very few little white hairs remaining-I didn't think those white spots ever went away and the CSI use has helped that. The new pads do take some time to get broke in but we love them and have 4! |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | I wasn't impressed with it either. Ended up returning mine during the 30 day trial. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I have never been a fan of them....m |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I like the looks of a CSI pad, but to me its just to much under a barrel saddle that fits good. Now for a roping saddle I would want more padding for the jerks and pulling the horses go threw so I think a CSI would be a perfect match, plus a roping saddle is built so different then a barrel saddle so to me a CSI would fit better on a roping saddle. But just my thoughts  |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Southtxponygirl - 2016-08-25 9:33 AM I like the looks of a CSI pad, but to me its just to much under a barrel saddle that fits good. Now for a roping saddle I would want more padding for the jerks and pulling the horses go threw so I think a CSI would be a perfect match, plus a roping saddle is built so different then a barrel saddle so to me a CSI would fit better on a roping saddle. But just my thoughts
Can't beat a 3/4" 5 Star. They're my favorite.
OP you are correct. If your saddle fits correctly without a pad you want the thinnest pad possible. With the being said you also want a pad that will wick away moisture (No hot spots) and one that will absorb shock without bulk. I think you were on the right track with a 5 star. 5 Star pads are made from the highest quality 100% virgin wool. 5 Star pads are contoured and fit horses better than traditional straight backed pads. It creates less bulk. Believe it or not Wool is very shock absorbing.
The CSI has Polymer, foam and other LAYERS of "Protection". While this sounds good in theory, all these materials do is trap and lock heat in. As nice as "shock absorbing military grade foam" sounds, Wool will always beat these materials hands down in any test.
While many have tried CSI and love them, I prefer to not fix what isn't broken. My wool pad does its job and does it well. I hope you find you another 5 star. It sounds like you are missing your pad. 
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2016-08-25 9:56 AM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | IRunOnFaith - 2016-08-25 9:55 AM Southtxponygirl - 2016-08-25 9:33 AM I like the looks of a CSI pad, but to me its just to much under a barrel saddle that fits good. Now for a roping saddle I would want more padding for the jerks and pulling the horses go threw so I think a CSI would be a perfect match, plus a roping saddle is built so different then a barrel saddle so to me a CSI would fit better on a roping saddle. But just my thoughts
Can't beat a 3/4" 5 Star. They're my favorite.
OP you are correct. If your saddle fits correctly without a pad you want the thinnest pad possible. With the being said you also want a pad that will wick away moisture (No hot spots) and one that will absorb shock without bulk. I think you were on the right track with a 5 star. 5 Star pads are made from the highest quality 100% virgin wool. 5 Star pads are contoured and fit horses better than traditional straight backed pads. It creates less bulk. Believe it or not Wool is very shock absorbing.
The CSI has Polymer, foam and other LAYERS of "Protection". While this sounds good in theory, all these materials do is trap and lock heat in. As nice as "shock absorbing military grade foam" sounds, Wool will always beat these materials hands down in any test.
While many have tried CSI and love them, I prefer to not fix what isn't broken. My wool pad does its job and does it well. I hope you find you another 5 star. It sounds like you are missing your pad.
Very well said I"m a 5 Star lover and they are all I use, My 3/4 ones are the ones I use the most  |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | euchee - 2016-08-24 8:54 PM I have the same dryer spots on my horses back with my CSI as I did with my wool pad. Don't know if it is any better but I do like the way they are made to stay up off of the top of the withers.
Wool pads are made to wick away moisture and are breathable. CSI Pads trap and lockl heat inside the layers and keep the heat on the back of the horse.
You may have "dry spots" on your horse from the wool pad but keep in mind that wool allows your horses back to breathe. Comparing a dry spot with a CSI and a dry spot with a wool pad is unfair. They are caused by two different things.
If your saddle fits, and you have a thin wool pad, I wouldn't worry about dry spots with the wool pad. |
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Regular
Posts: 85
| I love my CSI with certain saddles (loping saddle/ranch cutter and cutting saddle) but I feel like it makes my barrel saddle sit uneven. Even on my barrel horse, the CSI and ranch cutter will fit great but the CSI and my barrel saddle feels terrible. I ride a 3/4 inch Tod Sloan felt pad with a Casa Zia under my barrel saddle and it feels great. I do know it takes a little while to break them in, but I refuse to ride it under my barrel saddle now lol. I think it's just like anything else, sometimes you need a little extra support and other times you just need a straight felt pad. Good Luck! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| IRunOnFaith - 2016-08-25 10:24 AM
euchee - 2016-08-24 8:54 PM I have the same dryer spots on my horses back with my CSI as I did with my wool pad. Don't know if it is any better but I do like the way they are made to stay up off of the top of the withers.
Wool pads are made to wick away moisture and are breathable. CSI Pads trap and lockl heat inside the layers and keep the heat on the back of the horse.
You may have "dry spots" on your horse from the wool pad but keep in mind that wool allows your horses back to breathe. Comparing a dry spot with a CSI and a dry spot with a wool pad is unfair. They are caused by two different things.
If your saddle fits, and you have a thin wool pad, I wouldn't worry about dry spots with the wool pad.
Great description of both! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | I wasn't too sure about my CSI at first either. Once I learned how to properly place it up further, and realized I needed a thinner liner to get the right fit, I've been enjoying mine more and more. Just took some learning and getting used to for me. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I bought a CSI pad this spring and sold it within a month. Too bulky for me. The only thing I liked about it was how it stayed up off the withers. I'm back to my 5 stars now. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2016-08-24 7:58 PM I saved up for a bit to buy a CSI pad sense everyone talks about how much they love them and idk if it's just me or what but I don't absolutely love it... I ride in a double j Lynn Mackenzie special, had my gelding fitted for it and the special is what fit him, so i know my saddle fits but honestly I just didn't love the pad. Any other thoughts? I liked my 5 star but sold it to get this CSI. Isn't the way it's supposed to go is if your saddle fits correctly you want a thinner pad? And if not thicker? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
You are correct. CSI's are nice pads. But they don't work well with saddles that are well fitted to your horse. I had a Meleta Brown that was very well fitted to my gelding and the CSI did NOT sit well underneath it. It's just too thick. If the saddle was the right shape for the horse and just a little wide, it would have worked perfectly. If your saddle fits well, you should be using a 1/2" to 3/4" at the most pad under it. Sadly, it is so hard to find such pads. |
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