What Riders Say ... 2011 Testimonial Contest
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WINNER: Shawnda AldersonI wanted to tell you how great the CSI saddle pad is and how much it has helped me. I purchased a rescue horse in September 2010, Josie. She was a beautiful Tennessee Walker, but she was very underweight. She had bruising on her withers and a raised knot on the back of her spine from the original owners riding her with ill-fitting equipment. I fed her well and put a couple hundred pounds on her. I had ridden her a little around the barn and she was very gentle and eager to please. Once we got enough weight on her I started taking her on trail rides. She did fine on the first day out when we first started, but after a long day of riding I noticed the knot on the rear of her spine was swelling up. The knot was tender to the touch and would take several days for the swelling to go down. The tenderness would stay for a couple of weeks. I tried several different saddle pads and risers trying to keep pressure off her spine. I thought I found something that worked but after a day of riding the knot would be swollen. I always knew the knot was swollen before I got off of her. When her back was hurting she started bucking. I had my vet look at her spine and he said she had bone spurs growing there due to previous injuries. He recommended finding something to keep the pressure completely off her spine, be it an orthopedic pad of some sort or an Aussie saddle. I did lots of research online and I found the CSI website. I read every one of the reviews and thought to myself, “this could be exactly what I’m looking for.” They had a 30 day money back guarantee, so how could I go wrong. I knew my horse would buck if the pad didn’t work, so I decided to go ahead and try one. I called in and got the details on my pad and emailed in some pictures to show the spot on her spine. I ordered my pad at the end of January beginning of February 2011, so it was not exactly “riding season.” When I received my pad we were having lots of bad weather, ice, snow, etc. I wasn’t able to try out my pad for a couple of weeks and the 30 day mark was coming up close. I called in and talked to the nice ladies at CSI and they told me not to worry about it. They were having bad weather as well and I could have until the end of March to try out my pad. I couldn’t believe it!!! When I finally got to use the pad for the first time I could see a huge difference in Josie. She had more fluid movement and she wasn’t bowing up trying to buck me off. I rode her around the barn/pasture area for a while, then we finally ventured out on our first real trail ride with the new pad. After a very long day of being lost in the woods, going up and down steep hills, and climbing rocky areas, Josie’s back was just as it was before I put the saddle on her that morning! I was totally shocked since we had such a tough day on the trail (and I didn’t plan that at all). I put her in a stall and came back a few hours later just to rub around on her spine to see if it was tender. She never flinched! This is the best thing that’s ever happened to us!!! We are trail riding with no problems at all. I am so glad I ordered a CSI pad and I would recommend it to anyone. You don’t have to have an issue with your horse to use one either. If I’m not riding my horse my husband steals my CSI pad and uses it on his horse. He loves it as well! Thank you so much CSI!!!!! Comment on this story on Facebook. |
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WINNER: Janine NewbyHer nickname has been "crabby" for quite some time now. Liberty is my 15 year old breeding stock paint mare with an attitude. I secretly hoped her crabbiness stemmed from her feeling inferior for not being born with the wonderful color pattern of a paint horse.....yeah, dream on. When we bought her, each time we saddled, she would snake her head, bite the air, give a serious drop dead look with pinned ears and stiff mouth.....it was ugly. It got to the point that she would instantly snarl the minute she even saw the saddle pad coming her way. I was told that this was "normal" for her and for many horses. I just couldn't accept that! When we loped, she would duck her head and let out a few bucks any chance she got. I tried treating her to something tasty when saddling...even putting treats on her pad and saddle before tacking up. I tried "tough love" while saddling, I changed saddles, rode bareback...nothing seemed to change her attitude. I finally realized that I was probably never going to find the perfect saddle for her and my budget didn't allow me to purchase a custom fitted one, so, I started researching pads. At the end of my search, with a silent prayer, I bought a CSI pad. I liked the reviews and testimonials on various websites....so many of the horses sounded like my Libby! She had crabbiness ingrained in her for so long, I wasn't expecting miracles. But, I have to say, the pad has made a dramatic difference in our lives. I haven't had the pad very long and it seems like each week she gets better and better about life in general. Her saddle no longer digs into her withers, she has the prettiest little lope departure with no "duck and buck." Saddling time has vastly improved from what it was as well. She no longer hates me approaching with a pad or saddle and has all but stopped her crazy antics. She has a way to go yet, but you can see the wheels spinning in her head that something is different and her reactions are getting fewer and fewer. Friends and trainers have even remarked at her change in attitude! An unexpected benefit is that my saddle doesn't slip and feels very secure and supportive. I can ride securely with a much less tight girth...which I'm sure contributes to a bit of happiness in Libby's world! I can't say enough about my CSI saddle pad. I recommended it to a friend and he is very happy with his new pad as well. I would love to have a CSI pad for all of our horses and someday soon I hope to... Comment on this Entry on Facebook. |
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WINNER: Lynette NormanI first discovered CSI saddle pads at the George Strait Team Roping in 2007. I stopped by the CSI booth and took the pressure demonstration. We had always used several layers of pads on our roping horses and I was looking for something a little thinner and lighter to lose some of the bulk and the weight. When I asked the lady how many other pads needed to be used with this one, she said no others were needed, that the CSI pad would take the place of the current two thick pads I was using at the time. I admit I was really skeptical about that claim, since I was never able to rope without padding my horse to high heaven, since he would get sore after running about six steers and would stop trying to pull the steers for my heelers. And I admit, I was a bit shocked at the price tag. But since CSI offered a money back guarantee, I thought “What the heck, I will give it a try”. So I bought my first CSI saddle pad. I got home with it and started using it that week. At the first roping I went to, I was told by several people, that my horse was going to be sored up wreck since I was only using “one skinny pad”. We roped about 15 steers and never once did my horse lose his focus or drive, since the pressure from his back and withers was gone. And when I unsaddled, him back was warm, but not dripping in sweat. I continued to use the pad, and after about six months, my husband (who told me I was totally nuts for spending $300 on a saddle pad) asked me to buy him one for his roping horse. Again the same result. A horse that was better focused and had more drive and energy than he had in a long time. Last year, I bought two more pads, since we had two geldings that were coming home from the trainer, and I wanted to start them off right with the CSI pads. And then last winter, we bought a heel mare. Four pads and five horses. So we have pads that do double duty for two horses. But no worries, since it is so easy to clean the liners between horses. One quick rinse and you are done. Way easier than cleaning a conventional pad that gets so stiff with sweat and dirt that after about two years, you have to trash and get another. And usually the Navajo blanket tops on those pads will start to unravel after about a year of heavy use, and again you wind up trashing the pad. Are CSI pads more expensive than the other pads? Maybe on the upfront cost, but instead of spending $150 on a pad that will be gone in two years (or less), I have pads that I can use almost forever. My five year old pad looks as good as it did the first year. I actually save money by owning the CSI pads. It is also nice not having a mountain of pads taking up space in the trailer. Do we still use the old thick pads we have? Yep. The barn cat loves to sleep on them. Thanks again for making such a great product. Comment on this entry on Facebook. |
WINNER DEALER: Mitzi ShepherdMy name is Mitzi Shepherd and I own Turn N Burn Tack, I've been selling CSI pads for about 5 years now. I'm a barrel racer, but I've also dabbled in cutting and reining. I've learned that no whatever discipline you do, saddle fit and comfort of the horse is important for success. I originally heard about the CSI pads from a friend of mine. She had a very hard to fit horse and had bought a CSI pad to help her saddle fit better. She talked about it a lot, told me about the NASA designed material used in the flex plates, how the pad is layered to help reduce the friction between the horse, saddle and rider, the contour of the pad so that there is no pressure on the withers, but I wasn't in the market for a new pad because I had just purchased one of the better 100% wool pads. I listened but didn't think much about buying one. She came up here for barrel racing clinic put on by a very well known man that is known to not sugar coat anything. During the saddle fitting he told her that her saddle didn't fit. She said that he needed to try it with the CSI pad, so he put it on and turned around, looked at her and said, "I don't know how, but your saddle fits now!" Anyone who knows this man knows that he doesn't blow smoke at all so I was very impressed! About 6 months later my new wool pad was already failing so I invested in a CSI pad. As soon as I got it I inquired about becoming a dealer, I wanted to be able to share with everyone these amazing pads! Since then I have helped many people fit their horses using the CSI pads. I can help you get the fit you are looking for just by looking at a few pictures of your horses back. Making sure the pad is fitting properly is important to both myself and the company. We want our customers to love the pads as much as we do! I enjoy working with the difficult cases and hearing my customers results such as one customer who reported back to me that her horse went from ducking off the first barrel to winning in the 2D. I absolutely LOVE the new 100% virgin wool liners that help keep the horses back cooler and dryer. With a 30 day money back "love it or send it back" guarantee you just can't go wrong! If you would like to know more about these pads please contact me through Turn N Burn Tack.com. |
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RUNNER UP: Kevin DavisI bought my first CSI saddle pad at the Timed Event Championships in Guthrie, OK in 2010. Yes my first, I now own 2…one for each horse. Once you see the difference in the way your horse works (I team rope – header) without soreness, you won’t ever use another saddle pad. My number one head horse was getting sore from logging cattle and immediately showed improvement with the CSI pad. That’s just one real result. This next story made me a little nervous because I really stuck my neck out for CSI pads. I have a friend that was in a Shain Sproul and Cesar de la Cruz roping school in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The first day, my friend’s solid, dependable, seasoned mare was bucking every time he went to log the steer so he wasn’t able to rope on her. I showed up at the end of the day and discovered what had happened to him and…this is where I stuck my neck out for CSI Pads…I said, “Tomorrow, I’ll loan you my saddle pad and I GUARANTY that your mare won’t buck.” I knew his mare wasn’t typically a “bucker”, so I figured she must have been feeling too much pressure on her withers or back and was just sore because she was only bucking when he would log steers on her and I felt confident that the pad would do the trick. He asked me what kind of pad it was and I told him that is was a CSI Pad (and that he would have to give it back to me after he used it). The next morning I brought him the pad and he used it on the “bucker” and he was truly amazed because she showed absolutely no signs of soreness and did not even offer to buck. The mare worked great all day. He was happy to have been able to finish out the school on his mare with confidence and I was really happy that my somewhat arrogant guaranty, did in fact, work for him and his number one mount. You guessed it…my friend immediately purchased a CSI Saddle Pad and loves it. I bet his mare loves it more than he does if the truth be told! I’ve roped for 26 years and I think I’ve tried almost every new fangeld pad that has come out and have NEVER been able to see any significant results like I’ve seen with the CSI Saddle Pad. Comment on this entry on Facebook. |
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RUNNER UP: Neil HigginsAfter struggling all last year to find my 13 yr old cutting horse Smart Lil Poco aka Stretch a saddle pad that would fit, Stretch was having back and shoulder soreness you can see from the photo Stretch is fairly high withered, and it was effecting him in the cutting pen I had heard about CSI pads from the people I board with they have a CSI pad for one of their rope horses and had noticed huge improvements with her since they started using it. After last show season I contacted you and sent Kim pictures of Stretch's topline, and with in a few days I received my CSI pad and some shims we have since discontinued the use of the shims because with out the pressure points of the saddle on his shoulders the muscle has come back. Almost from the first ride I noticed a huge difference, and since then Stretch has been a different horse. This year has been awesome Stretch and I have 4 wins and 3 second place finishes we currently lead the $15000 amateur class in the BC Cutting Horse Association. And still have a few more shows this year. I am so sold on CSI pads I will be getting another one for my young horse when we start him I just don't want to take the chance of going through the same problems with Stretch. Everyone that watched us last year has asked me what the big difference is this year and I have to chalk it up to the CSI Pad and I am sure if you asked Stretch he would tell you it's the pad as well. IMG00153 is before CSI and IMG00128 is since we started using the CSI pad and I think there is a huge improvement in Stretch's topline. Thanks again for developing such an awesome product. |
RUNNER UP: Susan KnightA CRY TO CSI Along the sides of my spine got bumpy With wagons and mules we rode To Mule Day we’d come When we got home At Road to the Horse, there was a booth No more lumps along my spine But my pasture buddy knows The poor guy feels left out This request is not a whim |
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RUNNER UP: Noralee WilloughbyI have used CSI pads for as many years as they have been in business, however long that has been. At least 10 years, or more. I have always used them with great admiration. They have made many changes over the years, trying to make them better to accommodate their customers, and they have certainly done it this time. I love the new pad I bought this spring. I train quarter horses and am an avid trail rider. So, I spend many hours in the saddle, everyday. This pad is certainly in the top of it's class. The thick virgin wool pad is so kind to the horse. Keeping it cool and so soft. It sucks up the sweat and cushions all the hard blows it may take from the saddle, then the scientific plates that you have so speculatively placed on each side, really helps me out, because I have reached that mid-life crisis, where it is harder to mount. It actually keeps the saddle in place when I get on. I ride in several different Bob Marshall Saddles, which are all treeless. This pad is the answer to all my prayers. So many of my colts have no withers yet, and this pad acts almost as though it adds withers to these colts. Also, many of my horses get to fat,ever had that problem? Again, this pad is great, it helps keep the saddle in place when I get on. Another great advantage I have found is that no matter if you have an aged horse with profound withers, it is still great with the treeless saddle. With other pads you can feel the spine come right through the saddle pad to your seat. This can get real uncomfortable. With the CSI pad it is full comfort every time, all day long. And about staying in place, I have been up and down hills and mountains and this pad has passed the test. I just got back from Eminence, Missouri. It was a great test for your CSI pad. I was riding a fat 4 yr. old quarter horse colt and it did great. Then I tried it out on our older horse with a prominent spine, we have had a lot of trouble keeping the saddle from slipping back, and the pad worked, it kept it in place. Thanks so much for your hard work over the years to come up with the greatest saddle pad ever. Forever obligated to you. Thanks CSI! Comment on this entry on Facebook. |
I was first introduced to CSI saddlepads when I started working for one of your dealers ( Tony & Jenny Vaught of MO) I was skeptical at first - what could possible be so different about these pads? After using them on our horses in training I began to like them more and more. Finally I decided to try one out on my own mare. Here would be the real test... She was crabby, obstinant, and didn't like to be ridden, and she would never really 'move out'. I tacked her up using a CSI pad, and hopped on. The difference was instant! She immediately relaxed, and was much more happy about the ride in general. And then we went into a trot...she dropped her head, rounded her back, and gave me the most incredible trot I have EVER gotten from this mare! Calm, relaxed, loose - amd totally responsive! I was a believer from that moment on! My mare will personally attest to the comfort & quality of CSI saddlepads :) A very big Thank Yo ! Ashley Kennedy |
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My husband Dave started riding right after we were married eleven years ago, even before our nuptials he knew the horses were non negotiable and when I gave him an Arabian gelding named Ari as a wedding present, he began to realize how seriously devoted I was to my horses and riding. For the past seven years we have been taking our noble companions to the Rocky mountains for a week of trail riding. We've tried several different types and brands of saddle pads but Ari's back would always get sore, Dave was uncomfortable and neither of them could take anymore than two days riding at a time together. This year I saw an ad for CSI saddle pads and your 30 day guarantee I decided to get Dave one for his birthday before our annual fall ride in the Rockies and we put it to the test. Dave and Ari rode for four days, six to seven hours a day, up and down trails with fantastic results. Ari has absolutely no soreness, Dave feels great and both are one hundred percent satisfied customers! Thank you very much for this outstanding saddle pad! Bev Knoll |
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I love my CSI pad! For many years I have been in search for a pad ensuring my horses comfort. My horse has pulled his shoulder out of place many times while barrel racing. This was costing me time and money. |
Hi, My name is David Tuggle.I first came upon the CSI pad at The Road To the Horse.Donna was working at the CSI booth and was very proud of the pads she had.I am a professional Farrier and know the importance of good saddle and pad fit to prevent lameness.Donna then did her presentation to me and I told her the science behind it all made sense and then very politely told her I had heard it all before( everyone's saddle pad is the best).Donna then issued me a challenge when she found out I was an avid rider in Paso Fino shows and trail riding.To try the CSI pad for a year and judge for myself.I took the challenge and did just that!!! I have a permanent camping spot at Iron Mountain Horsecamp in Cripple Creek,Va and ride 4-6 hours a day while there.We usually camp 2 weekends(fri-sun) a month.I didn,t hold anything back on this pad.Up steep inclines and crossing rivers(pasos are also pretty tough).During the year challenge I road with as many as 23 other riders at a time and I never once had to adjust my saddle or any sore back issues.The other riders were noticing the difference in my horse and theirs.The next year@ RTTH I not only told Donna I was a true believer in the CSI pad,I purchased 3 more for my wife,daughter and son-in-law.That,s not where it ends though,I began loaning my pad to my customers and proved to them their horses would move better because they were so much more comfortable.I am the president of Southeastern Farriers and Horseowners Association and we are now as proud of the CSI pad as Donna.We had a saddle fitting clinic and had members to call and order csi pads because they saw a difference in the horse even with an ill fitting saddle(their thoughts were if it helped that much with a bad saddle it would really help with a good saddle fit).I have become a local hero with horse men and women in my area for the help this pad has given them!!! And on my last note,my wife purchased me a new CSI pad for our wedding anniversary this year for a back up to the original that I loan out so I will not miss out on a ride!!!!! From a professional horseman,Thanks CSI PADS and Donna for the challenge to try this pad.I,ll be forever grateful.Thanks and God Bless,David Tuggle |
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I found Rex, a blue roan Missouri Fox Trotter, when he was a long yearling. The video the owner sent would have surely put off any sane potential buyer, but it just looked like he had a ton of personality to me. Just a couple red flags was his running off while being led to the round pen, dragging his handler until he finally pulled loose, then later when they did get him to the round pen he went around about three times before jumping over and heading out of frame. On the plus side, I was married to a trainer and knew 'he could fix anything' and I really liked the potentially spoiled colt so I bought him anyway. I stayed hands on with my colt through his two year old year then the first half of his three year old year, having plenty of other horses to ride which paid a lot more than him. I finally got around to starting Rex under saddle the fall of his three year old year and boy howdy was he a handful once the saddle went on. I had always done a lot of round penning work. Flexion and desensitizing was regular stuff for him; but when I started saddling, he was just all full of bucks. Little bucks, big bucks, long time between bucks; but the bucks were always lurking. I rode him thru his four year old year never knowing what would bring on the bucks, but he would still buck even though he was a joy in every other way by then. Very well handled, well gaited and with a pleasant (if a bit mischievous) disposition. My husband never had time to work with the roan and other than encouraging words from him, I was on my own training the young trail horse. Chiropractic visits and saddle changes didn't make a whole lot of difference, in fact my Dale Martin ranch saddle seemed to fit him pretty well and as he grew and changed, I padded him up accordingly and never seemed to have a back problem. I just had a bit of a bucking problem….. A client brought an aged mare in for some conditioning that fall and brought along her CSI pad and said for us not to ride her horse with any other pad. We hadn't heard of CSI and just supposed it was another expensive gimmick. She assured us that was far from the truth and invited us to try it on the other horses we were riding. I accepted that offer and had it on Rex in short order. I could tell an immediate difference in my gelding's way of going and began to use the pad every time I rode him. I was suddenly riding a different horse. A horse I really liked and one I was beginning to be able to trust since there seemed to be NO MORE BUCKS. I bought my own CSI Extreme Performance Flex-Plate Saddle Pad soon after and to this day Rex is never ridden with anything else. He seems to have forgotten how to buck. He's changed from a potentially perilous ride to a go anywhere and through anything bonafide trail horse that I can trust full time. I didn't realize it if Rex had pain, but he must have been and was trying to tell me the only way he knew how. I was trying to train the bucks out of him, but thankfully the CSI pad 'trained' him for me. Rex is not only my forever trail horse now, but has began to teach my eight year old great-niece to ride also. She thinks she's quite the rider when mounted on Rex; but, then again, he never gets ridden without his CSI saddle pad! Deana Hardin |
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My husband and I each bought a CSI Pad at the Springfield, MO Horse Expo last March. We had been getting hot spots on both of our horses and were impressed by the weight distribution system built into the CSI Pad. We bought our new pads with our horses comfort first on our mind, but little did we realize that the same system that makes the ride more comfortable for the horse also made OUR bottoms feel better!! Seriously, the difference is amazing in how we feel after a long ride and if we feel this much better, our horses have to feel much more comfortable as well. |
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I learned about the CSI saddle pad over three years ago at the National Western Stockshow. I did the pressure test and was immediately hooked on the concept. I had ridden in navajo blankets and felt pads my entire life. I tried to give my horses the support they needed under the saddle, but once I participated in the pressure test I knew I didn't really know what they were feeling. My mind was hooked on the CSI pad as the solution to my horses tender back. However, I was not hooked on the price. I couldn't get it into my head that I would pay just about as much for a saddle pad as I had the saddle itself. I spent the next three years researching saddle blankets/pads, participating in every CSI pressure test I could, and trying the talk myself out of it. Regular felt pads were much less expensive and even if I had to buy a new one every few year I thought it would be worth it. I knew about the 30 day money back guarantee but was still being stubborn. At this point, I had been breaking a 3 year old filly and had a 12 year old gelding. My filly seemed restricted and uncomfortable when she moved in certain directions. My gelding has always been ridden in a navajo blanket and the tenderness he had from it was apparent every day. A simple rubber brush would make his back flinch in pain. It was at that point when I did the pressure test one more time, and convinced myself to do the 30 day trial and see where I could get. I purchased my CSI pad in early June at the Ken McNabb horse auction. My first day in the CSI pad, I immediately felt a difference. My filly was less restricted in her shoulder movements and more willing to move in a certain direction. My training really accelerated with her. My gelding had a even more amazing change. After only a week of riding in the CSI pad, his back tenderness disappeared completely. He no longer flinches or shows any sign of pain. After 12 years of wrong saddle pads it was a pretty amazing change. Before I knew it, my 30 day trial was up. The changes I saw in my horses were amazing. I would not sell my CSI pad to anyone and am looking to buy another so all my horses can reap the benefits. After 3 years of uncertainty, I regret waiting as long as I did because of the price. The price is a small insurance of a great product that will change your horses life! Emily Fickbolhm |
I recently attended a Brendan Wise (John Lyons cert) clinic and was introduced to CSI saddle pads. I have a big stout paint mare with a wide back and narrow withers. That combination makes saddle fitting difficult. She is prone to sore back issues due to poor saddle fit. Several of my friends use CSI pads and rave about how they help with difficult to fit horse/saddle issues. I borrowed a pad and the difference in my horses performance was incredible.The first thing I noticed is my saddle now sits level... Using a CSI pad freed up her front end, and no bucking issues when she lopes. I am sold, and placing my order immediately. Will be sharing my experiences with all my horse friends. Thanks CSI for a great product. Julie Watson |
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I purchased my CSI saddle pad in 2008, after a friend suggested that my horse, Ripley, might be getting back sore. Ripley is a 2003 Palomino Overo APHA gelding that I bred and raised. I do recreational trail riding however sometimes my friends and I will ride for 5-8 hours/day, so it can get very intense. Ripley had always been a very nice trainable youngster. As a yearling my daughter showed him at the PA State 4-H show where he won Grand Champion Yearling Paint Gelding. My daughter and I started Ripley under saddle as a two year old. He was very good for the first two years then once we started asking more of him, i.e.; longer hours, more intense work, things changed. He would go along for about 2 hours and then out of the blue would buck so hard and so sudden, that it caught me off guard more than one time. The first time it happened, I was taken to the emergency room. My hip was so severely bruised, I thought it was broken. My daughter was also tossed off from him several times. This bucking continued his 4 year old and 5 year old year. We tried many different things including going back to square one with his training which included sacking him out again and working him with old tires strapped to the saddle to simulate weight and movement. I was almost at the end of my rope and had actually reluctantly advertised Ripley for sale when my friend said," have you considered that he may be hurting?" I actually had considered it but because of his pink skin in the girth area, had always looked more at that area for soreness instead of his back. He had been fitted for the saddle so I was pretty sure the saddle was a good fit but had never considered that a different type of saddle pad would make that big of a difference. I started researching saddle pads on line and it wasn't long before I was on the CSI website. I read about the benefits and the testimonials and decided it was worth a try – so I ordered one. I can honestly say that since I have been using this pad, my horse has not bucked once. At first I thought it was a coincidence, but after several years with no buck, I cannot argue with the facts. My horse was getting a sore back from the wrong saddle pad. Before the CSI pad, my horse's only relief after a couple of hours under saddle was to launch his rider. Now that he isn't uncomfortable, the issue has gone away. I know it is time to replace my pad as it has had many hours of long hard rides, but I'm so nervous about making any changes to his equipment, that I haven't done it yet. I am a very difficult person to convince that a product can make a big difference in performance and once I am convinced, I usually keep to myself, so the fact that I'm even writing this letter is quite unusual. I do believe in the CSI saddle pads and I have recommended them to others. Finally, I would like to thank the people at CSI for making such a good product. Ripley thanks you as well. Kimberly Maynard |
I bought a CSI pad last week and received it Monday. It's amazing how much better my saddle fits and once I started warming him up, he felt free with much more range of motion. I'm sold on the CSI pad! |
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I attended the MN horse expo in April 2010 and was immediately drawn to your booth. Seeing people stand in amazement as they watched your product being tested and compared to other material on the market, was incredible. I have always been a big skeptic and wanted to do more research on this pad. To my surprise, I could only find good reviews and comments. I told my husband that I was considering getting one but needed to consider the cost first. A few weeks later I woke up and opened my birthday gift. SURPRISE! New pad! I was really excited to test this pad. Many lesson's, training hours, and trail rides later, I still can't find anything that I don't love about this pad. Yes, I said love! Even when I am asked to ride someone else's horse, I have to tell them that I will only use my CSI pad. It will flex to fit the horse's back just as a custom made pair of shoes will fit your feet. As with a well made pair of shoes that will allow you to go all day on your feet, this pad allows my horse to go all day without showing any signs of fatigue or soreness. Thank you for a wonderful product that is going to always have a place in my tack room. Misty Black |
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Amazing success while using the CSI saddle pad. In 2008 I purchased my first CSI pad to use on a 3 year old AQHA reining prospect I had just aquired. I have used this pad on the mare exclusively, 100% of the rides were with the CSI pad. Every training session, every warm up session, and every class at the horse show. She has appeared happy when saddled, remained soft and free moving throughout every ride. She has never shown any sign of back discomfort, and no matter what saddle we grab, it seems to "fit". This CSI pad/Horse combination has had AMAZING SUCCESS 77 AQHA Points earned Earning numerous circuit champion awards, multiple state high point awards, freestyle reining titles, all with a CSI pad on her back………. An AMAZING combination. Take a look at the mare and pad in the two attached photo's. Thank You CSI Monte Hamilton |
I ride a quarter horse to head steers on. I bought him as a broncy 3 year old very cold backed.The colt was very athletic and fast after several years of training he was a horse I am very proud of. One night while roping as I turned a steer he swallowed his head and went to pitchin when unsaddleing I found fresh gall marks on his withers. So I cut an old pad and kept riding him. Bought a total pad and he would still buck then bought a gel pad same results. Then I ran across the CSI booth at the NFR in vegas and Donna talked me into buying a pad. Couldn't wait to get home to try it instant fix horse worked perfect. Sometimes later I sent my saddle to the shop for new leathers. The saddlemaker found the tree to be broken it had been pinching him across the withers every time I turned a steer. Well I retired that saddle but still ride the CSI. It fixed my problem even with a broken tree saddle. I know it takes the pressure off a horse when turning a steer. If it fixed "Sport" with a sore back I'm sure not going to change. Sport has been working great ever since using your pads. Also several of my buddies bought pads from your booth in OKC at the USTRC finals after seeing my reulst. The Csi pad is the best one on the market. Thanks again Donna, Rick Kinnard
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In December of 2010 my family and I went to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV and discovered the CSI pad while walking through some of the booths. I was fascinated by the technology behind it and the quality of which they were made. We purchased one as soon as we got home and I have been riding in it ever since. I notice a difference in my horses stride right away when I used it, he is able to move out more freely and our barrel times have improved by almost a half of a second. I also run in California Gymkhana Association and my times for all 13 events have improved so much since having my pad that I have won three saddles, over ten buckles, I hold an arena record and numerous other awards that are featured in the picture below. I am also receiving an AAA Champion jacket and buckle to match at the end of November. I have been running in my pad almost every weekend for the past 10 months and it still looks brand new. I love my CSI saddle pad it has more than paid for itself and I will never change back to my old pad again. Shawna Bishop |
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I love my CSI pad! I think Two Tru Rare Babe loves it even more. Babe's back and shoulders are no longer sore and I no longer have to pay to have her back injected! That savings alone paid for the pad. This pad lies on her back perfectly and the saddle and pad both stay in place without needing a super tight cinch. Babe has run harder and turned harder since purchasing the CSI pad several years ago. I have used many other well known brands and they were worn out by now but not the CSI pad! I have 2 horses currently barrel racing and an up and coming 2 year old. I really need a 2nd (and eventually 3rd) CSI pad. Sue Ruzicka |
When I saw the video for the CSI saddle pad , the ease of movement that the horse showed, I was thoroughly impressed. My horse has had shoulder soreness which needed chiropractic help to releive. I had changed saddles twice and still the problem persisted. So the next logical step was to get a saddle pad made especially for horses that need less pressure on their shoulder. Christmas was coming and my son had put in his order for expensive snowmobile boots and floatation pants. Twelve days after Christmas he celebrates his birthday . He figured that we could get him the snowmobile equipment he needed. We agreed only if he was to recipricate with the CSI saddle pad. Christmas came and went and no saddle pad. My birthday is 3 days after my son's but still no pad. Winter in very cold here in Ontario. but spring was coming and I was getting anxious to get my saddle pad and start spring training. When confronted with no present for Christmas nor my birthday, my son confessed that he had maxed out his credit card and asked me to buy the saddle pad myself. Knowing that my son is cheap, I ordered the saddle pad . He never offered to pay for it. I have been using the CSI pad for two years no . |
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I have a older draft cross (Cigar) that I purchased at the end of season from a trail ride business. I was coming back into riding after a horse riding accident that caused a broken leg leading to complications (a short stay in Intensive care and 3 weeks in hospital) which sidelined me for over 6 months. I wanted a horse that I could trust ( I had ridden Cigar frequently over a 3 year period but he had not ever been for sale.) . It was the end of the trail ride season and he'd had a hard year and was worn out. The owners told me they would sell him. I took a chance on a possibly too run down horse - might be lame etc. He had a saddle sore from poor saddle fit and no top line. He was put into a feed and exercise program to recover his health. I investigated saddle pads on line, I was looking for one that would allow me to work on his fitness and strength while keeping him as comfortable as possible. The vet felt that keeping him active – 20 minutes walk trot 3 times weekly and gradually adding more work ( it was about 4 months before he was cantered) was more beneficial than laying him off for the winter to heal the sore and then trying to get him fitted up again. After 6 months of work he had developed some top line and muscle on his back and the quarter horse tree saddle I had became too tight. I had a saddle fitter out and ended up getting a draft tree saddle for him. The saddle fitter had not seen a CSI pad before and thought it was a good one to be using on my horse. I continue to use the pad and my horse has been coming along really well. He still needs more topline development but I can see improvement in him. I have purchased another liner for it (felt/foam combo). My daughter uses this pad on her horse (Atlas) when she shows western. He is a warmblood type and will not tolerate the western saddle if we use any other pad. I feel the pad made my horse more comfortable and able to work and develop muscle. I also appreciated the more comfortable ride, my horse has a fairly energetic trot and it felt smoother the first time I used the saddle pad. PS the vet I had out to check him the first week in November 2009 said he seemed sturdy enough but was worn out but probably was closer to 20-22 years old and not the 14 years old my bill of sale stated. The next spring I found his original owner and she stated he was 16 years old and when the vet saw him spring 2010 he was pleasantly pleased how well he looked. |
I started working with Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) November 2010. Then, I began working with CSI upon developing the RSNC store and selling CSI saddlepads online. The first time I made contact with the office, I felt like I was talking with a good friend I could rely on and trust to take care of business. In June of 2011, I finally got to meet Donna in person at RSNC National Finals in Ardmore, OK, as she was a vendor at the show that gave a demonstration on how to properly saddle a horse. During that week, Donna spoke with everyone in attendance, let people try out the CSI saddle pads, and had many sales. Bonus, was some of the RSNC class prizes were CSI Pads for contestants. The RSNC online store gotten customers specifically seeking out CSI pads because they want the best quality for their horse. It has been wonderful working with Donna because she a great business woman who is informative, helpful and passionate about her product. Donna and her staff go above and beyond make sure customers, contestants, sponsors, and equine businesses feel like they are #1 priority. CSI is great to work with and we are proud to have her as a sponsor of RSNC. Thanks again for all that you do! Val Rodriguez |
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