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What rider's are saying about CSI pads ...
I've been trail riding my Tennessee Walker mare for a year with my CSI pad and we're both much happier. The pad doesn't move going up and down hills and we get home with no dry spots. She is a lot less cinchy, as well. She doesn't get sore and neither do I. My horse has a short back and I ride with a round-skirted saddle, and there's plenty of pad for helping spread the weight. This pad was recommended to me by a lifelong horsewoman, who said it's the best pad she's ever had. All that, and the customer service cannot be beat. Thank You! — Martha Dusell, Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist
Thank you CSI-I do Little Britches Rodeo and my mom bought my goat tying and roping horse a CSI pad-She was concerned about the cost-but it has been a great investment. My horse, Toad, used to have to be adjusted alot, and when he was adjusted there was alot wrong with his mid section. Thanks to the CSI pad now he gets just one adjustment a year and his ribs and mid section are not usually out! And our times are getting faster! Now I am going to start saving up for a pad for my barrel horse! Thank you CSI! — Bailey Carl
I operate an equine assisted psychotherapy program and to get our horses with 'the program' and ready for our therapy sessions, which does not involve riding, I excercise and ride them everyday. I have had a tack arsenal and have ridden in about every pad on the market. I have even had pads made specifically for my horses and saddles. I was hestitant at first to add another tack item to my collection but after a week of riding in the C.S.I. my horses and I were happy to list anything but on ebay!!! I have a few core pads and can easily change my inserts depending on what horse I'm riding.I couldn't have found you soon enough and I'm grateful as are my horses. I love the buzz and positive feedback C.S.I. pads are leaving out there!!!! — Kathy King Raedeke
I first saw CSI Pads at Road to The Horse in Tennessee in 2008. My horse had actually gone down the night before the performance because of a pad I had just bought for him that cut his withers to the bone! This pad was not a cheap pad either. I researched the CSI Pads and asked them a million questions. I called Donna the next week, ordered one and started using it as soon as his withers healed. Trick riding is very tough on their backs because of how tight you have to have the saddle so it does not slip. To my suprise, he has not been back sore once since I started using the pad. Before, after a 2-3 day performance if you touched him on his back he would just cringe. I was so impressed that after week long performances he was not sore at all! I spread the news to the other girls on the team. Now, every trickrider AND even the girls that dont trick ride on our team use the CSI Pads. I have even started using the CSI Pads on my ranch horses and the colts that I start! We are absolutely in love with them and believe in them so whole heartedly that we will not buy any other pad. Thank you Donna and the girls for helping my horses, they mean the world to me and it just killed me when they were so sore. Tee Jay and Splash, my trick riding horses, also thank you! — Ginger Duke, All American Cowgirl Chicks
The mare that I ride was having a lot of back soreness issues due to a poor saddle fit problem. We worked with Russ at R Bar B to find another saddle that would help eliminate that problem. He told me it would take 12 weeks for the saddle that I ordered to arrive. In the meantime I started to look at alternative pad choices that would possibly help with the poor saddle fit issues. I purchased a CSI Pad through Russ in December and am SO glad that I did. Not only did it help with my mare's back and her own soreness. I was AMAZED at how much better I felt. My mare is not the smoothest horse by any means and after a long days ride I would find myself rolling out of bed the next morning barely able to stand up because my back hurt so bad. Since using the CSI pad I do not have any of that back soreness. I might get sore from unused muscles, but NOTHING like the pain from the concussion on my spine that I was feeling before. I highly recommend the purchase of the CSI pad. It is well worth the initial expense and is a high quality pad that will last you a very long time.
Thanks CSI for creating a pad that helps both the horse and the rider! — Brandi Lewis,
Maple Hill, KS
I think I have tried just about every saddle pad on the market and I can honestly say nothing even compares to the CSI pad. I usually never try something new at a race that I have never used or ran in before. I was in columbia at a Barrel Bash and a friend wanted me to just try it and see what I thought, once I put it on there was no taking it off. Before I even got on I loved the way it sat my saddle and looked from the ground, then when I got on I could immedieatly feel a big differece. When my horse went to move she felt so free and comfortable in her front end which is what I had been looking for with other pads. I ended up winning the race and have never rode in another pad since, I can't! -Caitlin Benjamin
I bought your pad almost a year ago. And I love it! Well worth the money! Last week while saddling up, a friend of mine noticed something sticking out of my saddle. It ended up being WOOD SCREWS the manufacturer used to put on decorative chonco's. Before I bought this pad Peddler was bucking up a storm. I bought the pad and he stopped. He does have some back issues so I thought - "Okay, the pad is doing what it's supposed to. Good!" Funny thing, after unsaddling and cleaning the pad I was noticing there were depression and wondered, "What the heck is that." I didn't think anything of it - Now I know what the depressions were from! It was the WOOD SCREWS. To my horror, the screws were poking him! Gee, I wonder why the poor thing was bucking? Duh! Lesson learned. Note to self - Listen to your horse, they're trying to tell you something. Anyway, he stopped bucking b/c the pad was protecting him from getting poked. Anyway, thank so much for a well made and awesome pad. I'm trying to talk my hubby into buying one and I'm hoping to add to my horse family and if I do I will defiantely be returning to buy your pad for him. And anytime someone asks about the pad I refer them right to your sight. Thanks again! — Norma
We bought Cimarron a 5 1/2 year old Missouri Foxtrotter in the spring of 07. My husband loves this horse for his way of going and strong personality. We love to ride - a short ride for us is 2 - 3 hours, a good ride is 5 or so. From the beginning we had problems with Cimarron's back getting sore in the loin area. We tried several different saddles (new and used / flex tree and rigid) and easily 6 or more different pads to try and fix this issue. Most new pads would help for a few rides but over time they would compress down and stay that way in the areas of pressure. In May of this year (2008) at Cross Country trail ride his back developed a pressure sore in the loin area from only a few days of riding. In August after some research and talking to another rider using a CSI pad we decided to give one a try. We were going to South Dakota for 12 days of riding out of French Creek and Willow Creek and were in desperate need of a pad that would keep this horse sound. I will admit we were both doubtful any pad was going to work. Our first ride out of Willow Creek was over 7 hours (was intentional - we were not lost except in the beauty of the ride) - we could not believe it when we unsaddled and had no soreness at all. In the past a ride like that would have resulted in the horse dropping a couple of inches from just running your hand down his back. My husband kept checking him until bedtime just sure he was going to become sore. The next day we rode up the north face of Harney - down the south and back to camp - another long day and again no soreness at all. To sum it up at the end of the trip and many good long rides this horse had not one sore spot on his back. Best of all a "Made in America" product was the answer to our problem. — Sue Wimp
My times have gotten faster, my horses’ backs stay in better, and I ride with even more confidence knowing that my saddle pad is protecting my horses’ bodies. Since I started using the CSI Saddle Pad my two competition horses, Montana Excaliber and Montana Afton, have literally stopped getting sore after competition runs and long weekends. I can exercise them and compete on them with the confidence of knowing I'm not causing problems. My older horse was continuously getting sore across his back, I didn’t know what to do, until I met Donna of CSI. It has literally made the difference of locally running in the 2D, and NOW he’s back winning money in the 1D! With its light weight, I've also noticed that my times on both horses have been faster and more consistent using the CSI pad. I love it! I wouldn’t believe a product such as this can make THAT big of a DIFFERENCE if I hadn’t tried it! I’m a CSI Saddle Pad fan for life! Thank you CSI for such a great product! — Desiree Treeby
The CSI Saddle Pad is the only pad I would ever consider using on any of my horses by itself. This pad does the best job of evenly spreading pressure and releasing heat I have ever seen. Allot of saddle pads claim to be the World s Answer to Equine Back Pain but this one does the job. Not only in the arena but out on the Ranch in the Arizona heat working ten and twelve hour days. The CSI Pad has not only lived up to but has surpassed any of my expectations. I whole heartedly suggest to anyone, Try one. You won t be disappointed!
As for the manufacturers of the CSI Saddle Pad, Donna Helms it is her love, knowledge and commitment to our horses that really takes this product to another level. I and my horses are in their debt. — Rocco J. Wachman
Arizona Cowboy College, Lorill Equestrian Center, www.cowboycollege.com
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!! Received the CSI pad before I headed out to the show. It worked FANTASTICALLY, it's the PERFECT size. I appreciate both of your efforts...first with dealing with the size issue and then getting it out ASAP. Customer service like this is so hard to find these days so when it happens....WOW!!!! Dolly (horse) and I did well and we actually placed for the first time in "riding" classes. This year is our first year showing under saddles since she is only a 3 y.o. I feel her performance was helped by your CSI pad. THANKS!!!! — Mary Kahn, Maryville, MO
As a trainer and clinician, I have never been so behind a product as I am the CSI pads. I was first taken with Donna's integrity when I met her at Equine Affaire in Pamona; she offered me a pad and insisted I try it out and be completely happy with it with no obligation. It has made a huge difference on our hard-to-fit Arabian stallion (who starred as Al Hattal in Hidlago) I use it on every young horse's first ride, that first experience/feel of a rider on their back has lasting impact, and I would not trust that to any other pad now.
I wholeheartedly and without renumeration recommend this pad to all of my clients and many have gone on to purchase them and are happy with the same great results.
These pads are an investment in your horses future.
They will protect his attitude as well as soundness as he moves freely and without discomfort.
Thank you Donna for a great product- we will be riding with it at WS Horse Expo! — Marybeth Wiefels
I puchased my first flex-plate pad last summer for my top barrel horse. I wasn't having any sorness issues, but I had a friend that gave me a really convincing testimonial about the difference it made for her barrel horse. Immediately after I ran with my new pad I noticed a tremendous difference in shoulder freedom , I was impressed. My horse finished out the season with the best turns she had ever made. This spring I started a race horse filly on the pattern with a really small felt pad so it wasn't as overwhelming to her back. After just 2 runs I thought I would try my CSI pad on her, the horse was as smooth as silk. I went around swearing that the pad made the differnce and people thought I was crazy. So I put the 5 Starr pad back on her and made another run, and she just wasn't the same. Then to conclude my experiment I put the CSI pad back on and just like magic it was an amazing transformation. These are great producst and I have huge faith in them. — Charlotte Soltvedt
I met Donna at the PA Horse Expo at Harrisburg, PA this winter. After taking part of the demonstration on the CSI Pads I couldn't keep from talking about them. I was totally sold on them.
My husband got so sick of hearing me talking about it on the way home from the Expo he told me he would buy me one.
I ride Barrel Horses and my one horse tends to get a sore back, can be a hand full in the alley, and hates pain. I had a pad that I just wasn't satisfied with and I felt he didn't like it. It was thick and stiff but was to be one of the top ones on the market.
I just couldn't wait to try my CSI. I spoke to Jennifer before ordering and she said that she ran Barrel horses and couldn't believe the change in them from using the CSI Pad and told me that she felt I would see a difference. A difference I sure did see!!! My horse has been walking into the alley, seems to be comfortable, his back doesn't seem sore, and he is running a half second faster then he was.
I can say that I'm totally sold and won't be using any other pads but CSI. I'm also proud to say that I have become a dealer on the East Coast and will be happy to let you try my pad out if you see me at a show. You'll not regret it!
Thanks CSI for making my horse happy!
— Michele Dibert
PA IBRA State Director
I wanted to let you know how fantastic my new CSI Flex Plate saddle pad is for my 17 yo TWH mare. She came with a Bob Marshall Sports Saddle. After a few months her back was getting sore in the center after repeated days of riding. Now I am not the lightest rider, and I contacted a few folks and discovered that my saddle had no bars. I even had folks tell me not to ride my saddle at my body weight. However, the saddle is so light and moves with her so well I hated to get a new one. Clay and Jacquie Harper introduced me to your Flex Plate Pad in 2007. After 3 weeks and many miles of trails, my mare's back is solid as a rock. I can mount on the trail without saddle slippage. The Flex Plates provide the structure my saddle does not have. The 1" foam supports my weight without tearing up her hide like other pads. Thanks a bunch. — Jim Sweeny and McCurdy's Blue Angel
My name is Kasey and I met you Saturday at Equine Affaire. I came to see you after my friend Kelly called me to tell me she bought your saddle pad at the event and was impressed with the demo. I am not a big fan of the "latest & greatests" , so I tracked down Ryan Gingerich at his booth to get an "in the field" perspective from someone who has used these saddle pads, after speaking with him I decided I'd try it. Terry and I bought one, and on Sunday I rode my mare, a 6yr old AQHA Super Bitch (due to back soreness)......and the difference in the freedom of motion in her shoulders was nothing short of amazing! Better yet is the fact that my body was not as stiff or sore when I was done riding. You have an amazing product!! I ride and work with quite a number of horses ranging in age and issue as well as with riders in the same situation. I would love to help get this product out there to more people and horses. —Kasey Jackson-Cousins
Just to trigger your memory, both me and my good friend Kristy bought your CSI Extreme Performance Pad with the Flex Plates at the 2008 Maryland Horse Expo. I explained to you there that I have been having saddle fit issues with my tough to fit horse who has a very sensitive back. I tried everything, and just couldn't get him 100% comfortable. Well, since using the CSI Extreme Performance Pad, he has been riding better than ever since I bought him back in July! He is the type of horse that will tell me right away if something isn't the slightest bit right….he will hollow out his back, blow leads, and buck. Since I have started using the CSI pad, he has been super happy, content, rounding beautifully, bending much better, etc. I honestly can say that I will not ride him in anything else. I cannot express how happy I am that we stopped to chat with you at the expo and decided to purchase this pad. Kristy has also had excellent results, but I'll let her tell you herself! A good friend of ours just bought her first horse and we are also recommending to her to buy the CSI Extreme Performance Pad. — Gina Humes
CSI pads came to my attention through a friend who told me how great they were. He is showing in ranch horse competitions and told me of the positive results. I decided to purchase one of your western saddle pads about six months ago, and I too have been impressed with the results. In fact, my husband uses the pad on his horse; and, not long after beginning to use it, he commented that he no longer gets sore from riding. I attribute this directly to the pad, because nothing else has changed - the horse is the same, the saddle is the same, but the saddle pad changed. My husband and I have a small farm in North Carolina and just recently opened it to a few boarders, which means I have a website now. I have added your company's website to my links page and wanted to let you know. http://horsegatefarm.com/ — Best Regards, Diane Horton, Horsegate Farm
