There are so many different pads on the market deciding what to buy is difficult. Each company has a million and a half reasons why theirs is the best, and their marketing guru's can sell ice cubes to Eskimo's in ten minutes or less. Trial and error is about the only way to know.

Because I have been a horse gadget junky, I personally tried nearly every kind of saddle pad around along with all sorts of bits and devices to gain control of the horse. This was all before I was converted to Natural Horsemanship. My wife was one of Pat Parelli's first instructors. I since have learned that looking out for the welfare of my horses instead of using restraint gizmo's makes me feel better and my horses like me a whole lot more.  This includes making sure that my horses are capable of  doing what I ask. Sore backs really get in the way. Bad attitudes and resistance are by products of this also.

A well fitting saddle is best, but for those of us who ride a lot of different horses in a day not every fit is perfect. Also a horse's back can change according to fitness and age. So what do you do then? I had come to believe that a little soreness was just part of the deal. Manage it as best you could.

A friend of mine tried to get me to try CSI Pads about three years ago, but being the expert that I was, I politely declined. I had tried everything and there was no way that this pad would make that much difference! Over two years passed when we had found out that one of our former colleagues from Parelli Natural Horsemanship, who was also a successful cutting horse trainer, liked these pads so we decided to try the pad.  WOW what a difference!  No more pinning of ears while being cinched up, backs lifting and getting round almost by themselves, and sticky lead changes getting better almost immediately. Gait transitions were better and just a better overall attitude. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and feeling. The pad was living up to all claims made by the manufacturer!  

Even though we ask our horses to do a lot, we do not have back problems anymore. We need our horses to be able to turn a barrel, turn a cow on the fence at high speed, stop hard and deep, but also be strong and flexible enough to handle dressage work. Successful development of  horses requires a good attitude and a healthy good feeling horse. Sore your horses back and see what you get.

I can promise you that at "For The Horse" Ranch we will be using this pad for a long time. Fortunately CSI Saddlepads makes english saddle pads as well as western saddle pads because my wife is partial to nice english show horses. I like things that are made in the USA and really work like they are supposed to; that is a rare thing these days. 

I have seen two of our students horses literally transformed before our eyes when trying the CSI saddlepad. Going from cranky, pushy and impulsive to relaxed,happy and much easier to get along with. Horses are so honest, if you are running in to training problems there is always a reason. Don't forget to make sure your gear fits and is comfortable to your equine partner.  You can see the saddle pad and get more information at "VaughtsGeneralStore.net."