CSI Saddle Pad Testimonials

Russell Cardoza rides with CSI Saddle Pad
#5 ALL AROUND WORLD STANDINGS, #4 WORLD STANDINGS HEELER

Those who use CSI Saddle Pads say they are the best saddle pads they’ve ever ridden with! For them and their horse!

CSI Saddle Pads are amongst one of the horse world’s leading saddle pad makers and used by a variety of horse riders–from Trainers and Clinicians, Rodeo Athletes, to Trail Riders and Family Horse Owners. Read from our latest set of rider testimonials below. Or find out from specific industry segments have to their experience with CSI Saddle Pads:

Trainers and Clinicians | Rodeo Competitors | Performance Horse Riders
Show and Pleasure Horse Riders | Trick Riders | Trail and Family Horse Owners | Endurance Riders


Kerry Kuhn of Kerry Kuhn Horsemanship says CSI Saddle Pads is the best saddle pad in the industry

“I have been in the equine industry my entire life. I began training horses for the public when I was 12 years old. I competed in rodeo growing up and all through school. I began teaching horsemanship at clinics and expos close to 18 years ago. I was introduced to Donna and CSI Saddle Pads when they were just getting started. I have watched them grow as a company and have watched their pad evolve into the absolute best saddle pad on the market. Over the years, I have been approached by many other companies to try their pads, and I will admit, I tried them. I’m like everyone else, I’m constantly looking for the best protection for my horses. I even went so far with one company to let them convince me to change my saddles as well. What I ended up with was some horses that got so sore I couldn’t even ride them. I can honestly say that I’m glad I tried those other pads because it has proven to me that the CSI pads are the absolute best. Being involved with our television show, we have many past episodes showing how sore some of our horses got, and how CSI helped bring them back. My horses are my livelihood, and you won’t see them wearing anything but CSI from now on.”

– Kerry Kuhn of Kerry Kuhn Horsemanship


CSI Saddle Pad ridden by Elizabeth Clavette

“My name is Elizabeth Clavette. I am a full-time horse trainer and Professional Cowboy Mounted shooter. I have been riding with a CSI Saddle Pad for the last 2 years. From the first day I saddled up with a CSI Saddle Pad, I have seen and felt an amazing change for the better with my horses. Their flexibility and comfort in movement from their shoulders is incredible! I have also found that my horses don’t get sore backs. When my horses are comfortable they are able to perform at the highest level. Not only do my horses feel better with a CSI Saddle Pad, I personally don’t get as sore in my back! I want the best for my horses. That’s why I choose to ride with the best: CSI Saddle Pads!”

– Elizabeth Clavette

Horse Trainer and Professional Cowboy Mounted Shooter, Golden, CO


Trish Lynn says the CSI Saddle Pad has not only eliminated soreness … it has also improved the performance of her horses.X

“I just wanted to write and tell you what an amazing difference the CSI Saddle Pads have made for the All American Cowgirl Chicks horse herd. Carrying 14 horses on the road (with some of them rescue horses) every weekend … we are up against a lot of adversity. We strive to do the best we can to maintain our horses at the highest level. Traveling over 100,000 miles a year, our equipment has to be tough and stand up to our hectic schedule. The CSI Saddle Pad has not only eliminated soreness … it has improved our horses performance each time we run in the arena. This is such a great product, and we will endorse the CSI Saddle Pads everywhere we go. We are confident that the CSI Saddle Pad is the best out on the market today and will promote these pads for a long time. We are living proof that CSI is dependable and tough, and gives our horses the best protection in the rodeo arena. Thanks CSI for having such an outstanding product!”

– Trish Lynn

All American Cowgirl Chicks


“So, it’s two weeks before Quarter Horse Congress, and I’m fitting my 2-year-old for some of the hunter under saddle events and what do you know, he falls into a funk … and keeps on fallin’ deeper into that funk. Bute didn’t work, rest didn’t work, excessive stretching and suppling didn’t work, chiropractic work, massage, muscle relaxers … I tried it all, and with little luck. I got to the Congress with my funky 2-year-old just hoping he could make it through the show. I bought extra bedding, rubbed him down several times a day, didn’t lunge him (he’s a pretty cool 2-year-old…), rode him as lightly as possible, yada, yada, and he was still funky. His Congress 09 debut was quickly approaching, and I was running out of ideas. That’s when I wandered over to the the CSI booth and started eyeballing these wonder pads. I’ll admit I was very skeptical but figured it was worth a shot. I talked with Donna to get the scoop on her product, and she let me try one of the pads on my horse when I went to work him later that day. I saddled up my funky horse, got on a skeptic, and got off with tears in my eyes. My pretty cool 2-year-old was back! I was SO excited—SO SO excited. Donna let me try both the english and western pads, and both were great! She was such a doll that she even let me borrow the english pad to show in. This is such a great product, and I will support and promote these pads for a long time! This pad fixed my horses, and I bet they can do the same for you. Give the pad a try—what do you have to lose!?”

 – Sara, Texas

“I love my CSI saddle pad! I ride hard and consequently have trouble with saddle marks. In an effort to keep my horses comfortable I have tried lots of different saddle pads. The CSI pad I’m using now is the best one I have tried so far. I still have some white hair from saddle wear, but it is not nearly as pronounced and is far less concentrated than ever before. I think I can tell that my horses are less sore and move better on long days and the day after. Love my CSI, it is a favorite tool and I wouldn’t ride without it.” 

– B. Rex Buchman, Christian Horseman

“THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!! Received the CSI Pad before I headed out to the show. It worked FANTASTICALLY, and 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-year-old. I feel her performance was helped by your CSI Pad.” 

– Mary Kahn, Maryville, MO

“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 percent 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

“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 and 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 6-year-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


CSI Saddle Pad ridden by All American Cowgirl Chicks

“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 doesn’t slip. To my surprise, 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 weeklong performances, he wasn’t sore at all! I spread the news to the other girls on the team. Now, every trick rider AND even the girls that don’t 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 wholeheartedly 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


“Trick riding clinic I had in Weatherford, TX this weekend, as always the TX Trk Riders ride on CSI Pads!”

– Austin James on Facebook

“Thank you so much for the western pads. Wow, what a difference it made in the horses. I am amazed how my saddle now fits 26 different horses, and before I was having to use two pads for certain horses, and now all the horses’ backs and withers are much better. We have cut our chiropractic bills in half. The horses have become so much more balanced in their movement. Scot and I both have back problems, and since I have had my pad, I have not had any problems at all. Scot’s have been cut in half of what he used to hurt.”

– Lynn MacGregor

“I’m using the pad and Abetta endurance saddle on the little mare who is very broad and has no withers. The saddle never has fit Bint. None of my others do either. However, since we’ve been riding more, she has lost some weight, and with the CSI Pad, I’m not getting the dry spots anymore. Whoopee. We did a 30-mile competitive ride a couple weeks ago, and she had the best pulse recoveries she has ever had, and the saddle stayed right where I put it.” 

– MB

“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 day’s 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 bought a beautiful Mustang, Tiger. He is great! I borrowed a pad from my 4-H leader, Wendy Parker. What a difference. He loves it. I used to not be able to really brush him on his back, but now he loves it. I am looking for a new saddle so this pad really helps me have a better fit until I find my new saddle. Thank you.” 

– Danielle Langleinger

“I talked to you at the Equine Affaire and mentioned that I loved the pad that I bought from you at the Novi Michigan show. It’s great. It’s an endurance shape, although not finished around the edges. It’s a 3/4 and feels so nice under my saddle. I know if it feels that good to me, it must be feeling good to my horse, as well. I’d like to buy another one to go under my dressage saddle. The really nice thing about it is that if your saddle doesn’t fit your horse perfectly, the pad helps to cushion the saddle just right so that it does. I have three horses of completely different shapes, and this pad has allowed me to use several of my saddles on all three. I know nothing can enhance a bad-fitting saddle, but this pad sure helps if the saddle is slightly less than a perfect fit. I ride competitive trail, western pleasure, and dressage. I feel like this pad is as versatile as I expect my horses to be. Thanks for a good product.”

– Joanne Coy

“Just wanted to take a moment and let you know how great I think your saddle pad is. I took my horse on the trail on Saturday afternoon and Sunday this past weekend. I can only say how great I think it functioned. The sweat pattern was complete, and my old horse had no sore spots. He is a grade gelding with high withers, a hollowed back (he is probably at least part Saddlebred) and is about 22 years old. I have had trouble fitting him with saddle and pad in the past. I finally ordered an Australian Stock Saddle because they are made narrow enough to fit him. Your saddle pad completes the package. Donna shared with me that you are in the process of designing a saddle pad to go with the stock saddle. I purchased a barrel pad, and it fits well, leaving plenty of leg contact. Whenever I get a chance to have a photo of Max and I using your saddle pad, I will be happy to send it to you to use. I would endorse your product any time. Thank you.” 

– Elaine Anderson

“Just got two new CSI Pads in today! We love them, and use them everyday on everything from first ride colts to saddle horses.” 

– Ducheneaux Quarter Horses on Facebook


“I have been using CSI Pads exclusively for several years now, and I have experienced firsthand the numerous therapeutic advantages these pads offer. I have fewer back soreness issues and that has translated into better equine attitudes and fewer missed training days. I am sold on CSI Pads.” 

– Sherman Tegtmeier

Reining Horse Trainer, Nebraska


See What More Riders Have to Say

Trainers and Clinicians | Rodeo Competitors | Performance Horse Riders
Show and Pleasure Horse Riders | Trick Riders | Trail and Family Horse Owners | Endurance Riders