✓Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com·Updated May 2026
El Compañero suede bareback pad draped over a horse's back
El Compañero Bareback Rider is a unique interpretation of the pad originally used by Native Americans. Bareback Saddle Pad by El Companero
The Bareback Rider by El Compa ero
The Patented design of El Compa ero is handmade in the USA from soft-top suede leather varying in shapes and contours making each Bareback Rider unique. A full sized skin is used to drape over your horse's back extending down on both sides reaching the rider's calf. On the reverse or underside is sewn a suede pocket made easily accessible by use of a Velcro strip allowing for a one inch piece of foam to be inserted for added comfort to horse and rider. Between the top skin and pocket is sewn a unique belly girth system constructed of strong reinforced stainless steel "D" rings.
The western girth system consists of a nylon billet and cinch strap. The English girth has four billets two on the left and two on the right made of Ohiothane (plastic coated nylon webbing very strong and easy to clean). Additional "D" rings are attached for application of stirrups (stirrups and leathers not included). We recommend English leathers and stirrups.If not using stirrups a "getup" strap is attached to assist in mounting Only. At the top rear of the Bareback Rider are two saddle strings secured by leather and chrome plated conches to secure optional matching saddle bags, providing the Bareback Rider with a beautiful finished look. El Companero can be personalized by utilizing a wood burning tool or acrylic paint or any other creative means of adding a unique and decorative design of your own.
Note:Each Bareback Rider is branded across the top front with our trade name El Compañero. To center your Bareback Rider a feather is branded at the front center, this allows you to place the Rider in line with the horse's wither for perfect balance. Our Bareback Riders are available in the following colors: English Toast (Brown), Black, and Turquoise. We recommend the use of a Western blanket or pad under the Bareback Rider.
How Did The El Compañero Come To Be?
Says Pat Liquori, owner and inventor: Through a great longing to become one in spirit with my Tennessee Walker, Dolcinea, I was inspired to create El Compañero Bareback Rider. As I rode alone in the early morning hours, when the sights and sounds of the wooded trails are peaceful and mystical, and the birds begin to wake, and I felt myself a part of the landscape, the more I felt the need to become one with my companion. This feeling was the origin of the name El Compa ero.
To create the physical sense of oneness, I had only to think of the Native American, using just a piece of leather to achieve this sense of union. Beth, my partner, friend, and great source of encouragement, though previously an English rider, now with her own Compañero, has experienced a far greater oneness with her Quarter Horse, Tigger. As a life long rider and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Beth reinforced my belief in the value of El Compañero for riders with special needs. Both Beth and I realize how special a gift this is and are very focused on sharing it with disabled, as well as able-bodied riders.
How Is El Compa ero Different From The Other Bareback Pads On The Market Today?
There is simply nothing like it— anywhere! Our Bareback Riders Look more natural— feel more natural— and work in balance with both horse and rider! The close contact and a secure seat , allows the rider to find their center and remain balanced. With close contact, the rider can feel the horse's every move bringing them to a closer physical and emotional connection. This contact is essential for both the horse and rider, as you can ride greater distances being in harmony with your horse. Therapeutic riding programs throughout the US and Canada have recognized the value of the therapeutic properties of El Companero and have incorporated them into their programs.
How Does The Horse Benefit?
The horse benefits from El Compañero’s construction because the pad is made from a thin piece of leather draped over the horse's back. There is no hard material to constrict the horse's movement or cause injury, allowing the horse to move naturally and freely. Leg and seat aids are more clearly understood, giving your horse explicit direction, therefore less confusion. Saddle fit is complicated with a regular saddle. People have designed all kinds of solutions to help with fit. El Companero is the ultimate solution to saddle fit problems. Our Rider fits every horse perfectly, it molds to their backs.
Is It True That I Am Really Secure On the El Compañero Bareback Pad?
When El Compañero is Properly Cinched it will not slip, allowing the option to add stirrups. There is a pocket that can be opened on the underside of the pad which houses a 1" piece of foam. Here is where you can customize your ride to each particular horse by having the ability to change that piece of foam to a Gel Pad or any other insert you desire. Also, what you put between El Compañero and your horse can vary on that particular horse's back. You can use a thick Western pad, Navajo blanket or English pad, depending on your horse's back. At the rear of the pad are saddle strings to attach saddle bags and personal items for trail riding.
How Do I Clean or Care For My El Compañero Bareback Pad
The El Compañero is Machine Washable!Open the velcro pocket and remove foam and saddle strings. Close velcro pocket and place in washing machine on “Delicate" cycle in cold water with a capful of Woolite and a cap of fabric softener. Let AIR DRY…. do NOT put in the dryer!
Note: When almost completely dry, you can place in dryer on warm, with a Bounce sheet, just to fluff it up. El Companero can be personnalized by using a wood burning tool, acrylic paint, or even a Magic Marker. Make it yours and personalize it!
What Do Customers Say About Bareback Rider?
I was surprised at how secure I felt on El Compañero, it doesn’t slip at all. I’ve tried others, but this by far is the best. This pad has good therapeutic value. It makes riding bareback more comfortable, it strengthens my legs and my dad’s injured back muscles! It is definitely worth the money!
Lauren B
Happy Camp, CA
My experience is that the Bareback Rider is very comfortable and it is easy to stay in a good, safe, balanced riding position. The warmth and feel from the horse’s body offers an opportunity to improve your riding skills & to become more in harmony with your horse.
Gary Convery
Pleasure Valley, Ontario Canada The Horse Whisperer Of Canada — Clinician, Trainer, & Horse Lover.
I must say that I will never want to ride with my saddle again. I love our El Compañero Bareback Rider!!!
Amanda
Maryland
Don’t You Deserve A Closer Relationship With Your Horse? Order Today!
A close relationship with your horse has many variables, but trust and communication are paramount. Your horse will be able to feel your every move and he or she will learn to respond better and with less stress as signals are more clear and easily understood.El Companero Bareback Rider gives you the connection and communication you desire with your horse by riding bareback, with the security of maintaining a secure grip for your safety. To learn more about this revolutionary pad, as well as seeing our complete line of products, please call us today. We would love to share our experiences with you and help you on your way to a new, more natural way of riding and communication! Call us today!
El Compañero suede bareback pad draped over a horse's back
What makes the El Compañero Bareback Rider different from an ordinary pad?
This is not a foam slab with a strap — it is a Patented design handmade from soft-top suede leather, cut from a full-sized skin that drapes over the horse's back and extends down both sides to reach the rider's calf. Because each skin varies in shape and contour, every Bareback Rider is genuinely unique and conforms to the individual horse, creating what El Compañero calls a perfect fit between rider and horse. A feather brand at the front center marks the midline so the pad sits square every time.
Rider mounted bareback on an El Compañero soft suede leather pad
How the suede pocket and one-inch foam insert work together
Sewn into the underside is a suede pocket made easily accessible by a Velcro strip, which holds a removable one-inch piece of foam. That single inch is deliberate: Trail Rider Magazine wrote that "the one-inch of foam inside is the perfect amount of padding and the soft suede leather holds you in place like Velcro." The foam cushions both horse and rider without adding the bulk or rigid tree of a conventional saddle, and it lifts out for cleaning or for riders who want even closer contact.
El Compañero handmade suede bareback saddle pad close detail
The girth system: choose Western or English
The Bareback Rider rigs through reinforced stainless steel "D" rings and is offered with two girthing setups. The Western option uses a nylon billet and cinch-strap configuration, while the English version runs four Ohiothane billets — plastic-coated nylon webbing — for riders who prefer a traditional girth. Riders use a Western blanket or pad underneath the El Compañero, and once properly cinched the pad stays put and does not slip during movement.
El Compañero bareback pad with feather brand front center marking
Why riders say the pad creates "Oneness" with the horse
El Compañero's central promise is contact — a union between horse and rider that the company calls the ultimate benefit. With no hard leather separating the two, the soft suede transmits the smallest signals, lets the rider sit in the natural position dictated by the horse's anatomy, and sharpens the sense of touch so both react together. The company even notes that when horses spooked, riders on the Bareback Rider stayed on while some conventional-saddle riders ended up on the ground.
Comfort, climate, and year-round versatility Because the suede sits directly against the rider, the pad helps keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and it is light enough to carry and quick to throw on. It suits summer riding in shorts and even water activities, and the continuous, slip-free contact helps avoid the saddle sores that come from a shifting seat. One size fits all horses, so the same pad moves with you from mount to mount.
Colors, pricing, and the 30-day guarantee The Bareback Rider — along with matching custom reins, headsets, and saddlebags — comes in English Toast (Brown), Black, and Turquoise. Pricing is $413.00 with a Western Girth, $433.00 with an English Girth, and $443.00 for the Therapeutic Pad, plus $24.00 shipping and handling. El Compañero backs every pad with a 30-day money-back guarantee: ride it, and if it isn't for you, return it clean within 30 days for a refund less shipping. Questions and orders go through 6092406728.
It is a patented bareback saddle pad, handmade in the USA from soft-top suede leather, and inspired by the simple leather pad originally used by Native Americans. A full-sized skin drapes over the horse's back and extends down both sides to reach the rider's calf, giving close, secure contact with the horse.
How does the Bareback Rider keep me secure when riding bareback?
When the pad is properly cinched it will not slip, which also lets you add stirrups if you wish. A unique belly girth system built between the top skin and the underside pocket uses strong reinforced stainless steel "D" rings, and extra D-rings are provided to attach stirrups (stirrups and leathers are not included). El Compañero recommends English leathers and stirrups.
Does the El Compañero fit every horse?
Yes. Because the Rider is a thin piece of leather draped over the horse's back, it molds to the horse and is designed to fit every horse perfectly. There is no hard material to constrict movement, so it sidesteps the saddle-fit problems that come with a conventional saddle.
How does the horse benefit from a bareback pad like this?
With no hard material to constrict movement or cause injury, the horse can move naturally and freely. Close contact means leg and seat aids come through more clearly, so the horse gets explicit direction with less confusion and less stress.
Is the El Compañero used in therapeutic riding programs?
Yes. Therapeutic riding programs throughout the US and Canada have recognized its therapeutic properties and incorporated it into their programs. The close contact and warmth from the horse's body help riders find their center and stay balanced, which owner Pat Liquori notes is valuable for riders with special needs as well as able-bodied riders.
Can I add foam or padding for extra comfort?
Yes. A suede pocket sewn into the underside opens with a Velcro strip and holds a 1" piece of foam for added comfort to both horse and rider. You can swap that foam for a gel pad or another insert, and you can place a thick Western pad, Navajo blanket, or English pad between the Rider and your horse depending on the horse's back.
How do I clean and care for the El Compañero pad?
It is machine washable. Open the Velcro pocket, remove the foam and saddle strings, then wash on the "Delicate" cycle in cold water with a capful of Woolite and a cap of fabric softener. Let it air dry and do not put it in the dryer (when nearly dry you can tumble it on warm with a dryer sheet just to fluff it up).
What colors does the Bareback Rider come in, and how can I order one?
The Bareback Riders are available in English Toast (Brown), Black, and Turquoise, and each is branded with the El Compañero trade name plus a centering feather at the front. To see the complete line, ask questions, or order, call El Compañero at 609-240-6728 or visit https://elcompanero.com/.
What is it made of?
The pad is made from soft-top suede leather cut from a full-sized skin. Because each skin varies in shape and contour, every Bareback Rider is unique. Inside an underside suede pocket sits a removable one-inch piece of foam, and the girth hardware uses reinforced stainless steel "D" rings.
Is the El Compañero really handmade in the USA?
Yes. El Compañero states the pads are proudly handmade in the USA, and each one is individually crafted rather than mass-produced. The design itself is patented, which the company highlights as part of what sets it apart from generic bareback pads.
How much does the El Compañero Bareback Rider cost?
Pricing depends on the girth option: $413.00 with a Western Girth, $433.00 with an English Girth, and $443.00 for the Therapeutic Pad. Shipping and handling is $24.00. These prices come directly from the El Compañero website.
What's the difference between the Western and English girth options?
The Western version uses a nylon billet and cinch-strap configuration, the standard Western rigging. The English version runs four Ohiothane billets — plastic-coated nylon webbing — so riders accustomed to an English girth can use their preferred setup. Both attach through reinforced stainless steel "D" rings.
What colors does the Bareback Rider come in?
It is offered in three colors: English Toast (Brown), Black, and Turquoise. The matching custom reins, headsets, and saddlebags are available in the same color range so a rider can coordinate the full set.
What is the one-inch foam insert for?
A suede pocket sewn into the underside of the pad, accessible by a Velcro strip, holds a removable one-inch piece of foam. It adds comfort for both horse and rider without the bulk of a conventional saddle. Trail Rider Magazine called it "the perfect amount of padding," and because it lifts out, you can remove it for cleaning or for even closer contact.
Do I need anything underneath the El Compañero pad?
Yes. El Compañero recommends using a Western blanket or pad underneath the Bareback Rider. This protects the horse's back and works together with the pad's foam insert and suede contact surface.
Does the pad fit different horses?
The company states it is one size fits all horses. Because the full-sized suede skin drapes and conforms to each horse's contour, the same pad can move with you from one mount to another, which is part of its appeal for owners with more than one horse.
What does "Oneness" mean in El Compañero's marketing?
"Oneness" refers to the close contact and communication the pad is designed to create between horse and rider. With no rigid leather or tree separating the two, the soft suede transmits subtle signals so the rider feels and reacts to the horse directly. El Compañero describes this union between horse and rider as the ultimate benefit of riding on the pad.
Is a bareback pad safe if my horse spooks?
El Compañero reports that when horses spooked, riders using the Bareback Pad remained on their horses while some conventional-saddle riders ended up on the ground. The soft suede grips the rider — Trail Rider Magazine said it "holds you in place like Velcro" — and the continuous contact helps a rider feel and follow sudden movement. As with any riding, a helmet and good horsemanship still matter.
Will the pad slip during a ride?
El Compañero says that when properly cinched the pad is stable and does not slip during movement. The reinforced stainless steel "D" rings and chosen girth system, combined with a blanket or pad underneath, keep it seated through the ride.
Can I use the Bareback Rider year-round?
Yes. The suede sits directly against the rider and helps keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. It is light and easy to transport, suits summer riding in shorts, and the company notes it can even be used for water activities, making it a versatile year-round option.
Can the El Compañero help prevent saddle sores?
El Compañero says the continuous contact and communication between horse and rider helps avoid saddle sores. Without the pressure points and shifting of a hard-tree saddle, weight is spread across the soft suede surface, which the company presents as gentler on the horse's back.
What other products does El Compañero make?
Besides the Bareback Rider pad, El Compañero offers bareback saddles, soft saddles, custom reins, custom headsets, and custom saddlebags. The accessories come in the same English Toast (Brown), Black, and Turquoise colors so riders can build a matching outfit.
Is there a trial period or guarantee?
Yes. El Compañero backs the pad with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it is not right for you, return it clean within 30 days for a refund, less shipping. This lets riders try the suede contact and foam padding on their own horse before fully committing.
How do I order an El Compañero Bareback Rider or ask questions?
You can reach El Compañero by phone at 6092406728 to place an order or ask about girth options, colors, and the Therapeutic Pad. Full product details, pricing, reviews, and the benefits write-up are available on the company's website at elcompanero.com.
Contact El Compañero Bareback Rider is a unique interpretation of the pad originally used by Native Americans
