What better time than winter to enjoy warm, close contact with your horse? The El Companero bareback riding pad allows you to sit more naturally and feel your horse’s rhythms more clearly than you can with a saddle — and lets you share body heat, too. The pad’s pliable suede shapes itself to you and your horse, reducing slippage. A removable, one-inch-thick foam insert provides extra cushioning. A nylon webbing girth system holds the pad on securely, while a "get up" strap assists in mounting. Extra D-rings allow you to attach stirrups and a breastcollar for greater on-trail security. Leather saddle strings can be used to attach gear.

Cost: From $295.
Contact: El Companero, (609) 448-0385; www.elcompanero.com.