Which skirt should I choose? Hands down, this is our most frequently asked question. The answer is always the same: it depends on what you want to do, and when and where you are doing it. Arctic Horse All Weather skirts offer so much versatility: wear them teaching/taking lessons, riding, working outside, running errands, hiking, and going to dinner. These skirts are gorgeous and do their job so you can do yours. All skirts are made in Alaska by women making a living wage, and we use American Made materials as much as possible. Although choosing one skirt can be difficult (imagine choosing only one jacket for all seasons/activities?), being specific about your comfort preferences, and your local environment can really help narrow it down. All of the skirts add a degree of warmth, all are waterproof or water-resistant, and they all serve multiple-functions. That really narrowed it down for you, didn't it? Not to worry, below is a guide to Arctic Horse All Weather Riding skirts, and some of the conditions to consider when choosing your riding skirt. All photos credited to the amazingly talented Gutierrez Photography. Cold-Weather Riding and Working Living in Alaska, the first skirt I dreamt up was insulated, because, did I mention I live in Alaska? We have four seasons here, Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Construction. See, along with better being able to choose a riding skirt, you now know an Alaska joke, thanks to this post. You're welcome. For very cold conditions, our two warmest skirts are the Full Arctic Insulated Riding Skirt (shown above in plum) and the Narrow Arctic Insulated Riding skirt. Both insulated riding skirts are waterproof, and are equally warm- thanks to 6 ounces of super light, extremely warm insulation insulation doesn't require quilting to stay in place, so there aren't holes all over the skirt to lose heat through same insulation used by the US Military for soldiers, (and it's machine washable). The main differences between the Narrow Arctic Insulated Riding Skirt and the Full Arctic Insulated Riding skirt lie in their construction. The Full Arctic has no rear zipper, and serves as a quarter sheet on your horse's back. The Narrow Arctic Insulated Riding skirt does have a rear zipper, which splits the skirt to only cover the rider's legs while riding. The picture below shows how differently the two skirts look on the horse's back. So, first consideration should be whether you want the skirt to cover the horse's back. My Appaloosa loves the extra warmth on his back, but doesn't need to have it. My friend's Rocky Mountain mare absolutely always requires a quarter sheet for cold weather riding, so her Full Arctic Riding skirt cuts out the need for the quarter sheet, and saves her a step. I prefer riding in the Full Arctic, it's a warm cocoon that captures my horse's heat and transfers it to me. Can't beat that heater! For sheer looks on the ground, the Full Arctic and Narrow Arctic insulated skirts have very different profiles. The Full Arctic has more material, and is more, well... full. The Narrow Arctic Insulated Riding Skirt has a sleeker outline, because it has less material, and a rear zipper. Both are very pretty and flattering. Like all of our skirts, these skirts are easy to put on and take off, thanks to our front two-way zipper that unzips at the top (oh yeah, you can take it on and off while riding your horse, no need to dismount). Or, you can zip the front zipper down to step into it, if you don't feel like completely undoing the whole zipper. Ladies, we made these things easy for you (don't you have enough to wrangle without wrestling with your clothes?). For working around the barn, I prefer the Narrow Arctic Insulated Riding skirt, because it has less material. However, a friend who spends a lot of time on her 4-wheeler around her farm loves the Full Arctic because she doesn't have to unzip the skirt to straddle her machine, and uses the excess material like a cocoon around her legs. Your call, you can work/play/ride in both. Once you wear an insulated skirt you are going to wonder why you allowed your legs to freeze all these long years. Total life changer. Ladies, next on the list of the cold weather skirt train is the Outlander Wool Riding Skirt. Lined with micro-fleece (did you really think I'd put wool against your skin?), this medium weight American wool from humanely sheared sheep will make you feel like you've been transported into 1700's Scotland. It's romantic, it's gorgeous and feminine, it's real, and it will keep you so cozy warm. I mention it's real, because it is so hard to find a true wool skirt these days. I've tried, believe me. Hence, the reason we now we make them. The Outlander Wool Riding Skirt is the Full style, designed to cover the horse's back like a quarter sheet (no rear zipper). Wool is naturally water-resistant, and as a natural fiber, has the ability to breath. The Outlander is so versatile, you can do chores and ride in this skirt, then wear it to the office or out to dinner. You'll turn every head along the way. The fact that you can canter across a field in it can be your little I'm-so-Gone-with-the-Wind- secret. No one at the office is going to believe you that it's a riding skirt anyway (take pictures for proof). Unless you forget to clean it, and you smell like a horse. But, then, that's their problem, because horses smell amazing. The Short Narrow Arctic Riding Skirt is nearly the same as her big sister, the Long Narrow Arctic, except it's shorter- 19,