Description: This water- and windproof Kix’N’Bux horse trailriding coat is large enough to layer over your regular riding jacket — and even your saddle — to protect you, your horse gear and your legs on rainy days. At the sides, the coat measures 4 feet.

In back, you’ll find a specially designed insert to fit over your Western saddle’s square skirt. In front, snaps close the classic-duster-styled coat — complete with a high, fleece-lined collar, front yokes, and double-snapping front closures. The durable fabric is thin enough to wear in any season. This spring, wear the coat on rainy or windy days; in the high country and next winter, layer the coat over your fleece or down jacket for added warmth.

The test: This coat was tested by longtime horsewoman and North American Riding for the Handicapped Association riding instructor Heidi Nyland of Longmont, Colorado. "Before my ride, I made sure my mare wasn’t scared by the long, draping fabric," Nyland says. "I laid the coat over her withers, then unfolded it over the saddle so she could feel the texture. She’s used to wearing blankets, so the coat didn’t seem frightening. When I stepped up in the saddle, it took a moment to put the coat’s fabric in exactly the right place for safety and comfort. It draped perfectly over the front and back of my all-around Western saddle.

"At first, I was a little tentative about snapping the extra front panel over the saddle horn. The panel helps cover the entire saddle, but I worried it might also get caught in an unexpected dismount. To be sure, I strapped my saddle onto the vaulting dummy and mounted up again. The coat easily slid off the horn when I purposefully fell back and off to the side. The extra panel buttons on the outside allow room for the horn; inside, the panel is smooth with nothing to catch. I did get a little caught up during a regular dismount, but only because there was extra fabric to manipulate when my body moved toward the front of the saddle. If you’ll be dismounting quickly, first pull the coat fabric behind the horn.

"Overall, the coat kept out the rain and shielded me from the wind. I had plenty of room to layer it over my usual riding jacket. (Women, consider ordering a size smaller than your usual shirt size so you don’t have too much extra room.) After the test ride, the coat fabric had just a few water marks that seemed to evaporate instantly — and my saddle was dry. Great invention!"

Cost: $215.
Contact: Kix’N’Bux, (250) 459-2511; kixnbux@telus.net.