How did clothing differ between horse-using and pedestrian Great Basin groups?

Clothing styles among the Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin varied significantly based on whether a group utilized horses or remained pedestrian.1

• Pedestrian Groups: For those who did not use horses, clothing was primarily functional and adapted to the environment. It typically consisted of aprons and breechcloths made from sage bark, which were supplemented by rabbit-skin robes during the winter months.1
• Horse-Using Groups: Groups that adopted the horse, such as the Southern Ute and Eastern Shoshone, increasingly oriented their cultures toward the practices of the Great Plains. These equestrians wore tailored skin garments in the style of the Plains. They also decorated their clothing and other soft goods using dyed porcupine quills and, in later periods, glass beads.12

The adoption of the horse allowed these groups to range over larger areas and engage more heavily in intertribal trade, which further influenced their material culture and aesthetic preferences. Shoshone clothing, in particular, was highly valued in trade for its durability and beauty.1