Beaglers - horka or ???

SpottedCat

SpottedCat

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Ok, so I really, really do not have a Charles Owen shaped head, or a Patey-sized bank account. I tried on Charles Owen beaglers at Olympia and one was v tight and gave me a headache, the other was too big and will slip.

I want a navy standard crown beagler, something like a horka - but where do I buy one from? Dressageonabudget only links to ebay, and there are none on ebay, and everywhere else only sells Charles Owen ones.

Do I have to buy a CO one and then wear it round the house until it stretches to fit my head?! Good job I work from home....

Any pointers in the right direction for buying a horka one or similar gratefully appreciated.
 
I got my Horka from Dressage on a budget, however, I don't acctually like it!! Its too 'shallow' for a better word. Saving for a CO I think, as I don't have a Patey sized budget either.

I would keep an eye on Ebay, I have a saved search!
 
Well I clearly have an odd-shaped head then coz the CO one even in the standard crown is a bit deep and hits the top of my ears! How weird I am.

I wish I could afford a Patey - well I suppose in the grand scheme of things I can but it would be utterly pointless since I wouldn't be able to afford to compete or have lessons for about 6 months!
 
Absolutely no way would I ride in a Horka, they really are very poor cut, fit and quality. You'd be lucky if it was still on your head by the time you hit the ground.

Gatehouse do one but I haven't seen them in the flesh.
 
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Absolutely no way would I ride in a Horka, they really are very poor cut, fit and quality. You'd be lucky if it was still on your head by the time you hit the ground.

Gatehouse do one but I haven't seen them in the flesh.

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They are really bulky in the flesh. Tried one on and it looked like a normal hat with the straps cut off - shame as I love my gatehouse crash hat.

Lets face it, I am effectively putting papier mache on my head, whether it is still there or not when (I prefer 'if'
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) I hit the ground is somewhat immaterial!
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I guess CO and some pain it is then.
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solution ......... keep wearing what fits, if a crash skull (so comfey) buy a new cover. put the loose change, pound coins and 2 pound coins in a jar, they will soon metamorphisise into a patey (which fits, comfey and offers a degree of protection). do not be tempted to dip into the jar in between!!!
 
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solution ......... keep wearing what fits, if a crash skull (so comfey) buy a new cover. put the loose change, pound coins and 2 pound coins in a jar, they will soon metamorphisise into a patey (which fits, comfey and offers a degree of protection). do not be tempted to dip into the jar in between!!!

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LOL, I may have just bought a new cover to go with the navy Pikeur jacket my OH so thoughfully bought me for Christmas...
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I do quite like that idea, I may try it. By 2015 I will have a Patey. Hurray!!
 
its an every day habit.... the loose change and pound and 2 pound coins! a patey by dec is quite easily achieved! get your OH to put his change in too to speed things up! (dont need to tell him what for!)
 
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its an every day habit.... the loose change and pound and 2 pound coins! a patey by dec is quite easily achieved! get your OH to put his change in too to speed things up! (dont need to tell him what for!)

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Bless you, you clearly have no idea how I live
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I don't carry cash, can't remember the last time I paid for anything in cash, do everything on the internet/by card, even have a pre-paid card for the local toll bridge near the yard! December is wildly optimistic! I currently have exactly nothing in my wallet because I found some change in it the other day, looked at it in a confused fashion and put it in the air ambulance charity bucket by the till of whichever shop I was in at the time.

On the other hand, we do all the shopping/bill paying for our care in the community neighbour, who always gives us cash for it...at £60 a fortnight if I can persuade OH to put it in 'SCs Patey Fund' then I'll have one by the end of April - result!

I suppose it would be frowned upon to put a Patey (or contributions to one) on the wedding list?!

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I suppose it would be frowned upon to put a Patey (or contributions to one) on the wedding list?!

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No - perfect idea. I bought a very cheap wedding dress and a new saddle with my wedding dress money.

Can you pad the larger CO one out a bit to make it fit?
 
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I suppose it would be frowned upon to put a Patey (or contributions to one) on the wedding list?!

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No - perfect idea. I bought a very cheap wedding dress and a new saddle with my wedding dress money.

Can you pad the larger CO one out a bit to make it fit?

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Nope, my head just is totally the wrong shape
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My wedding dress could not get any cheaper, and I am putting any spare wedding money towards the honeymoons as OH suggested that may be a fairer use of the proceeds...boo to boys!
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Well there is one table coming to your wedding who will not think it rude to be contributing towards a Patey!! After all a happy SC = happy OH.

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LMAO, I can see it now, climbing friends please contribute to our extreme sports honeymoon in NZ, horsey friends please contribute to SCs Patey fund, parents, relatives and schoolfriends - here is the conventional John Lewis wedding list
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Well there is one table coming to your wedding who will not think it rude to be contributing towards a Patey!! After all a happy SC = happy OH.

http://www.expressequine.co.uk/Store/Brands/Horka/Horka-Dressage-Cap


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Blimey Horka are a tenth of the price. Can you make the Patey table a big table?

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LOL, don't worry, there is no expectation of gifts, we have lived together for 5 years and been together for 9, all we want is for people to turn up, drink lots of champagne, dance and have fun.
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Ok I have never seen a Pately or a Horka in the flesh and only 1 oldish CO.

The CO looked like it was designed for a 'rounder' head shape which most African/Mediterranian/South American people have (dont ask me why) however most Nordic/north European people tend to have a more oval shaped head. Hence CO being tight at the front/back with gaps at the side.

The good news is that any good hatter should be able to stretch a round hat into a more oval shape. This is bearing in mind that I have no idea what a Beagler is composed of and am refering to experiences with that furry/felt like material some 'cowboy' hats are made of.
 
Take a CO to a proper old fashioned milliner and get them to steam it into the right shape for you. My aunt used to make hats as a hobby and it was not a big deal to do if you knew what you were about.
 
why not try on the velvet-covered sj hats to find 1 that fits reallywell, and then cut the harness off carefully and v tidily? can't comment on Horka, never seen 1.
i'm still hankering after a Patey, have been for 20+ years now! luckily my head is perfectly CO shaped... unfortunately, it's not tophat shaped, mine gives me a killer headache... good job i don't get to wear it any more!
 
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why not try on the velvet-covered sj hats to find 1 that fits reallywell, and then cut the harness off carefully and v tidily? can't comment on Horka, never seen 1.
i'm still hankering after a Patey, have been for 20+ years now! luckily my head is perfectly CO shaped... unfortunately, it's not tophat shaped, mine gives me a killer headache... good job i don't get to wear it any more!

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Honestly, and I know this is completely ridiculous, but this is a complete vanity trip for me - I finally have a horse who is sane enough and I ride well enough to feel like doing dressage in a beagler is an ok idea - so I want one to look good, and all harnessed hats are just a bit bulky compared to beaglers.

I have now found somewhere that sells Horkas, somewhere that sells gatehouse ones and the CO ones are everywhere. So I am going to order the Gatehouse one and hope it fits, and send it back if it does not and try the Horka one, and if that is no good spend the extra £50 on the CO then find a milliner to steam it into shape for me.
 
I was going to suggest a Pytchley, as that's what my old one (which I stupidly lent to someone, never to see it again
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) was and I loved it. However, I've just looked them up and they're even dearer than the Patey hats!!!!

You're not going to the US again anytime soon, are you? International makes a good looking and relatively inexpensive hunt cap but they don't seem to be available here.

Gee, I'm no help at all, am I. Sorry.
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Edited to add . . .personally, I think you should send away for this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Equestrian-Riding-Ha...0#ht_1210wt_941


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I have a Patey. I loathe it. It is currently languishing in its very expensive box, in my loft. If I wear my Patey for any length of time, the frontal lobes of my brain start to try and leave my head by any means possible, my vision blurs, and I have to lay down for a while once the hat has been angle-grinded from my head! I have had it "re-sized" by Patey twice, but it seems to morph back in to the Hat From Hell if left to it's own devices, even when it's left with the hat stretcher in it.

My husband bought it for me, even though he thought it was a stupid price for a hat. I can't confess to him that I hate it, so I use my Charles Owen Beagler instead. Luckily, he doesn't know the difference.
 
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