Boots, tops, garter straps, spurs, spur staps

[Simsar]

Well I have just taken this from the MFHA

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HUNT FOLLOWERS
All followers of hunting enjoy access to large areas of countryside not always available to others. This and hunting's high visibility make it crucial that followers conform with accepted standards of good behaviour.

This means that:

they must appreciate that they are guests of those on whose land they ride or walk;
they are punctual at the meet (the gathering at the start of a hunting day) and their turnout is clean, tidy and most importantly safe. It is necessary that followers attend the meet as special instructions may be given about the conduct of the day's hunting

 

[Simsar]

So I eat my Patey's LOL!

 

[Simsar]

http://www.mfha.org.uk/publications/about-hunting/code-of-good-hunting/

 

[rosie fronfelen]

By popular request I have started this thread. It seems there are an increasing number of folk hunting and wanting to hunt, who are coming onto this forum for help and guidance.

The subject of: boots, tops, garter straps, spurs, spur staps is not really covered in any detail elsewhere, so here's my contribution.

Top Boots, i.e. black boots with brown tops should only be worn with a Pink Coat (it's Pink not Red) or colour of the hunt livery.

A black coat for gentlemen and blue coat for ladies should be accompanied with black boots and all tops should be removed.

Garter Straps should be white only with top boots and black with black boots.

Spurs generally, should be snub nosed worn with black staps on black boots.

One is incorrectly dressed not to have spurs with black boots and black or blue coat.

So who was the"popular request" from on boots, spurs, straps and wotnot? I appreciate non-hunters want to know this and that, but not to your extent!! Is there any chance of seeing a pic. of your hunter or any details of him/her?

 

[Hanno Verian]

SA, I don't hunt although I'd like to. I have been along on foot to a few different hunts, and personally I think the majority of hunts I've come across would take the view that when you are trying hunting out the main thing is that you make an effort with turn out.

Being neatly plaited and clean is respectful and failing to do turn out neatly is rude, to the hunt staff and the landowners. But people are understanding that as a newbie you may have only a tweed or only dressage topped boots or may not understand all of the finer points.

The majority of the hunting fraternity (in my experience) would rather have someone new who is keen and polite turn up and be willing to learn than to stay away and never come because they haven't bought 100% the right kit. The sport will never thrive like that!

Most "clubs" take a similar approach agreeing to bend the rules a little for prospective members to give them a taster and to help promote their sport.

Don't be put off by one or two people with inflexible attitudes, the majority are much more friendly and understanding. And of course the hunts with an understanding, welcoming and encouraging attitude are the ones which will thrive in these difficult times, the others will surely struggle to maintain significant numbers of supporters.

Well said, I've only just come across the this particular thread hence the lateness in posting, whilst hunts do vary in their attitude and the degree of warmth in their welcome, most hunts would be glad to see a new face. They don't tend to get too excited by newcomers being not strictly correctly dressed, as long as a reasonable effort has been made, then allowances are made too, providing that the horse and rider are well turned out, to the best of their ability.

Threads like this are useful, in that any newcomer, can have an idea of the turnout of the subscribers and thus prepare themselves to fit in to the best their resources will allow. Nobody likes to feel that they are in the situation of committing an avoidable faux pas, that will draw unwelcome attention to them, and can glean information from here to enable them to source the right dress.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

Alec Swan and Judgemental, come out,come out wherever you are- people are asking questions on hunting!!

 

[xloopylozzax]

Judgemental, again, please can you post a picture of you at a meet (recent) so we all know what turnout to aim for.

should be fairly simple if you are out regularily, if you are unsure on how to post pictures i am quite happy to show you.

 

[combat_claire]

i did want to try hunting, but neither I or my sharp young horse have ever been before, nor have I ever used spurs on him. So I didnt feel the ideal place to use them would be on our first hunt, hence me asking about dummy spurs as I do want to make the effort to look

My hunt master always says if you don't need spurs then don't put them on. Quite frankly I would trust his opinion on the matter more than some faceless internet forum user.

Having just looked back at my photos from last season, very few people are wearing spurs unless their ned needs it.

 

[Baydale]

If I didn't know better I'd think Judgemental was a troll.

I would think most hunts would be grateful to see any newcomers in an effort to swell their coffers; therefore surely a tidily turned-out horse and rider who blended in for the day would hardly be noticed for not having spurs on? If a newcomer had any questions about the etiquette and form for the day, perhaps he/she should address these to the Secretary when forewarning them of their intention to hunt? That would certainly save us all getting our knickers in a twist with Judgemental being so Nazi about what's right and what's wrong...

 

[combat_claire]

thanks posie honey


I have dark and tweed jackets already, so thats not a problem.
Is a jockey skull with a velvet cover OK, or should it be a velvet cap? Id prefer to wear the skull tbh but have both...

You can wear either, I have a jockey skull for normal lessons and hacking, but a smart velvet Showjumper xp or some such that I keep for best (i.e rare days mounted hunting). I'd always opt for headgear with modern standards and a chinstrap.

Please don't think that everyone who hunts has got their head stuck so far up their own arse that their voices are muffled. As long as you have made an effort to be clean and tidy, then you will be welcomed by most hunting folk with a kind word and helpful advice.

 

[combat_claire]

Correct.

There's clearly no place for the likes of me, anyway!

Don't be daft Spudlet. There is a place for everyone out hunting. Normally I am tearing about the countryside in a shirt, ripped jeans, muddy wellies, disreputable looking Barbour and a flat cap. I am still however welcomed into the hunting family because I bring a healthy enthusiasm for everything the hunt does. I always try to be welcoming and have a natter to anyone whether they are on a horse or on their feet.

I'm sorry that you thought the people you encountered looked a bit miserable. Our lot generally seem to have massive grins and usually thank traffic that has slowed or stopped.

Please come and give it a go this season.

 

[combat_claire]

therefore surely a tidily turned-out horse and rider who blended in for the day

Exactement Baydale.

I love the fact that hunting has such a traditional dress code, but I can't stand an attitude where people think they can look down their noses at newcomers because they might not be in a position to buy all the correct kit in one hit.

My feeling is that if someone wants to try hunting and can beg, steal or borrow some of the kit then it doesn't really matter if they are wearing long black boots that are designed for another discipline or a black show coat. It is up to seasoned followers to politely explain that it is safer to replace the ready knotted Velcro stock with a self-tie one or that a thick woollen hunt coat will stop them from freezing to death in January.

I freely admit that all my hunting kit has been bought off Ebay apart from my hat and underwear! It doesn't bother me or anyone else in my hunt that my boots are Mountain Horse ones, with zips at the back; my hunt coat is second hand (at least) or that my stock is so old it has probably been hunting more times than me!

It saddens me that Judgemental seems to have a unique ability to get backs up on this forum because I have witnessed some genuine acts of kindness when he/she gave away a surplus hunt coat to someone just starting out.

 

[Simsar]

CC are they your lucky knickers????

 

[posie_honey]

No I mean't PH, and SA dummy spurs are a great idea, didn't mean you at all.

actually - i do ridden hunter in a dressage saddle and working hunter in a xc saddle - i can't afford a WH saddle too

oh = and shock horror - my ariat bromonts - with dressage tops ) - check out my siggy if you want to faint in horror at my hideous attire

can i just say though - i do wear spurs hunting lol! simply out of habit as i always have done so i suppose i am a bit of a pot kettle balck too

 

[combat_claire]

CC are they your lucky knickers????

They certainly are! White shorts with a fox logo!

Purchase yours here: http://www.heycheeky.co.uk

 

[combat_claire]

I should also like to add that a further advantage to having common old boots with zips down the back is that if the worst case scenario happened and I broke a leg, you'd be able to get them off me relatively easily. I wouldn't be the person rolling around in agony stuck in a pair of Davies boots and yelling 'don't you cut my effing boots off' at the paramedic.

 

[Daddy_Long_Legs]

Cue my grabbing the scalpel from the nurse whilst I tried to cut the back off my OH's Davies boots 2 seasons ago. I tried to cut down the stitching so the boot could be saved but alas it could not be saved. So we were left with one good boot and he rang Davies and because they still had his measurements they made him another boot......and before you ask he is not at all rich just stupid

I feel that if you come out clean and respectable looking then what's the big deal, I will freely admit that I am a turnout snob for hunting but I would never ever look down my nose at anyone else.

If people want to wear their dressage boots out hunting then let them! Why should they have to fork out for another pair of boots!!!

 

[pastie2]

I have just discovered that ALL of JMs knowledge is word for word on Google!

Ooops JM, too near the truth for comfort? Do you feel cornered? Is that why you have lashed out at rosiefronfelen and printed all her posts. Thought you might be too busy for that nonsence, exercising your hunters, doing stables etc. You seem to be able to spend an inordanant amount of time on this forum pontificating about dress code and not doing a lot of hunting yourself! Please quell these doubts I have about your authenticity and post a photograph of yourself out hunting. A man of you calibre will no doubt have had many a photograph taken. I wait with anticipation.

 

[bonny]

Pastie, would you put a photo of yourself on here just because someone wanted you to ?

 

[pastie2]

Pastie, would you put a photo of yourself on here just because someone wanted you to ?

Yes I would, if I only knew how!

 

[tootsietoo]

I don't think JM does his/her horse(s). On the Apres Hunting thread he/she says that he/she drops them off at the yard then goes home for bath.

 

[R2R]

I dont think there is a single person in the country who has been turned away from a hunt for wearing the wrong clothes - I went hunting in tweed, with coloured stock, and boots and gaters (with zips) IN FEBRUARY becasue I got offered the horse (I handnt hunted for 3 years owing to young/mad and then dead horse) so I scrambled what I could together in order to go.

Secretary still took my cap, as hundreds will through the country when people turn up looking not quite right.

Total nonsense that you need to "wear the right stuff" - the hunt wants followers, not people to scared to go because they dont have boots with garter straps!!

I am sure the CHA would have a few things to say to any hunt that looked down upon a supporter of hunting for not wearing spurs or having a wrong coloured tie.

 

[arizonahoney]

I don't plan to invest in the full rig for hunting, but that doesn't stop me from being interested in what is correct / what is traditional.

If you're clean and workmanlike in your turnour - not clean and ostentatious - there surely isn't much to object to?

I just wonder why certain members of the board are flouncing over trifles?

 

[combat_claire]

I dont think there is a single person in the country who has been turned away from a hunt for wearing the wrong clothes - I went hunting in tweed, with coloured stock, and boots and gaters (with zips)

Always worth remembering that you are never incorrectly dressed in ratcatcher (tweeds) at any time of the year.

 

[R2R]

Always worth remembering that you are never incorrectly dressed in ratcatcher (tweeds) at any time of the year.

I know, said it more for Judgemental than anyone else

 

[pastie2]

Ratcatcher should always be worn after the Cheltenham Festival. I personally like Ratcatcher at any time of the season.

 

[EAST KENT]

I dont think there is a single person in the country who has been turned away from a hunt for wearing the wrong clothes - I went hunting in tweed, with coloured stock, and boots and gaters (with zips) IN FEBRUARY becasue I got offered the horse (I handnt hunted for 3 years owing to young/mad and then dead horse) so I scrambled what I could together in order to go.

Secretary still took my cap, as hundreds will through the country when people turn up looking not quite right.

Total nonsense that you need to "wear the right stuff" - the hunt wants followers, not people to scared to go because they dont have boots with garter straps!!

I am sure the CHA would have a few things to say to any hunt that looked down upon a supporter of hunting for not wearing spurs or having a wrong coloured tie.

Ah..now there you are wrong.One instance was a teenager who turned up boasting hunt buttons not actually granted her;the other is now a certain very well known show jumper,as a child his Daddy equiped him with a red hunt coat (aged about twelve!) Now Daddy was also a show jumper and absolute stalwart and one time Master of said Hunt..but non the less our budding show jumper was sent home to change.

Now I leave you to puzzle that one out........

 

[pastie2]

Ah..now there you are wrong.One instance was a teenager who turned up boasting hunt buttons not actually granted her;the other is now a certain very well known show jumper,as a child his Daddy equiped him with a red hunt coat (aged about twelve!) Now Daddy was also a show jumper and absolute stalwart and one time Master of said Hunt..but non the less our budding show jumper was sent home to change.

Now I leave you to puzzle that one out........

Drag or Foxhounds? Give us a clue!

 

[Simsar]

They certainly are! White shorts with a fox logo!

Purchase yours here: http://www.heycheeky.co.uk

LMAO!

I should also like to add that a further advantage to having common old boots with zips down the back is that if the worst case scenario happened and I broke a leg, you'd be able to get them off me relatively easily. I wouldn't be the person rolling around in agony stuck in a pair of Davies boots and yelling 'don't you cut my effing boots off' at the paramedic.

LMAO again my sides hurt.

 

[EAST KENT]

Drag or Foxhounds? Give us a clue!

now would I be caught dead at a drag-hunt????