Costume Drama

[peakpark]

There's a piece by Charles Moore in this week's Spectator about how the Wynnstay Hunt have replaced the red coat traditionally worn by the huntsman, whips and hunt members, with tweed coats. As a result, the shouted abuse and V-signs which they regularly received from motorists has ceased.
Now, however much I disapproved of an activity, I can't imagine getting worked up about its participants' dress code - but evidently there are those that do. RS and Jerome have both mentioned the subject here.
So, do you think if the present form of hunting kit was discarded in favour of, say, that worn by mourners at an IRA funeral, opposition to the sport would fade away?
By the way, RS, Jerome et al, the stock, ie the white scarf tied round the neck, has a purpose: in the event of an accident it can be used as a tourniquet, sling or bandage.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

People have a need for a clearly defined separate group of people to fulfill the role of being 'bad'. That way we can all feel good about ourselves because we are not one of them.

Far more animal suffering is caused by factors other than hunting. For example intensive meat rearing. However the majority are involved with that.

Much better to have a small separate group to be the enemy.

 

[AlanE]

I'm dead against such a move, which only plays to a gallery of the ignorant and prejudiced. Whilst true that to some people - actually a tiny but vociferous minority - a red coat is a 'provocation', I would never feel that I had to placate such idiocy.

The Winnstey would have been better off asking people who 'shouted abuse' at them why they were doing it. Many, when confronted with that question in argument actually start to realize that they are acting stupidly. Or am I showing too much faith in humanity?

 

[endymion]

Most people who are anti-hunt are anti intensive farming.

In fact many are veggies and vegan.

Lets not forget where the animals are intensively farmed, shall we? The countryside. So why not direct your opposition there, at farmers who run battery farms rather than at those who oppose hunting.

 

[Fairynuff]

They could hunt wearing nought but jock straps for all I care! The clothes dont make the man.M.

 

[wurzel]

How do you propose to feed people Endy ?


Supply and demand Endy?


You could blame the townie consumer for intensive farming.

But of course not.

Cheaper food is what we need isn't it Endy?

 

[Sage]

Jock Straps and Thongs! This forum is in danger of degenerating into somewhere for its users to air their dirty laundry? I see Mairi from another post that you may have come back over from the Dark Side.

 

[carmenlucy123]

you are right they are even anti horse riding (i dont think thats corect english but hey!)

most people dont like it but choose to ignore it, you know they dont hunt so they choose not to have an opinion on it.

i hunt foxes, i dont like hare hunting or deer hunting but i dont moan about it, if i dont want to do it i wont but its not for me to dictate... and nost people are the same

yet there will be someone who fumes that i do not like deer hunting- and will put a post back about the need for it.
well you do it i just personally couldnt stomach it but i accept it.

its the extreamists as you said who think they must tell everyone else the correct way to live thier lives.

and of course there are people who hunt who think everyone should be pro hunting.... on i tube i saw a picture of a dead horse being dragged down the street with a sign imbedded by a pole through the stomach saying "if you ban hunting there will be lots more of these" i was disgusted and im sure most people who hunt will agree.

people are entitled to thier opinions.
everone needs to remember that i cant even remember what my point is now and im at work?!! yes work must do some

 

[carmenlucy123]

infact now iv read my post it doesnt really make sense to this post so maybe ignore me a bit
i know what i ment (sort of?)
but i think im off key with everyone elses disscussion
never mind

 

[endymion]

I'm vegetarian dear Thomas and always buy ethically.

The typical 'townie' consumer doesnt have a clue where their food comes from. Look at the packaging. Do you think people would buy it if it had a pic of the REAL farm instead of some cartoonists pic of a rural idyll?

These farms are all about money, money, money.

 

[endymion]

I'm a sab. I ride. I'm not an extremist.

Sometimes people feel that something is so wrong, that it is so much of an injustice that they are compelled to do something about it. Like the pro's fighting the ban for instance.

 

[Clodagh]

I am very much against the dumbing down of the dress code. It looks as though we are ashamed of ourselves, we are not, we are proud! Hunting is all about tradition and the dress code is a big part of that. Does the quarry care what we are wearing? (You know what I mean before you all jump up and down saying what quarry, historically speaking!)
The Puckeridge don't wear red anymore, its such a shame. On a dank December day how else are you supposed to see the huntsman and whips if they aren't red?

 

[endymion]

I think it's a bit pointless to be honest. I mean surely 40 hounds and riders with horns and whips kinda give the game away anyway, hehe

Most of the general public dont really know what red coats stand for anyway.

 

[wurzel]

"The typical 'townie' consumer doesnt have a clue where their food comes from. Look at the packaging. Do you think people would buy it if it had a pic of the REAL farm instead of some cartoonists pic of a rural idyll?"


Don't ask me.

I also think the typical townie doesnt have a clue.

 

[flying_change]

"By the way, RS, Jerome et al, the stock, ie the white scarf tied round the neck, has a purpose: in the event of an accident it can be used as a tourniquet, sling or bandage. "

Come to that, so can the handkerchief in my pocket.

BTW, I hope that you're not serious about tourniquet.... they're not used in first aid any more. I hope that some of your riders are trained and certified in modern first aid....

 

[Fairynuff]

No Sage, I decided to stay put for the moment . Just cant get to grips with the whole thing and having been pro I have double personality stages every so often.Depends on the moon, me thinks! Mairi. oo:

 

[peakpark]

Alan, I agree with you and Clodagh - I think it's a pity to abandon the traditional dress, and and it won't stop hard core sabs from disrupting proceedings. On the other hand, if as Charles Moore claims, it stops abuse from passing motorists, , then I suppose that's a bonus of a sort.

 

[Jerome]

Question: has Moore EVER written a piece for The Spectator in which he doesn't drone on and on about hunting? The guy's obsessed!

 

[flying_change]

By the way, I ought to say that I have no problems with hunters dressing as they wish. All I've ever said about the dress code is that it would put me off hunting (traditional or otherwise).

 

[endymion]

It puts me off. I ride casually in scruffy old jod's and chaps but go out every Boxing day and New Years Day and actually cringe when I've got to take the proper posh stuff out. I look like a proper f*nny! :grin:

 

[peakpark]

Endy, I'm confused.
When you say you "go out every Boxing day and New Years Day and actually cringe when I've got to take the proper posh stuff out. I look like a proper f*nny! " do you mean you go hunting and sab from a horse, and dress like the 'enemy'? Do you do this so the hunt followers won't suspect and so you can carry out sabotage more effectively, like members of SOE in occupied France?

 

[Dovorian]

I think it is a pity should this become mandatory + widespread, that said I honestly think the field should have a choice. As long as they are 'correctly' attired for riding so what? Presonally I'd rather a newcomer took part in ratcatcher than not at all, and for some people buying a hunt coat isn't on the agenda for them. Not so many years ago I heard a Master inform a newcomer that they could not hunt in a navy show jacket especially a polyester one - so shortsighted........

 

[Ereiam_jh]

Why not go hunting and pretend to be a monitor?

What the hell, why not just go have a good time and not worry about it.

Why take sides all the time. Just have a laugh.

 

[flying_change]

"As long as they are 'correctly' attired "

Not arguing, jsut musing, but I wonder what counts as 'correctly'. As far as I'm concerned, the first requirement is safety, so proper boots/shoes, hat, and ideally gloves. After that, comfort... so good jods and not jeans. Over and above that I dont really care, so I tend to ride my lessons in t-shirts or polo-shirts.

RS

 

[Ereiam_jh]

Doesn't it depend on what you are doing, you'd probably go dressed differently for a lesson than if you were competing, showing or hunting.

A bit like the difference between going to the pub or to a ball.

 

[flying_change]

I wouldnt go to a ball where I was told what to wear.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

I'm not sure it's really a matter of being 'told what to wear'. There tend to be various conventions that make occassions what they were.

You'd probably feel as stupid turning up to a ball in jeans and a tee shirt as you would a tree planting session in full black tie.

Also I think that these occassions tend to be fun in part because of the fact that people dress up for them. If you don't then really you're being a bit of a spoilsport and to be honest a bit childish trying to make some statement about principals by not following the event's dress code.

 

[flying_change]

Bottom line... I cant be bothered to dress up to go riding. Probably I will dress up for my office Christmas party. It's not a question of principles though (or any other shop).

RS

 

[Ereiam_jh]

I presume you don't show or anything like that?

 

[peakpark]

Why are you bothering to dress up for your office party?