Hunting attire??

[Rupert-the-bear]

Hi all,

Have been invited out hunting (opening meet)at the weekend, but am a complete novice when it comes to hunting (I show natives!!), nor has my pony ever been hunting so was hoping you could clarify some things?

What is considered acceptable dress/turnout, and do I have to plait?

Pony is a NF gelding. Was going to wear similar to our what we use for showing, as its smart, not garish and plain?

Green tweed jacket with navy velvet collar, navy hat (not velvet as my showing one is not a very good fit, whereas my everyday one is perfect and matches well), red tie and matching scrunchie and hairnet (I can almost sit on my hair so need scrunchie aswell as hairnet so it doesn't fall out) with cream breeches and long black boots. Then usual smart saddle and bridle with a plain brown numnah, martingale, brushing boots etc.

Any other tips gratefully received!

Many Thanks!

eta:my hat is this but in navy http://www.robinsonsequestrian.co.uk/equine-product-details.asp?ID=2374 will this be acceptable as it has a shiny strip? I really don't want to wear my velvet one as its not safe as doesn't fit!

 

[combat_claire]

That sounds fine and dandy. You may want to try and squeeze a waistcoat on under tweed or get a cheap hunt shirt with a stock for extra warmth.

Nobody will stress about your headgear, better a shiny strip than scraping your brains off the grass because of a poorly fitting velvet cap! If you are worried try a dark hat silk over, but have seen plenty wearing that style hat hunting.

If hair is being a pain, you could try plait and then winding into a bun? I have mine cut short but I am too lazy to look after it!

 

[Rupert-the-bear]

Thank-you! Will be digging out the thermals i think! Was considering wearing my body protector for safety and warmth, would this be ok too?!

 

[arizonahoney]

I was very glad of my BP yesterday - was a very handy portable wind-break - the wind was ICY!

 

[Rupert-the-bear]

Thanks! Don't want to turn up looking very stupid

 

[asset2004]

yes, fine to wear your BP too.
In my part of the country, we'd much rather have someone wearing a BP and chin strap and be safe tahn fall off and get a serious injry. Eg yesterday at our opening meet a very inexperienced looking man took a nasty fall, his hat hit the ground before he did. Not nice to see, and after a while he got up and looked ok but a hat with a chinstarp is sooooo much safer!

 

[Rupert-the-bear]

I'm very OCD about wearing a hat after a very special rescue case horse I was schooling jumped out of the arena, bolted uncontrollably after the hunt and threw me flying head first onto a flint. Hat cracked in two and was in and out of hospital for near on a year after! Will go with safety, warmth and looking the part all equally I think!

 

[JenHunt]

as above for your dress...

is pony kept for showing as a native type, or is he trimmed and tidy? If he's kept as native type with full mane and tail and feathers then perhaps put a running plait in the mane (to keep it out of your reins as anything!), and plait his tail. Otherwise, yes, plaited is correct.

have a good day!

 

[combat_claire]

Will go with safety, warmth and looking the part all equally I think!

That has to be the key.

Hunting kit has after all developed over the centuries - the goretex lined coats of today are the successors of the swallow-tailed coats of the past.

I have just returned from visiting a pack, which certainly experiences a lot of weather - during an extremely wet week everybody wore hunting waterproofs, wax coats and cagoules over shirts and stocks, overbreeches were taped to the boots with gaffer tape or electrical tape and there were plenty of people wearing jockey skulls rather than risk trashing their best hats.

While I am not advocating switching to pink breeches and purple fleeces there are certainly days when the field, especially the kids would have a far better day if waterproofs were not considered the clothes of the Devil! I have seen stately hunting ladies tutting at the Pony Club for daring to wear a musto coat over their thin tweed jacket. If it allows them to be warm enough to stay out longer and see more of the hunting then I am all for it.

What do other forumites feel?

 

[JenHunt]

While I am not advocating switching to pink breeches and purple fleeces there are certainly days when the field, especially the kids would have a far better day if waterproofs were not considered the clothes of the Devil! I have seen stately hunting ladies tutting at the Pony Club for daring to wear a musto coat over their thin tweed jacket. If it allows them to be warm enough to stay out longer and see more of the hunting then I am all for it.

What do other forumites feel?

just as you said!!
I was lucky enough to grow up hunting, and with a hunt who don't turn their noses up to the odd wax jacket being worn by any of the field in really biting cold wet weather, and kids were welcome to wear a waxie over their jackets on damp days.

the only way to guarantee the field keep coming back is to ensure they have a good day - and for kids there's nothing worse than being cold and wet, no matter how good the sport is!

 

[Drakerath]

I would say do not wear a red tie and red scrunchie out hunting. Keep it plain. That's just my taste. REd bast kept for hunt servants imo.
I'm all for practical but smart and mute coloured waterproofs when the weahter calls for it. Hunt attire was borne from practicality and I see no reason for that not to continue to evolve. Improves approachability of people too rather than stuffy red coats.
Put a green band or tape onto your horse's tail since it is new to hunting, right?
hope you have fun.

 

[combat_claire]

the only way to guarantee the field keep coming back is to ensure they have a good day - and for kids there's nothing worse than being cold and wet, no matter how good the sport is!

After all, any fool can get cold, wet and miserable! If a waterproof is good enough for my hero, Donald Summersgill then its good enough for me!!

A couple of years ago when we had that real big freeze with the snow and ice for weeks at a time. Admittedly I looked like I was there to sab proceedings with just my eyes visible - but with a long sleeved t-shirt, thick shirt, jumper, fleece and a barbour jacket plus woolly hat, scarf, undershorts, moleskins, 2x pairs of socks and neoprene wellies I was warm as toast!

I am liking Arizonahoney's idea of a BP as a windbreak, that and the way the car followers drive perhaps I should get one to wear on the bike...

 

[Rupert-the-bear]

He's been shown all summer as a native, and competing regularly so has lightly pulled mane and tail, heels trimmed and is clipped out apart from legs. Really don't want to plait as i'm hopeless at it! (Also, he has sweet itch so a few holes in his mane easily hidden when un-plaited that would show when plaited )