jacket and plaiting question

[millyspaniel]

Hi, going to a meet next week, never been before and neither has my youngster. Planning to go with 5 friends, we are hacking to the meet, attending the meet then hacking back - just to give the horses a taster.
The question is what do i wear? (i plan to go again so would like to buy a jacket - which to go for i dont know! tweed or black?? also i dont have a massive budget so something smart and warm but isnt a fortune! also do i need to plait my mare up??
Thanks

 

[Jay89]

It depends on if your hunt is still cubbing or have started proper hunting. If they are still cubbing correct wear would be a tweed jacket, coloured tie or stock and mane unplaited. However if they have started hunting it should be a black jacket, white stock and plaited mane.

Seeing it is coming to the end of cubbing season I would buy a black jacket, and if theyare still cubbing try and borrow a tweed or speak to hunt secretary and see if it will be ok for you to ride in black.

http://www.styalways.co.uk/shop/ladies-clifton-hunt-coat-p-1770.html

sell hunt coats at reasonable sort of price - 48 hour delivery too!

 

[gummybear]

Tweed jacket, warm long sleeved top underneath, stock, gloves. I would plait

 

[Aniseed]

As said it depends if you are cubbing or hunting, I would ring the secretary and check. If it is cubbing then don't plait and it won't be the end of the world if you do wear a black jacket. If it is proper hunting then you should really plait. I have just bought a black jacket off ebay as I din't have a very big budget. You need to go for something warm so look out for a wool coat that is medium/heavy weight and it shouldn't have a velvet collar. At the end of the day if you look smart and like you have made an effort no one is going to complain. Have fun!

 

[combat_claire]

When you have established what you need to wear it is also worth checking out second hand sales:

http://www.fieldandcountryantiques.co.uk/index.php?cPath=95

 

[peanut]

As has been said on here several times over the last few weeks: you are never incorrectly dressed in tweed.

 

[millitiger]

i'm going to our opening meet this weekend and i will be in tweed as don't own a black jacket and not buying one for a few days hunting every winter

 

[millyspaniel]

I think i will go for tweed then............but can i wear it all season?
Would this one be okay:
http://www.fieldandcountryantiques.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1776

 

[combat_claire]

Yup anything like that is fine. Also some going cheap on Ebay:

http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/Eques...catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.htm...thing_MJ&_odkw=tweed,+32&_osacat=3153

 

[turkana]

millyspaniel
As others have already said you'll be fine in a tweed jacket, I hunt in a tweed jacket & although I'm in the minority, it's fine.
I'm clean & tidy but I haven't got 100% correct gear, I also wear brown boots as they're all I've got, to be honest if anybody on the hunt or the hunt staff turned their nose up at me when I'm neatly turned out but not correct, I'd be pretty peed off & wouldn't be willing to hand them anymore of my hard earned money.
I have been keeping an eye out for a black jacket & black boots second hand but no luck so far, so 1 day I might have the right gear but for now what I've got will have to do.
It's the same with plaiting, some people do, some don't, as long as your horse is clean & tidy I don't think it matters.
Has the hunt you're going out with got a website? If it has have a look at any photos, that'll give you a good idea of how strict they are.

 

[combat_claire]

Brown boots are exactly right with ratcatcher anyway ;-) (they're probably thinking cor that woman is a real professional) only as people can't usually justify having two pairs of boots for the season that black boots became more generally seen for autumn hunting with tweed.

I meant to add about jackets, make sure there is enough room for you to add layers - a lot of our mounted field who feel the cold put t-shirts, jerseys or waistcoats underneath, so you'll want enough flexibility to do this and still be able to move.

 

[millyspaniel]

Will be looking for a tweed then, just hope it comes in time for next week! i always prefer tweed anyhow
I think i will be plaiting her up too, i havent had the oppurtunity yet to play around with her and smarten her up