Keeping Dry Out Hunting

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Mensio

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As we have just come out of one of the wetter starts to the season, I wanted to know what tips and tricks everyone has up their sleeve for staying dry out hunting.

Are there any specific products you can't live without? Do you wear Ri-drys? Anyone out there know what they used to do in the 'olden days?' - pre Barbour etc?

Would love to know!
 
I just don't think I could do hunting in bad weather without my ri-dry. I don't know anything else remotely as good. Waterproof trousers can be tricky but this year I have purchased a waterproof riding skirt which is brilliant. Not been able to try it out hunting sadly but it is warm and waterproof and makes getting on and off much easier than in trousers! :)
 
Pearlsasinger said:
As my seasoned hunter friend always used to say, 'it stops at your skin'. She thought those of us who complained about getting wet were wimps! Personally, I think she felt better in direct proportion to the amount of stirrup cup punch she had imbibed.
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I used to belong to a very smart hunt where the very idea of protecting yourself from the elements would probably have had you sent home :eek:

Irish hunts are far more sensible :)
 
Rowreach said:
I used to belong to a very smart hunt where the very idea of protecting yourself from the elements would probably have had you sent home :eek:

Irish hunts are far more sensible :)
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Ridiculous isn't it? Daughter when quite young refused to dress for the rain to go hunting as she'd been told it was bad form. I told her to wear a long mac or not go. It poured all day long, she had a lovely time but half the field disappeared after a couple of hours. Perhaps these "traditions" should go the way of the servants that used to arrive with dry clothing and deal with all the sopping gear. Just stupid snobbishness IMHO.
 
oldie48 said:
Ridiculous isn't it? Daughter when quite young refused to dress for the rain to go hunting as she'd been told it was bad form. I told her to wear a long mac or not go. It poured all day long, she had a lovely time but half the field disappeared after a couple of hours. Perhaps these "traditions" should go the way of the servants that used to arrive with dry clothing and deal with all the sopping gear. Just stupid snobbishness IMHO.
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Madness! We have no such reservations here and generally on a wet day we are all in waterproofs - ri-dry's a plenty but also ordinary farmer's waterproofs. Hunt staff tend to go for a ri-dry and cream waterproof overtrousers with the rest of us however we like! It just means we can enjoy the day really and none of us give a thought to whether or not it is 'bad form'!! We are quite a small, informal hunt though and 'bad form' is far less important to us than 'joining in' and 'staying dry' lol... But open hill country does require a different sort of weatherproofing to some vale country. To be honest, most people who want to can look very smart in waterproofs - sadly I am not one of them!! :p
 
Oh my, I've never heard of Ri-dry - they look amazing. I'm not sure we'd be allowed to wear them as standard - on a really wet day a message goes out that waxes are allowed. TBH I'm one of those 'it stops at your skin' people, but I'm more concerned about my horse. He doesn't like being cold and although he loves nothing more than a good gallop, the hanging about between the lines isn't ideal and I could do with something to cover his back and quarters until we move off again. Something that tucked up discretely behind the saddle that I could let down during the stops would be ideal, but I don't think such a thing exists.

Not that there looks to be much chance of hunting this season ...
 
Hackback said:
Oh my, I've never heard of Ri-dry - they look amazing. I'm not sure we'd be allowed to wear them as standard - on a really wet day a message goes out that waxes are allowed. TBH I'm one of those 'it stops at your skin' people, but I'm more concerned about my horse. He doesn't like being cold and although he loves nothing more than a good gallop, the hanging about between the lines isn't ideal and I could do with something to cover his back and quarters until we move off again. Something that tucked up discretely behind the saddle that I could let down during the stops would be ideal, but I don't think such a thing exists.

Not that there looks to be much chance of hunting this season ...
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No, sadly I think you are right about not much chance of hunting this season :( Ri-dry's are amazing. MUCH better than wax jackets and lots of hunt staff wear them and look very smart. Re: your horse - I think it is possible to get a quarter sheet that will roll discreetly up to the back of your saddle; I have seen them, both on the internet (somewhere!) and out and about. Very handy for horses that might be vulnerable to tying up too. I will try to find a link...:)
 
palo1 said:
No, sadly I think you are right about not much chance of hunting this season :( Ri-dry's are amazing. MUCH better than wax jackets and lots of hunt staff wear them and look very smart. Re: your horse - I think it is possible to get a quarter sheet that will roll discreetly up to the back of your saddle; I have seen them, both on the internet (somewhere!) and out and about. Very handy for horses that might be vulnerable to tying up too. I will try to find a link...:)
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Thanks, that would be brilliant. I did search for one last season but didn't come up with anything, but then again last season was pretty much wiped out with the terrible rain and ground conditions we had so I didn't need it in the end!
 
Hackback said:
Thanks, that would be brilliant. I did search for one last season but didn't come up with anything, but then again last season was pretty much wiped out with the terrible rain and ground conditions we had so I didn't need it in the end!
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Equafleece do one, but I think they may only be hi viz ones. You could probably stick similar straps onto a normal one and make your own version.
 
Rowreach said:
Equafleece do one, but I think they may only be hi viz ones. You could probably stick similar straps onto a normal one and make your own version.
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Yes, it was equafleece! Here: https://www.equafleece.co.uk/horses/quarter-sheet. They do make things to order so they may be able to make one in a colour of your choosing. The other thing that might work is to have a saddle bag that you could pop a small fleece sheet in. If you had clips on the sheet you could easily attach to D rings on the rear of your saddle as and when needed. I have a hunting saddle bag that would easily accomodate a small fleece sheet, probably not much else but it would allow you to do that! Depends on whether you have D rings on the back of your saddle too though they can be easily added. :) It is a good idea in fact to have something to keep a horse warm with...I may toy with this idea myself!! Thank you for the idea :) :)
 
Hackback said:
Thank you both, that is just what I was looking for, only not fluorescent! I've sent them a message asking if they could do it in black or navy. Absolutely fab!
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I think if Equafleece can't make a black or navy one, someone else would bound to be able to help but Equafleece people are usually super-helpful!! :)
 
I keep dry with a long Musto coat - it's a dark green and quite fitted so looks pretty smart. I've also got vintage wool breeches that are pretty impervious to rain.
Friend of mine makes the Thi-dry riding apron - that can be fleece lined as well as waterproof. They're seen a lot around here!
 
ycbm said:
Would that be when hunting for a mountain or when hunting on a mountain?
.
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Exactly. I have actually done both at once - hunting for a mountain while on a (different) mountain - and I can testify that if you ever do find yourself in such a situation, you are guaranteed to be in need of good waterproofs. Scotland is a classic location for this sport.
 
Widgeon said:
Exactly. I have actually done both at once - hunting for a mountain while on a (different) mountain - and I can testify that if you ever do find yourself in such a situation, you are guaranteed to be in need of good waterproofs. Scotland is a classic location for this sport.
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A true mountain hunt, surely, can only be carried out in blinding rain, driving snow or dense fog?

Otherwise the target's just too easy unless you are looking for one of the super fast ones?
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Leory1943 said:
Breathable, quick drying base layers and water-resistant outer layers are extremely helpful on a mountain hunt.
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Oh look, somebody else thought exactly the same as you! First paragraph under "Clothing".

Apparently very useful when hunting caribou. Isn't that a football trophy in this country 😅🤣😂?

www.kawdyoutfitters.com

Tips for Staying Dry on the Mountain

On a backcountry hunt and especially in a place like British Columbia, battling moisture is important. Here are a few tips for staying dry on the mountain.
www.kawdyoutfitters.com
 
ycbm said:
Oh look, somebody else thought exactly the same as you! First paragraph under "Clothing".

Apparently very useful when hunting caribou. Isn't that a football trophy in this country?
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For those who didn't get the joke, the football trophy is the Carabao Cup, sponsored by a fizzy drink manufacturer.
.
 
Leory1943 said:
You guys are having fun..!!!
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Oh, hello again. Yes we are. Welcome to the forum, we do get a bit crazy at times.

Could you explain why you copied and pasted the exact wording from an outdoor wear seller's website as your first post on the forum and put it on a 3 year old thread about hunting horses, not hunting mountains?
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