Need a new hat for hunting ..........

[Orangehorse]

If I go ahead with my plan to hire a horse this autumn and try out hunting after - eek - nearly 30 years, I realise that I will need a new hat, so what is best to get, a new velvet hat or a skull cap with a velvet cover?

My current everyday hat is about 12 months old, and it is black and has a bit of a peak, but it isn't what I would call traditional, completely. I wouldn't wear it in the show ring. However my showing hat, all nice velvet, is a few years old now so although it was all good and up to standard, complete with leather fastening, about 10 years ago, it might not be up to all the latest standards.

What do other people wear?

 

[Goldenstar]

I have hung up my Patey and now wear a Charles Owen "Fiona's " hat.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

if you want velvet, i would go for just a velvet hat as i think the velvet covers look awful but that's just my opinion. I wear a Charles Owen 4 star hat myself, not exactly traditional but after hunting for the first time last season i found that people wore all sorts of hats! as long as they were dark coloured, no one cared.

 

[redfoxhunter]

I wear the Gatehouse 'Hickstead' - remember to sew up your ribbons!

Hope you manage to get out, good luck. I can't wait for the season to start!!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Last season for autumn hunting I used the Fiona, when off with drag hunt I wore my RXC1 with a velvet cover rammed onto it

 

[Orangehorse]

OK thanks, some ideas there. I don't think I will be drag hunting though, that is maybe a step (or massive jumps, fast galloping) too far!

 

[Kat]

I wear a skull cap with a navy cover. I have a velvet show hat but find the peak sits too low for galloping and jumping, besides the last thing I want is to be dragging it under low branches and getting it muddy when I also wear it for showing.

 

[shoeey]

Charles Owen only recommend the Fiona for dressage, showing and hacking, which concerns me slightly. I hunt in Gatehouse HSI - it might not look as pretty but it's safe.

 

[Houndman]

I'm a Patey person (hunt staff) for hunting, but they don't offer as much protection as a modern hat if you come off. For exercising, just a bog standard Charles Owen (can't remember the style).

CO Fiona is up to all the relevant standards. Usually if they recommend a hat for something it's down to the style and / or how good visibility is with it etc. If a hat is marked with the standard it will have undergone the testing.