Reverting to Ratcatcher

[sonjafoers]

Please could somebody advise me when is the correct time to do this. I understand it to be Cheltenham Festival time but I have had mixed advise on whether it's after the Festival or when it starts.

I have also been told the correct date is the 1st April so now I am very confused!!

Thank you

 

[LizzieJ]

It always used to be the 1st of March for us but seems to have changed to after Cheltenham

 

[MissySmythe]

I've just done it! Have swollen ankle so can't get top boots on so am out in ratcatcher and field boots (ooooohhh shock horror!). But yes, Cheltenham's the traditional marker. Heheee

 

[Fiagai]

Ratcatcher was traditionally adopted during the autumn hunting season and before the Opening Meet. Traditionally once the Cheltenham Festival is finished hunt coats are swapped to Ratcatcher again.

Check with your local hunt though!

 

[Mike007]

Am I the only one who thinks that well turned out Ratcatcher looks so much smarter than hunting jackets ???Ok , Probably just me.

 

[JenHunt]

1st march. the cheltenham thing is a myth.

 

[LizzieJ]

1st march. the cheltenham thing is a myth.

We were discussing this last week, it's definitely quite a new thing here the Cheltenham thing

 

[sonjafoers]

Thanks everybody, I have just checked with my Hunt and been told after the Grand National!

 

[tootsietoo]

You're not the only one Mike007, I have noticed one or two people choose to hunt in ratcatcher/tweed all season. It does look smart with brown boots!

 

[Jay89]

Am I the only one who thinks that well turned out Ratcatcher looks so much smarter than hunting jackets ???Ok , Probably just me.

I love ratcatcher!! i think when turned out properly looks very smart!

We went back to ratcatcher on the 1st March.

 

[Herne]

There is no set rule or tradition. Local customs apply. Some hunts never revert to ratcatcher - and there's nothing wrong with that, either.

 

[tractor]

We don't revert back to Ratcatcher until after the closing meet - sometimes we have a few by-days after the official closing meet, then we would wear ratcatcher.

Does anyone know where the custom originates from? One of our subbers moved to our area from somewhere near Wales and she was horrified that we didn't change after Cheltenham!

 

[VoR]

Seems we have some who've now gone to Ratcatcher as it's past the 1st, but were told last year that it's after Cheltenham which is when the master changed last year, so I guess we'll go along with him but