wet weather wear

[Alerog]

I am writing a novel which has a partly equestrian background and which is set in the 1935-75 era. My riding career started after that and although I know a bit about it I desperately need some stories, advice or details about what people wore to ride and particularly to hunt in in wet weather in those days. I know that most people had a putty coloured riding mackintosh - I remember a girl friend of mine had TWO! - one for best, one for everyday!!
However I never really found out if they were loved or loathed by most people. I believe the girl above did find them rather exciting and if this was a general feeling it might help me in parts of my book. Might we start a general discussion about traditional riding macs with people who remember them well for whatever reason.
ALEROG

 

[Sidesaddle]

Oh the memories!

I used to love my putty coloured riding macintosh. The feeling of excitement as I slipped it on over my tight fitting breeches and jacket gave me such as thrill. So much so, that I would wear it every time I went hunting, whatever the weather.

 

[Hedgewitch13]

And don't forget the leather boots... Oh how good it all felt

 

[Mrs B]

I did find that the talc I used to stop it chaffing marked the saddle though.

Happy days!

 

[JadeWisc]

I would love to show you what I wear when its wet and I want to ride. Too bad the hunting forum does not allow images

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Oh this bring back the memories!

I remember, many moons ago, I was out for the day with the Quorn and I have to say it seemed like a bit of a false meat to me. The weather was foul and a storm was brewing but I had my trusty steed, a piebald gelding who was marked much the same as a Belted Golloway Cow. The hounds were beying so we set off. As we charged down the first field towards a big hedge I heard an awful commotion behind me, I chanced a glance and saw a great white wooly sheep following the field. I paid it no heed and hopped the hedge. A short time later there was thuinder, bolts of lightning and it was getting very very frightening indeed. Galileo, my horse, didn't blink an eye though I myself am not fond of the stuff. The hunt had been kind enough to put aside a Devil's Dyke just for me and as Galileo and I sailed through it the wooly sheep was back. Though it wasn't a wooly sheep, to my horror it was a white shetland pony with a troll of a granny on board grinning from ear to ear.

The hounds of hell finally picked up a scent. They crawled along in search of blood, ready to terrorize the neighbourhood. And in the flight to stay alive, the grizzly goul fled down it's tomb and the hounds piled in to seal it's doom. My body started to shiver. For sure that chase was a real thriller!

Another fox was sighted shortly after and so off we set again. Up hill, down dale, some too the high road, I took the low road and somehow we managed to get their before the rest of the field at the bonny, bonny bank of the lake. "Well" I thought, "Me and my true love (we weren't married at this stage, just courting) Will not meet here again yet" and so we carried on.

As we flew down the next hill the sun broke through the clouds and it really seemed as though we were walking on sunshine, and boy did it feel good! I felt alive and I felt the love of the chase that was really real. The Field Master called up to wait up so I shouted back "I don't want to spend my whole life just a waiting for you!". We headed back in for the day soaked, steaming and very happy. That was until the Hunt Master and Field Master caught up with me and said to me, and I remember the words very clearly "I don't want you back for the weekend, nor back for a day". I was gutted. It was the best day's hunting I had had in my life and I wanted to stay. But alas, what will be will be.

I have to say I don't remember those jackets you were on about, maybe they were after my time.

 

[Bedlam]

I have such fond memories of my old riding macs! I actually had 3 - one on, one off and one in the wash so to speak.

I was bought my first one for my 16th birthday by my riding instructor, Hector. He was a family friend and had been in the army for a while before returning to run his father's stud farm in Surrey. I was very young and quite naive, so the first time I went out hunting with him in the early morning that autumn I managed to leave it behind. He was most disappointed in me I think, as it turned to rain after we had only been out for about an hour and I became soaked through to my underwear. We had to shelter for a while whilst the worst of the storm passed and he was very chivalrous and took his riding mac off and leant it to me for the hack home. His mac was obviously too large for me by far and I was a little swamped by it, but it was very comforting to be wearing such a well worn coat that smelt of damp leather, horse, neatsfoot oil and ex army stud manager.

I still have an old mac of mine hanging in the tack room. I can take a photo of it for you if you like - perhaps with me modelling it, but I'd have to wear very little underneath these days to fit in it - I'm a little larger now than I was when I was 16 and could wear it over warm woolly jumpers.

Happy memories!

 

[JoBird]

Cant wait to read this novel, I am beguiled already .....

 

[StrawberryFish]

There is nothing sexier than a riding mac *tootles off to bedroom for a spot of relief*
phew, got a bit hot under the collar there thinking about those macs...

 

[Sidesaddle]

I was wondering. Perchance the putty coloured riding macintoshes in larger sizes are Big Macs?

 

[Judgemental]

How decidedly kinky of you all, wait till Paddy reads this, I bet she will have a few exotic comments!

So is this going to be the tone of the hunting forum untill the first opening meet.

Goodness me it really could become quite degenerative.

But then there is the FC in his Gas Mask much favoured by those of a certain predelictions.....

Soon there will be chatter about PVC and Rubber riding macs!

 

[Ravenwood]

EKW - that post was hilarious!!

I was only a little girl in 1975 and just being introduced to hunting, unfortunately no putty coloured macs for me - just a stinking old wax Barbour that weighed a ton when it got wet!

I remember jumping a tiger trap that had a drop on the other side and my pony somersaulted over and I fell off! A very kind lady offered me her hanky to mop up the blood from my nose and eye. Unfortunately though the fox double crossed us and we had to jump the tiger trap again but this time from the low side and land higher - well, my pony learnt her lesson and jumped the jump so damned high that I hit my head in the branches above - cue me asking the very kind lady to borrow her hanky again to mop up the new release of blood from my orifices

Were you looking for a bit of bloodlust in your book?

 

[irish_only]

How decidedly kinky of you all, wait till Paddy reads this, I bet she will have a few exotic comments!

So is this going to be the tone of the hunting forum untill the first opening meet.

Goodness me it really could become quite degenerative.

But then there is the FC in his Gas Mask much favoured by those of a certain predelictions.....

Soon there will be chatter about PVC and Rubber riding macs!

Trots off to find hunting apron - vision of wonder, OH wearing apron only while cooking dinner and vacuuming - sigh.........................

 

[Alerog]

Well, at this early (hopefully) stage in this discussion it seems that there quite definitely was something exciting about those riding macs. Probably better to wait until there are some more comments before replying to each in more detail. Did you all wear them tightly belted with the top button fastened and the collar up in heavy rain? What was it that made them so "interesting". Any storuies of wet pony club camps etc. and did girls enjoy wearing them more than boys??
Look forward to replying comprehensively later.
Thanks a lot ALEROG

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

Ah, pony club camp...

Not suitable for public forums I'm afraid

 

[Fiagai]

...for those wishing to indulge there are modern "macs" availavle - not quite "putty" though

LINK

the last day torrential day out hunting saw me destroy yet another Barbour - I had to take it out the back and shoot it afterwards...

 

[Bedlam]

Thanks for the PM Alerog - I look forward to getting more detailed personal comments from you!

In the meantime - Pony Club Camp. Well, Hector was of course the chief instructor at our Pony Club and we had a bit of a special relationship with him being such a close family friend and all. The tents in those days were more canvas in nature than the modern fabrics that are used today, but on particularly wet days they did tend to leak a little if they weren't erected quite correctly. I vividly remember being grateful for my riding macs one night when there was quite a storm going on. Hector know that I wasn't keen on thunder, so came to find my older sister and I in our tent to make sure we were OK. When he realised that we had become soaked through due to the leak in our hastily erected tent he manged to fashion a sort of inside shelter out of our macs and took off his damp mac and turned it inside out for us to lie on - they were very well waterproofed and the inside of his mac was bone dry and had a lovely worn texture and smelt comfortingly of saddle soap and horse sweat (and if I'm honest, a little excitingly of ex army stud manager) . I remember it being very cosy in our tent that evening with my sister and I all huddled together and Hector waiting until the downpour ended before making a dash for it back to his tent.

I liked to wear my mac buttoned up to the top with the collar turned up and the belt tightly pulled around my waist just as you described, but Hector cut a more dashing figure with the top 2 buttons casually unfastened and the mac flowing out behind him as he strode around camp. I think he fastened the belt back on itself behind his back if you get what I mean? This seemed to be the fashion with macs at that time. Some of my comtemporaries preferred the newer riding capes, but I felt that they were not close enough fitting and, on a purely vain level, hid the figure too much. The boys all tried to emulate Hector, and some were successful. Those that managed it enjoyed their macs as much as us girls I think.

 

[Sidesaddle]

...for those wishing to indulge there are modern "macs" availavle - not quite "putty" though

LINK

...

Sadly the sizes don't go up as large as I need. Being a well endowed lady, my chestal area is quite splendid.

Oh yes, Alerog, tightly belted, collar up and top button fastened. Happy days.

 

[Fiagai]

Sadly the sizes don't go up as large as I need. Being a well endowed lady, my chestal area is quite splendid.

Oh yes, Alerog, tightly belted, collar up and top button fastened. Happy days.

Knowing many ladies with splendid bosoms, I appreciate that some readymade clothing may be found wanting in that area (ahem) they do claim however that ...

..the coats come in a range of standard sizes from Extra Small (to fit chest/bust size 28") to Extra Extra Large (to fit chest/bust size 46/48"). The fitting of these coats is a little strange as they are designed to go over the hunt coat. They can tend to appear a little big until the rider is in the saddle. They look tidy and are comfortable but it should be remembered they are a practical garment to keep out wet and cold weather, not a close tailored coat. The emphasis is on practicality, warmth and comfort, not ornament.

If in doubt between sizes we suggest you order the smaller as these coats are generously cut.

 

[Alec Swan]

Fiagai,

I wonder if they sold many with a 48" bust, bloody hell, that's 4', or if anyone on here has the courage.....

There you are Alerog, you seem to be making progress, in you novel research, if you see what I mean!

Alec.

 

[Sidesaddle]

Knowing many ladies with splendid bosoms, I appreciate that some readymade clothing may be found wanting in that area (ahem) they do claim however that ...


Extra Extra Large (to fit chest/bust size 46/48"). /QUOTE]

I saw that Fiagai, but as I said, they don't go up to my size.

Fiagai,

I wonder if they sold many with a 48" bust, bloody hell, that's 4', or if anyone on here has the courage.....

And your point, Alec, is?

 

[oakash]

What fascinating reading! Alerog, you have enough material for a novel even with what has already been posted! What a kinky lot! ('tis a bit of a turn-on, though!)
Personally, in the East, I don't recall ever wearing a waterproof, although I did have a 'putty coloured' coat, perhaps worn only once or twice. Here in the south-west wet weather gear tends to be serious, but I confess not very erotic!
...but making love in a horse trailer or box - now THAT is a worthy subject to add to the novel.. wouldn't others agree?

 

[Judgemental]

Fiagai,

I wonder if they sold many with a 48" bust, bloody hell, that's 4', or if anyone on here has the courage.....

There you are Alerog, you seem to be making progress, in you novel research, if you see what I mean!

Alec.

This Alec is a first, is it not.

I am looking forward to contributions from Paddy, Rosie and Simsar!

However Alerog, what you must remember is the leg straps, must have leg staps so the length of mac does not flap about.

I am wondering where this will go.

I see the pony club and camp have already been mentioned. Now how can I put this to keep matters within bounds. Riding Macs, Adolecents, Straw/Hay. Normally about five or six boys to 30/40 girls.

Why do I have a hunch this thread is going to get out of control, as maturer folk regale us with their indiscretions of long ago! LOL

What I could say about camp and one of the loveliest girls I have known, who became a household name as a model on the catwalk and much favoured the putty coloured riding mac.

 

[EAST KENT]

Mine was huge,like wearing a tent,with leg straps as well.It lurked in a cupboard between outings ,smelling strongly of rubber.Kept me dry though!

 

[Mrs B]

What I could say about camp and one of the loveliest girls I have known, who became a household name as a model on the catwalk and much favoured the putty coloured riding mac.

Darling! How kind! *blushes*. But I don't remember you from camp... Unless it was you who so ungallantly pushed me into the water trough, sans mac?

 

[Alec Swan]

Darling! How kind! *blushes*. But I don't remember you from camp... Unless it was you who so ungallantly pushed me into the water trough, sans mac?

That could only have been a callous youth. The now matured JM would be horrified at such behaviour, unless perhaps, you were wearing a T-shirt.

Alec.

 

[Mrs B]

What fascinating reading! Alerog, you have enough material for a novel even with what has already been posted! What a kinky lot! ('tis a bit of a turn-on, though!)
Personally, in the East, I don't recall ever wearing a waterproof, although I did have a 'putty coloured' coat, perhaps worn only once or twice. Here in the south-west wet weather gear tends to be serious, but I confess not very erotic!
...but making love in a horse trailer or box - now THAT is a worthy subject to add to the novel.. wouldn't others agree?

Which does remind me of being away at Cowdray for the Pony Club polo tournament camp many moons ago....

One evening, we happend upon (whilst proceeding in a Northerly direction along the pony lines) a trailer which was moaning. Well, the trailer itself wasn't, but you get my drift.

We also noticed that said trailer was at the top of a gentle slope, with chocks of wood under the wheels...

Nuf sed.

 

[Mrs B]

That could only have been a callous youth. The now matured JM would be horrified at such behaviour, unless perhaps, you were wearing a T-shirt.

Alec.

*suspiciously* I was! How do you know that, unless you were there? Hmmmmmm?

 

[Alec Swan]

Mine was huge,like wearing a tent,with leg straps as well.It lurked in a cupboard between outings ,smelling strongly of rubber.Kept me dry though!

How others can find the smell of rubber attractive, is beyond me.

The gently blown edge of a mac, revealing a retaining leg strap, against tight fitting cream jodhpurs, now that's a different matter, altogether. (I don't seem able to find a smutty smily!).

Alec.
Ets, for the techno experts, is there a leering Les Dawson smily?! a.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......And your point, Alec, is?

Dear Lady, a marked lack of courage prevents me from offering any further thoughts on the matter!

Alec.