What ever happened to hunting presentation????!!!!

[RunToEarth]

Whilst I am definitely of the old school and my horse is always plaited and I am hair-netted, I think we need to be careful that we don't project an image that you are not welcome in the hunting field if you're not on a smart TB and wearing £100s of expensive clothing. I wore a black show jacket for seasons because a proper hunting coat was a ridiculous expense for the few days a year I could manage to snatch and being allowed to wear my waterproof riding jacket would have been a very welcome relief! As the old BFSS poster says - hunting is a sport for all!

I agree with what you are saying, and I think most hunts take a sensible view to what is acceptable RE hunt coats and boots etc. The bottom line is that it is disrespectful to turn up to a lawn meet that someone has put a lot of effort into providing without plaiting your horse and being as close to correct as you can allow for.

I also think that far too many people these days think it is acceptable to wear waterproof jackets over the tops of their hunt coats at lawn meets - you are not in the collecting ring waiting for a show, you're at someone's home, by invitation. I always plait after opening meet, we even plait second horses - it takes a matter of minutes to sew some plaits in.

 

[Toffee44]

Sorry Toffee, what foot followers choose to wear is entirely up to them and in no way would I want an official 'uniform' for them; it is the mounted field we are on about as they are the ones who should be showing their appreciation to their farmers.
Besides, you can usually spot regular foot followers a mile away in their regular 'uniform' of usually drab green or tweed waterproofs with wellies as those are the type of clothes fit for that purpose to keep you dry and warm and not bothered if you get mucked up; the new-comers that attend meets and become regulars soon learn that too!

Misread post then re brightly coloured raincoats and wellies. Thought OP was referring to foot followers not mounted.

 

[Baggybreeches]

You're a quick plaiter - takes me around 40 mins!

I've been doing it a long time ( and my horse has an easy mane to plait).

 

[MurphysMinder]

I suspect I know the bloodhound pack you refer to Maesfen. I went to a meet and was very disappointed, poor turnout and the hounds stank. I know you can't expect hounds to be pristine but the smell from these hit you from a distance, you didn't need to touch them. They hunt staff and staff seemed more interested in getting back to the pub than watching hounds work tbh.

 

[Vodkagirly]

What is the correct dress for a foot follower? I know what to wear if I ride but didn't realise there was an ettiquette for foot followers as well.

 

[Baggybreeches]

What is the correct dress for a foot follower? I know what to wear if I ride but didn't realise there was an ettiquette for foot followers as well.

There isn't dress code for foot followers other than 'appropriate clothes' (usually boots and warm/dry clothes!). I guess it depends on how you follow and if you have enough self respect to wear clean but functional clothes?

 

[skint1]

I think for foot followers it would probably be similar attire to if you were going to go on a shoot or something, so no bright colours and frivolously patterned macs and wellies, I guess? I don't know though.

 

[Maesfen]

I think for foot followers it would probably be similar attire to if you were going to go on a shoot or something, so no bright colours and frivolously patterned macs and wellies, I guess? I don't know though.

This was at our meet a few weeks ago before they all arrived! As you can see, all sorts that are practical and 'quiet', you don't want to stick out like a sore thumb - unless you don't want to lose your gloves, lol.

 

[skint1]

great photos! I see the baby was letting the side down though with the stripy jumper (just kidding- very cute really !!)

I find the whole culture around hunting quite fascinating, this has been the first year I have been. We went Autumn Hunting with a drag hound pack (as an observer) and I really liked it. There is no chance I myself would EVER do it, but my horse has a brilliant time and so did my daughter. I was surprised how friendly everyone was and I was even more surprised when the land owners served lovely refreshments at the beginning! I didn't follow the pack but everyone looked very smart all plaited up and in their tweeds.

 

[Maesfen]

Glad you liked and also enjoyed your day. Yes, we had port plus a selection of sausages, sausage rolls, flapjack and fruit cake; the flapjack very often goes into pockets for later in the day so I always make loads.

Typical grandson to stick out, just showing off to his other grandad too (on the horse with the gloves!)

 

[Baggybreeches]

Ooh this is the first picture of the little one that I have seen!

 

[Maesfen]

lol, I'm not surprised, it's the first I've posted on here since the day he was born in May; I said then (on FB though) it would be the first and only one then; he only sneaked into this one as he was there early and I had asked SIL to take some as I had my hands full and these were what I got!

 

[chestnut cob]

To be honest, I sometimes think the mounted field look more scruffy on Boxing Day than on any other. The reason for this, I think, is that you have a lot of people who don't hunt other than this one day of the year, and who don't understand the customs or etiquette.

Those who only go on BD should make the effort to learn about correct dress. If you only go out once a year then there's no need for a hunt coat, but at least put a smart tweed on. I detest seeing people out on BD in raincoats/ SJ waterproofs with horses with cut and unplaited manes. I have seen women in pink sparkly hats, truly vile, with sparkly stirrup irons, boots with pink piping on. Yuck. Seen plenty of men who only go on BD dressed in raincoats or wax jackets to ride. I just don't get it. The one thing that irks me the most though? Women with long hair who don't even put it in a hair bobble, nevermind a net! Surely there can't be anything worse than your hair flying about all over the place, not to mention the risk of it getting caught and yanking your head off.

Having said all that, I was amazed to see pics from the most recent BD Meet of hunt staff with unplaited horses. How on earth can new supporters be expected to care about dress when the staff/ Masters (and I have seen this plenty of times too) don't make the effort to plait up on a day like Boxing Day? I was pretty amazed. I don't always plait if I go on a week day meet, but for BD, seriously??

 

[gonebananas]

I had this a few weeks back before Christmas. We were meeting at a pub, it was a small meet with a few regulars. However there were some new people too that have never been before. Ok most were dressed apporopriately apart from the young girl who was arguing with her father. He was trying to tell her to button up her jacket as it was flapping everywhere to smarten her up a bit. She wasn't having any of it and was throwing a stop(she was early teens). It really ticked me off as she was refusing and also her tie was all loose and top buttons undone.
I didn't say anything as it wasn't my place I felt as she was new and I'm only on my first season but make every effort to make me and my horse look presentable each time we're out.
Manners and ettiquete.

 

[CrazyMare]

I LOVE my hunting pictures. I love looking at my clean ponies, and everything being neat & tidy!

I get very frustrated seeing dirty, or badly turned out horses when I've often gone hunting after working until 4am having prepped the horses before starting work at 7pm the night before!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

I LOVE my hunting pictures. I love looking at my clean ponies, and everything being neat & tidy!

I get very frustrated seeing dirty, or badly turned out horses when I've often gone hunting after working until 4am having prepped the horses before starting work at 7pm the night before!

exactly, its all about effort
http://www.evespics.co.uk/2013/Kimblewick Hunt Stratfield Saye 8.3.13/HTML/img_5635.htm

http://www.evespics.co.uk/2013/Kimblewick Hunt Stratfield Saye 8.3.13/HTML/img_5729.htm

the two in the following pic were bathed the night before for this stunning lawn meet and despite the pouring rain we are plaited and smiling it was an epic day and the bay is Maesfen Saddler purchased from Maesfen as a 3yr old

http://www.evespics.co.uk/2013/Kimblewick Hunt Stratfield Saye 8.3.13/HTML/img_5772.htm

 

[kentridingclubber]

Untidy turnout gets my goat whatever the discipline. Plaiting up costs nothing!

 

[RunToEarth]

I LOVE my hunting pictures. I love looking at my clean ponies, and everything being neat & tidy!

I get very frustrated seeing dirty, or badly turned out horses when I've often gone hunting after working until 4am having prepped the horses before starting work at 7pm the night before!

Agree - nothing better than looking at all of your hunting photos and lovely clean horses, even if they do get mud up to the eyeballs 30seconds after you move off.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

I agree RTE it is lovely to look at the pics and think we scrub up quite well. I love turning them out all smart like this:

Back socks a little mucky as we had hacked up with hounds.

 

[Maesfen]

Great pics from both DDD (especially of Fred of course!) and DJ; both a good lesson in how to turn out for hunting properly, both horses and humans.
Thanks for those.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Great pics from both DDD (especially of Fred of course!) and DJ; both a good lesson in how to turn out for hunting properly, both horses and humans.
Thanks for those.

Thank you

 

[CrazyMare]

My battle is with a completely grey pony!!

You do sometimes wonder why you bother, but I do love the gleaming look

Even if within a few minutes we look like this....

I suppose thats why we have hot water on the yard!! LOL

 

[RunToEarth]

Lovely photos, Ditchjumper - what a lovely looking horse!

Crazymare - I completely sympathise with you - always worth it though!

 

[Maesfen]

Love these smart pics, keep them coming please, will be a good education for those new to it.

 

[monkeybum13]

To be honest, I sometimes think the mounted field look more scruffy on Boxing Day than on any other. The reason for this, I think, is that you have a lot of people who don't hunt other than this one day of the year, and who don't understand the customs or etiquette.

This is very true. There is one local hunt in particular that I cringe slightly when I see photos of the boxing day meet.

 

[Tiddlypom]

RTE, very smart horse but a genuine question. You (assuming that it is you on the grey) seem to be wearing earrings. Admittedly I haven't hunted for many years, but I recall that it was not then the done thing to wear any visible jewellery.

Have times moved on re jewellery? (I was still in Pony Club then, so maybe it was more Pony Club rules than general Hunt rules.)

 

[Alec Swan]

I 'suppose' that the time will arrive, when I tire of looking at smartly turned out and elegant ladies, on equally smart and well presented mounts. 'Eventually', perhaps! :wink3:

Lovely pics, thank you.

Alec.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Lovely photos, Ditchjumper - what a lovely looking horse!

Thank you...and so is yours

(No one has mentioned the dreaded P word either )

 

[RunToEarth]

RTE, very smart horse but a genuine question. You (assuming that it is you on the grey) seem to be wearing earrings. Admittedly I haven't hunted for many years, but I recall that it was not then the done thing to wear any visible jewellery.

Have times moved on re jewellery? (I was still in Pony Club then, so maybe it was more Pony Club rules than general Hunt rules.)

I doubt they have moved on as such, I'm sure you still cannot wear jewellery in pony club and it isn't very sensible to wear it out hunting in case you get caught on a branch - I suppose I just wear them because they look nice, and in reality I am much more likely to get my hair caught on a branch than my pearls!

Thank you...and so is yours

(No one has mentioned the dreaded P word either )

Thanks I am sure they will do at some point..!

 

[GoblinPony]

Ah, but your P's are lovely and look so much the part
**crawls to safety, ready to get shot down in flames**