What should I wear?
Whilst there is a formal hunting attire that regular follows wear, there are a variety of alternatives which are perfectly acceptable.
Safety Wear
Starting from the top, any form of safety hat is acceptable, but the cover should be plain black or navy colour and without tassels of pom poms. Only Masters and Hunt Staff are permitted to have the ribbon on their hats hanging down.
Back protectors are also acceptable and are indeed recommended for novices and children.
Autumn Hunting
The official dress code for Autumn hunting is known as 'Ratcatchers'. This is a tweed coat with a shirt and tie or a coloured stock until Opening Meet. Technically boots should be brown with a tweed coat and spurs should not be worn until the Opening Meet. Again, many people wear black boots and many people wear spurs whatever the colour of their boots! Breeches or jodhpurs should be fawn.
Post Opening Meet
After the Opening Meet ladies wear Navy coats with a white or cream stock and men and farmers wear black coats with a white stock. It is strongly advised that stocks should be lightly tied to help save you from serious neck injuries should you fall.
Red coats and white breeches are only worn by those who have been award the hunt button by the Masters but are discouraged since the Hunting Act came into force.
General
Many people revert to Ratchatcher in March.
Children wear tweed coats all the time.
Rain wear is acceptable for all, in bad weather conditions.
Ladies with long hair should wear hair nets.
Gloves should be worn, these should be brown when worn with Ratcatcher and white or yellow with a scarlet, navy or black coat but many people wear any dark plain colour. It is a good idea to carry a spare pair of gloves for when you want a dry pair.
Is there anything special that my horse should wear?
For Autumn hunting horses are not expected to be plaited, but from the Opening Meet horses may be plaited or have a neatly pulled mane.
If you know your horse is liable to kick it should wear a red ribbon at the top of his tail. If it is a young horse and you are not sure of its temperament it should wear a green ribbon. In both cases they should be kept to the back of the field. If the person in front of you is going through a gateway and has one arm behind their back you should be aware that their horse may kick if you crowd them.
Have fun, that's what you are there for, and we want you to enjoy yourself and come back again. Remember, though, “if in doubt, ask!”
Safety Wear
Starting from the top, any form of safety hat is acceptable, but the cover should be plain black or navy colour and without tassels of pom poms. Only Masters and Hunt Staff are permitted to have the ribbon on their hats hanging down.
Back protectors are also acceptable and are indeed recommended for novices and children.
Autumn Hunting
The official dress code for Autumn hunting is known as 'Ratcatchers'. This is a tweed coat with a shirt and tie or a coloured stock until Opening Meet. Technically boots should be brown with a tweed coat and spurs should not be worn until the Opening Meet. Again, many people wear black boots and many people wear spurs whatever the colour of their boots! Breeches or jodhpurs should be fawn.
Post Opening Meet
After the Opening Meet ladies wear Navy coats with a white or cream stock and men and farmers wear black coats with a white stock. It is strongly advised that stocks should be lightly tied to help save you from serious neck injuries should you fall.
Red coats and white breeches are only worn by those who have been award the hunt button by the Masters but are discouraged since the Hunting Act came into force.
General
Many people revert to Ratchatcher in March.
Children wear tweed coats all the time.
Rain wear is acceptable for all, in bad weather conditions.
Ladies with long hair should wear hair nets.
Gloves should be worn, these should be brown when worn with Ratcatcher and white or yellow with a scarlet, navy or black coat but many people wear any dark plain colour. It is a good idea to carry a spare pair of gloves for when you want a dry pair.
Is there anything special that my horse should wear?
For Autumn hunting horses are not expected to be plaited, but from the Opening Meet horses may be plaited or have a neatly pulled mane.
If you know your horse is liable to kick it should wear a red ribbon at the top of his tail. If it is a young horse and you are not sure of its temperament it should wear a green ribbon. In both cases they should be kept to the back of the field. If the person in front of you is going through a gateway and has one arm behind their back you should be aware that their horse may kick if you crowd them.
Have fun, that's what you are there for, and we want you to enjoy yourself and come back again. Remember, though, “if in doubt, ask!”
