A pictoral timeline of hunter dress codes from the last (gulp!) 50 years. UPDATE: New Pics -- p8

[hillary]

I love these photos also.

What happended to appointments classes? I remember these from when I wa s jr in the 70s. I’d think Dover or Beval’s would be all over sponsoring these…talk about a license to make money…sewn in bridle, flat tack, the sandwich case which is around $600-700 last time I checked.

Also, something I think is funny: we wore dopey looking clothes, but we were in fashion. We were all younger…but even our moms are shown getting on what are likely the average horse of the day, jumping over 3’6" natural, fixed jumps (such as the log in LH’s one photo) and thinking nothing of it, and likely the horses were not scared to death either.
I’ve set a hgher standard for myself - I’m out of 2’6" and into 2’9"! Let the challenge begin!

[xegeba]

Bea is the offical techno-nerd of the board!

[OneonOne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mbdobbs:
Okay, can someone help me with some of these abbreviations? I understand a GPA is a Grand Prix … ??? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>mbdobbs, a GPA is a brand of approved helmet - one of the helmets with the vent “stripe” on the front, also known as a “skunk helmet.” As of yet, I don’t think anyone knows what the initials stand for. I’ve seen several threads about it, but no answers!

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Any coupon works! Beware of paper cuts!

[Riggs]

LOL, Lord Help Us, this will give you a laugh. In the 60s, I used that natty little tie thingy to anchor my stock tie! You are right, it was before the world of chokers. I was going to wonder why no one told me the real use, but then again, they all probably thought I was comic relief, or maybe (hopefully?) just very chic and eccentric?

And you have also answered my question about the 70’s brown field boots with the rust and powder blue. (I used to think that all looked so great and now all I can think of is 'lounge singer, anyone? What did they call those baby blue suits the men of the 70s wore, with open necked shirts and lots of medallions? )…

And here I thought you were not a cool chic-ette of the time, when actually you were way ahead of the rest of we bowtie-ing, brown field boot wearing gang!

[LargeJuniorHunter]

Bumping this up to request more pictures from our ::gasp:: oldies but goodies.

Founder of: “Non-GPA owners” clique
Member of: “I got left out of the ponies” clique

[Melzy]

Awesome photos LH. Thank you so much for sharing them. The family photo is priceless. You are very fortunate to have such a background.

Best wishes.

[Lord_Helpus]

Washington

"Oh yeah, I'll bet you're fat and can't ride!" ---  Erin, Chief Cathearder.  [img]http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

![Valor_Wash_Intl.jpg|593x472](upload://7RFmgpXAvrBWkA89nOIhft6jcBi.jpeg)

[ccoronios]

Oh, LORD - just about lost it here at work over the hotdog!!

www.ayliprod.com
Equine Video and Still Photography in the Northeast

[Pigglet]

You were 6?!? I wish I rode like that when I was 6…

Great picture. Hurry up and post the rest!

-Nicole-

[Sing_Mia_Song]

God, Pam, I LOFF (and I never use that word) these pix! That one of Valor from the Garden is my fave, although I remember you posting one before where you weren’t in formal attire?

My horse partner and I (that would be HorseyNurse) finally have a really spectacular hunter, but you know what? I prefer the doddering Stanley, who just came off the track, looks like hell, and who can hardly be bothered to walk to the cross ties!

Both horses make their debuts next month in the baby basic pleasure classes, but we should have some good shots of Strapless–um, Stella by year’s end!

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A building contrator is defined as someone who wants to build a house in the woods. An environmentalist is one who already owns a house in the woods.

[Lord_Helpus]

And now, sigh, the late 80’s.

The dress code has really changed.

'Nuff said.

"Oh yeah, I'll bet you're fat and can't ride!" ---  Erin, Chief Cathearder.  [img]http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

![Pam_collar.jpg|341x500](upload://hXZoIZCd5jLPm0xLpE6JfWHCOTg.jpeg)

[RegalBeagle]

LH - thank you for posting the fabulous pictures. An absolute study in hunter fashion through the last few decades.

I so love the picture from Madison Square Gardens of you and Valour. Breathtaking.

I have a couple to add from the days when 3’6" was the only choice. The year 1980 and yes they are grey breeches:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/hcurtin/Hannibal_80_dwyer_2.jpg

Oh yes, remember rolltop coops when they were full size, from 1976:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/hcurtin/Jessica.jpg

[bigbay]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xegeba:
OMG! YOU have a GPA??? I’m ruined. Time for cocktails…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

“It is good to be fine.”

[spina]

What a gorgeous collection of horses, Lordhelpus. I think I need to have you find my horses for me from now on.
When I saw the bit on the little pinto pony, I just KNEW what he rode like, I know many people that were trained by a naughty pinto pony with an iron mouth that could jump the moon if you could learn to ride well enough to get him there.

[MistyBlue]

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Lord Helpus! You’ve finally answered the question I’ve been asking since getting back into riding a couple years ago after a long hiatus…“Where the h*ll did the auto release go?”
NOW I KNOW! It ran away in shame the minute the funny looking skunky helmets came in!

As for the rest of the HP’s out there…are we feeling a tad sheepish that years back 6 year old children had an independent hand/seat/leg, balance and could handle two sets of reins while jumping what the adults do now?

Equine Crash Test Dummy
Member of: Non-GPA Clique
Auto Release Clique
Connecticut Clique
Helmet Nazi Clique

[Kirsten]

Absolutely breathtaking, Pam. That picture of Valor at the Garden gives me goosebumps. Here is my contribution to hunter dress of olde, even though 12 years really isn’t that long ago I suppose.

Sally, 1992

Note the flat PDN Sovereign, the crochet wither pad in barn colours, hunter green jacket, and helmet with the clear plastic strap.

[Lord_Helpus]

wtywmn, No, I didn’t do those braids. My sisters and I were not expected to braid our own ponies until we were 8. Looking at them, I bet one of my older sisters did, though…

The solid fence: May look big — but it was only about 3’. However, it was at the top of a hill. Two strides, jump, two strides and down a steep hill, over a ditch to a final uphill brush jump. The Montpelier outside course was always one of my least favorites, even though I was a B pony clubber at the time. It was a mini cross country course, that you had to do for style.

And Max was a 4 year old in his first year of showing. We bought him as a 3 year old stud colt the summer before and I was just starting him on his show career. Not many shows had a 3’ division – When the Prize List called for First Year Green at 3’6" it meant just that – a horse in its first year of showing. If you didn’t jump 3’6", you stayed home until you did. Often getting mileage in the hunt field.

As for handling two sets of reins as a 6 year old – I just think of it as early training for learning how to use draw reins. No really. That pony had a mouth like iron and pulled like a freight train. He gave me hard hands which I have spent years learning to overcome. But it has made me very aware of putting soft mouths on the babies I start so that none of them will ever lean on the bit and pull like Apache did.

"Oh yeah, I'll bet you're fat and can't ride!" ---  Erin, Chief Cathearder.  [img]http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[xegeba]

Cellos!!!

[reefy]

That is so pretty!! I would have had one of those for sure

See? ‘Snickers’ aka diKecnaDnuS - now I know what the screen name is - stumped me since I first saw it

Those pictures were great!! I wish I could ride now (as a 30 something) as well as you did at 6!

[maxiford812]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Riggs:
the button up breeches (buttons at the legs too<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And those darn buttons were always popping off my breeches at the wrong moments. Thank goodness for safety pins.

Great thread, BTW!