Appointments Attire Guidelines
B MASTER[/B]
CAP: Regulation black velvet hunting cap; the ribbons worn up for unpaid wearers–ribbons worn down for paid wearers.
NECKWEAR: Plain white hunting stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain gold safety pin. Latter should be horizontal.
COAT: Square-cornered single-breasted frock coat with collar of colors adopted by his hunt, two flap pockets–one on either side and a whistle pocket is permissible. The material should be of melton cloth or heavy twill. Scarlet or hunt livery color.
VEST: Preferably of plain white, buff, or yellow material.
BUTTONS: Must conform to hunt livery. Usual specifications are: Brass buttons on coat and vest engraved with the emblem of the hunt. Coat with four buttons in front, two behind and two or three small buttons on cuff of each sleeve.
BREECHES: White (buff or brown if according to livery of individual hunt). Of leather, heavy cord, twill or of any other heavy material. Should show four small buttons close together at the knee. Lightweight breeches of silk or cotton are not permissible.
BOOTS: Regulation hunting boots of black calf (not patent leather) with brown or colored tops, either polished or powdered, which should be sewn onto boots; tabs sewn on, but not sewn down to tops.
BOOTGARTERS: White (buff or brown) boot garters to match breeches must be worn. Between the two lowest buttons, the buckle against the buttons on the outside.
SPURS: Of heavy pattern with moderately short neck, preferably without rowels. Should be worn high on heel.
GLOVES: Heavy wash leather [chamois] or, if preferred, brown leather gloves.
RAIN-GLOVES: White or colored rain gloves should be carried under girth billets; each glove on the proper side of the saddle, thumbs against palm of glove and against saddle, fingers toward the front of saddle.
WHIP: Regulation hunting whip. Should be held two-thirds of the way up the stock (not at the end). Thong should be carried hanging (not looped).
HORN: Regulation hunting horn. If of English type, should be carried either stuck in front of coat, or if mounted, in leather case fastened on either side of front of saddle.
SANDWICH CASE AND/OR FLASK: (Separate or combined) must contain food and drink. Should not be carried by huntsmen or whippers-in, whether honorary or professional. Gentleman carry port, Ladies carry iced tea or sherry. The sandwich should be either turkey or chicken on white bread, crusts removed, cut on the diagonal, and wrapped in wax paper. Butter is optional, no mayonnaise allowed.
B HONORARY HUNTSMAN[/B]
“Turn out” same as for Master. Should carry utility pocket knife and wire cutters in a leather case on side in front of saddle.
B PROFESSIONAL HUNTSMAN[/B]
Same as Honorary Huntsman.
B HONORARY WHIPPER-IN[/B]
Same as Huntsman except:
Not permitted to carry hunting horn.
Set of hound couples fastened to a “D” on off side of saddle.
Coat should have a large “hare” pocket on inside of skirt.
SPARE STIRRUP LEATHER: Optional, but if carried, should be worn outside of coat, over right shoulder, under left arm, buckled in front, with the point of strap down.
B PROFESSIONAL WHIPPER-IN[/B]
Same as Honorary Whipper-In.
B GENTLEMAN MEMBER[/B]
HAT AND BREECHES: Hunting silk hat and white breeches must be worn with scarlet, hunt livery color, or black coat of swallow tail (shadbelly) or cutaway (weasel belly) type. Black hunting bowler and buff or brown breeches may be worn with black coat of any accepted formal cut, but hunting silk hat and white breeches are preferable.
HATGUARD: required. The color must match the coat color.
COAT: Scarlet, hunt livery color, or black; of melton or heavy twill. Accepted formal cuts as for example, frock coat with rounded skirts, swallow tail (shadbelly) and cutaway (weasel belly).
COLLAR: Same color as coat unless member has been invited to wear the hunt button in which case the collar should conform to the livery of the hunt and be worn only on coats of hunt livery color. Junior gentlemen, when invited to wear hunt buttons, should do so on their formal dark coats but not wear a hunt collar. Only exception is if Master specifically invites them to wear scarlet or hunt livery color.
BUTTONS: Must conform to hunt livery. Usual specifications are: Brass buttons on scarlet coat, brass or bone on vest. Black bone on black coat. If member has been invited to wear the hunt button, should be engraved with the hunt emblem, otherwise plain.
BOOTS: Same as Master except black boots without tops (butcher boots) must be worn with bowler hat. Patent leather tops not permitted.
BOOTGARTERS: Black if boots are without tops, must conform to color of breeches if top boots are worn.
NECKWEAR, VEST, SPURS, GLOVES, RAIN-GLOVES, WHIP, SANDWICH CASE, FLASK: Same as Master.
B LADY MEMBER (SIDE SADDLE)[/B]
HAT: Hunting silk hat with brim of 4.5-5.5”, or hunting bowler.
HATGUARD: Required unless veil is worn, then not permissible.
VEILS: Required unless hatguard is worn, then not permissible. Preferred with top hat.
HABIT: Dark blue or black melton or other dark cloth
BUTTONS: Should conform to hunt livery. Usual specifications are: Brass or bone on vest; black bone on black coat. If member has been invited to wear the hunt button, the button should be engraved with the hunt emblem; otherwise should be plain.
BREECHES: Of same color as habit.
BOOTS: Black boots without tops.
SPUR: Optional. If worn, must be high on the heel.
RAIN-GLOVES: White or colored rain gloves should be carried on off (right) side under billets and just showing in front of saddle flap. If an outside girthing sidesaddle is used, the gloves go under the flap, not just under the billets.
WHIP: Light hunting whip with thong.
NECKWEAR: Four-fold stock tie, tied neatly and fastened with a plain gold safety pin. Latter should be horizontal.
COAT COLLAR: Same color as coat unless member has been invited to wear the hunt button in which case the collar should conform to the livery of the hunt and be worn only on coats of hunt livery color.
GLOVES: Heavy wash leather [chamois] or, if preferred, brown leather gloves.
VEST: Preferably of plain white, buff, or yellow material.
SANDWICH CASE AND FLASK: Sandwich should be either turkey or chicken on white bread, crusts removed, cut on the diagonal, and wrapped in wax paper. Butter is optional, no mayonnaise allowed. Flask should contain either tea or sherry.
JEWELRY: Except for finger rings and small plain stud earrings for pierced ears, jewelry is not permitted. Boutonniere not permitted.
HAIR: Contained in a hair net, preferably in bun. Must be neat and unobtrusive.
B LADY MEMBER (ASTRIDE)[/B]
HAT: Black bowler hat. If cutaway (weasel belly) or swallowtail (shadbelly) is worn, a hunting silk hat with brim of 4.5-5.5” must also be worn.
HATGUARD: Required.
VEILS: not permissible.
COAT: Regulation hunting coat, cutaway (weasel belly) or swallow tail (shadbelly) of melton or other dark material.
BREECHES: Buff or brown (not white) in cord, twill, or leather.
BOOTS: Hunting boots of plain black calf. It is permissible to wear patent leather tops, tabs sewn on but not sewn down, to tops which should be sewn on boots.
BOOTGARTERS: Plain black or black patent leather if worn with patent leather tops
SPURS: Regular hunting spurs, preferably without rowels.
NECKWEAR: Four-fold stock tie, tied neatly and fastened with a plain gold safety pin. Latter should be horizontal.
COAT COLLAR: Collar the same as coat until invited to wear hunt buttons, then collar of hunt may be worn.
VEST, GLOVES, RAIN-GLOVES, SANDWICH CASE AND FLASK, BUTTONS AND WHIP: Same as Lady Member, Side Saddle, except the rain gloves will be carried one on each side under the billets, thumb folded and fingers forward.
(i) Hunting caps may be worn in the show ring except in appointments classes. In such classes caps may be worn only be those qualified under (a) through (h) above. Children under 18 years must wear ASTM/SEI approved helmets at all times.
TACK APPOINTMENTS:
BRIDLE: Must be either a double, Pelham, or single (snaffle). All leather must be flat. Reins and cheek pieces must be sewn to bit. A cavesson nose band must be used. Rubber reins are not permissible.
BEASTPLATE: Optional, but preferred.
MARTINGALE: Not permitted on the flat or in Hunter Hack, permitted in over fences classes only. If breastplate is worn, standing martingale attachment only.
SADDLES: Heavy, plain skirted hunting saddles of English or forward seat type either leather or cloth lined (preferably the former). Numnahs or saddle cloths not permissible. Sidesaddles may have either a doeskin or leather seat, and panels may be leather or linen. All sidesaddles must have a leaping head.
STIRRUP IRONS: Should be large, workmanlike, and polished. Stirrup pads should be removed.
GIRTHS: should be either Triple-fold leather or web, preferably the former. If white web girths are used, they should be properly cleaned and pipe clayed. No elastic permitted, and girth cannot be shaped. A Balance girth is required for sidesaddle.
GIRTH GUARDS must be worn in place over buckles.
BRAIDING: Manes and tails must be braided. (Exception: roached mane and pulled tails).
Judges should give particular attention to quality, condition, durability, and cleanliness of tack on each horse individually, and similarity of tack and collectively in Hunt Team or pair classes. In all appointment classes, both on the flat and over fences, horses and riders must show in full appointments. There will be no changing of tack allowed between the performance and inspection phases upon penalty of elimination.
