When you arrive at the hunt site (or wherever you will begin tacking up or mounting your horse), do you wear your hunt jacket right away?
I’ve noticed some hunt members wear a hacking jacket (at formal hunts) before they actually mount, and then switch back to the hacking jacket after the hunt is over.
Most of the people at my hunt do neither – just wear a shirt, and perhaps a vest, before and after the hunt.
Curious as to what most of YOU do.
I don’t switch into my hunt jacket until I am about to mount as it stays cleaner that way. :)
Afterwards, as we tailgate, it depends on the weather. If cold, I will put a heavier coat on, or if hot, take off my hunt jacket.
On warmer days, I will wear my barbour (or other lighter-ish weight coat) to tack because I don’t want slobber or anything else on my hunt coat OR my hacking jacket. On colder days, usually got a down coat or other heavy coat (Carhart) on while I tack. Usually also have those Adidas snap-away pants over my breeches because mine always seem to try to slime me! And by “tack,” for us it’s just taking off whatever blanket/cooler the horses travled in, adjusting the saddle and tightening the girth, then bridling. Just before I get on it when I actually put on my hunt coat (or whatever coat I’m wearing for hunting that day).
After the hunt, I make sure my horse is “put away” before changing. Often times, I will wear my hacking jacket around after hunting, but that’s beacuse there is little risk of being slobbered on!
I’m the first one there and among the last to leave. Plus I have to do farm chores before heading out from my place.
When it’s really cold out I wear my ancient battered Carharrts and then switch into my hunt coat before I unload my horse. Cool or wet weather I wear an old Barbour jacket.
I change, unload and am in the saddle fast - as I’m usually last to mount as well.
It’s not overly complicated - but I don’t board and I also have a dressing room in my trailer. If a person had a different arrangement he might wear his hunt coat to the meet or something.
I’d not wear my hacking jacket at all.
I wear my hunt coat partly because it speeds things up. I get on immediately after unloading. But if there is an indoor social event before or after the hunt (such as a breakfast at someone’s house), I wear my hacking jacket, as, at least where I come from, it would not be considered proper to attend breakfast indoors in your formal coat.
Whoa - I thought the OP meant before mounting - not to attend a breakfast or other function.
If he means attending a function before or after hunting - no way. Of course I’d wear a clean hacking jacket. Never would wear my hunt coat. I’d also take off my spurs and make sure my boots were clean.
If he meant just driving to the middle of a hayfield and it’s a regular hunting day - I wear what I need to keep warm and clean.
Though some of the social functions I’ve known, the Carhartts would be more effective attire! But that’s a whole 'nother thread.
I wear my Carrharts, or ancient one piece camo hunting suit, from when I leave home to just before I get on at the meet. Boots and jacket and brain bucket go on just before getting on the horse. I do haul to the meet w/horse tacked up, so I just have to put the bridle on after a grooming touchup. But I can guarantee if I put jacket on before bridling, jacket will have a loving application of slobber from horse. He and my Great Dane are twins separated at birth.
I wear a kennel coat (AKA Lab Coat) over my cloths to keep clean before a meet. I usually throw on my hunt coat just before I mount up. I think a kennel coat looks nice and it keeps my breeches and shirt clean. I’ll throw it back on when I return to the trailer & while I’m putting my horse away. Then I’ll either throw my hunt coat back on or more often my hacking jacket before breakfast. A kennel coat saves a bunch on my drycleaning bills.
Are we hunting on the weekend or during the week ? Keepers tweed start to finish on weekdays. Weekends - Barbour to get there and dress coat on parade!
Gosh - Equibrits post reminded me that not everyone dresses formally on weekdays!
I have a fleece jacket with my farm logo on the back. I’ll wear a fleece or I have a new quilted vest I bought in hunt colors and had the hunt logo put on. Then after my horse is tacked before I put on the bridle, I put on my hunt vest and coat.
I’m the original pig pen and whatever I can do to keep my clothes clean. I like the idea of a kennel coat but like leaving my formal wear off until the last minute.
I also have a tweed coat in the truck to change into afterwards for breakfast.
Thanks for an Actual New Question
And a somewhat interesting one, too.
Most of this depends on the weather. Sometimes it is hot, so I will show up in shirtsleeves and put my hunt coat on right before we go out. When it is cold I usually wear a hacking jacket with a down vest over it and a scarf to keep my stock tie clean. After, well, some land owners like to see the hunters still in their kit, so I just take off my spurs. If we are tailgating I switch back to the hacking jacket. Or I might just wear an Ariat vest if it has warmed up. I have a suede vest from Kevin’s that I plan on using for after. Honestly, I am probably not noticing how slobbery or slimed I am 
!
Oh - I usually wear an old blaze orange cap and one day I happened to wear my cap from the 6666 ranch. Amazing how many people asked about it, like, what is the extra six for? Are you THAT evil? No one had heard of The Sixes in Georgia! Proper hunt attire? Hmmmm…
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