I agree. I think the majority of hunts will allow guests and newbies to hunt in their hunter/eq/dressage show clothes. Even hunts that appear to be strict in their turnout etiquette on their website when you speak to a MFH in person you might find they are more lenient towards guests and new cappers whom are still acquiring the correct attire.
Go through trainers?
I would love to hunt, but my horse is not of the “stand and wait, then go but keep in line” variety. She has the soul of an endurance horse and does not have the appropriate love of the pageantry of the hunt. 
One of the local hunts did an intro clinic at my barn, and it was well attended and very fun. The hunt members were friendly and welcoming, and very willing to explain the traditions, attire (this is a formal hunt, and riders are required to Dress – partly because landowners in this area want to see “the Hunt” go through their back yard, not a big group of riders wearing whatever). After the clinic, the hunt members told us what our next steps could be, invited us to try hilltopping with them, etc. I’m not a great rider but I would feel comfortable hilltopping to start with, if my horse were likely to enjoy it. And if I had a trailer.
I think a hunt could certainly have a few new riders if they went through the barn owner/trainers and asked the trainers to bring a couple of people. New people would likely feel more comfortable with their familiar trainer along, plus then the barn would organize the trailering, etc. so the logistics would be easier.
creativity
Several tack shops up here in the East have bargain basements. The nice thing is you occasionally find a great deal. When we were looking into hunting we found brand new wool hunt coats for 25.00 and boots-light weight but still tall /black for 15.00. Look around and you may find you will have “proper” hunt attire for less than you imagined. I think my friends were completely outfitted jacket/shirt/stock tie/boots/britches on that day of bargain shopping for under 100.00.
I bought my canary vest off of Ebay. Its wool and I did shop around and looked at prices before bidding. I got a good deal on it and am very pleased with the quality of it.
I personally found a 2nd pair of dress boots for 10.00 at an auction. Slightly used-they are great and zipper from the rear. My only fault is the last time I hunted I forget to zip them completely …oops!!
What I find is many hunts want to know you “tried” and that you aren’t showing a complete disregard for tradition. So please don’t ride bareback, use a pink saddle pad, wear sweat pants , or even worse use a halter and lead line as your “bridle” in the field.
I agree with the others. Don’t let the clothing get you down!!
I know MANY folks who got their tweeds from good will. It doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive to be traditional. It is far more expensive to “keep up with the Jones’” in the show ring than in the hunt field. In hunting the clothing hasn’t changed in oh two hundred years…no fads, no monogramming conundrums…just the same workmanlike clothing and tack…Of course some just hunt to play dress up in VERY expensive clothing, but oh well…dazzle them with your horsemanship or houndsmanship and they wont notice your outfit didn’t come custom from England!
I know MANY folks who got their tweeds from good will. It doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive to be traditional. It is far more expensive to “keep up with the Jones’” in the show ring than in the hunt field.
That’s where I bought my tweeds! Never hurts to try at your local thrift store.
MY two tweeds came from the Loudoun Hospital Ladies Auxiliary sale…$11 total.
My wife uses the galloping horse test as to whether something would pass inspection. She says if someone complains about your clothing as you gallop by then they are paying attention to the wrong things.
They’re are more ways to keep your costs down than to end up with high costs. When people talk about the high cost of hunting I look at the costs of friends that show. They spend more in a weekend then I do for my hunt dues. They’re tack and show clothing is way more expensive than my hunt gear.
We don’t get much participation or cooperation from area trainers. I don’t think most of them approve of hunting because they believe its bad for equitation form, and they’re afraid their students might get hurt. Meeting with every single one of them within 50 miles is something I would work on if I were in charge of getting a larger turnout. (I’m not, so I don’t.)
[QUOTE=wanabe;3693542]
We don’t get much participation or cooperation from area trainers. I don’t think most of them approve of hunting because they believe its bad for equitation form, and they’re afraid their students might get hurt. Meeting with every single one of them within 50 miles is something I would work on if I were in charge of getting a larger turnout. (I’m not, so I don’t.)[/QUOTE]
local BOs that see no trailering $, no training $, no coaching $ are seldom enthusiastic about hunting unless they too enjoy the sport. they know you can’t run a barn on board alone, they need shows and hunting is out of their revenue stream. what they are afraid of is that their student may find it too much fun. [to do lessons]
many in combined training hunt in the winter, event in the summer.
several in our hunt
Really? I have a kid in Pony Club and this is the first I’ve heard of this. Good to know, though.
