Grey vs Black hats.

[nfld_pony]

So, I bought a lovely hat for work and then I got into a conversation about hats with my boss.

I’ve done a little research and can’t get a definitive answer. Can anyone tell me the difference in black and grey hats? When is it appropriate to wear each? Also, the difference in driving in a tophat, and a coachmen.

Please and thanks!

[Thomas_1]

Black is when you own the horse.

Grey is when you’re driving it for an owner.

Tophats are for formal wear. So the likes of formal coaching or private driving classes or for formal commercial driving.

[nightmoves]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4704390]
Black is when you own the horse.

Grey is when you’re driving it for an owner.

QUOTE]At first I thought you were joking and then I realized that you were serious. LOL Learn something new everyday:)

[Yip]

Thomas’s point of view doesn’t come from rules written for the various show classes.

His prespective comes from centuries of tradition, which die very hard or not at all in the UK. Now that I know that tidbit, I’m going to be watching historic-based movies with new eyes. I’m sure they have or used to have written-in-stone etiquette rules on which occasions to wear which style hat.

I guess the US was founded by rebels and we continue to be rebellious in nature, in that we want to buck tradition wherever we possibly can, all in the name of individuality.

Yip

[gothedistance]

Here in the US - it is grey if you are the owner and or owner/driver. Black if you are driving someone else’s horse(s) or you are the employee coachman. However, I have seen grey top hats on gentlemen who are driving a team that is not their own, but are on a coach that is theirs.

A top hat is acceptable for a formal or sporting vehicle. Top hats are not supposed to be worn in either family or informal vehicles.

If the driver is the owner, and is wearing a top hat (grey, of course), then his staff should also be wearing top hats (staff is always black, NEVER EVER grey). On vehicles other than coaches the staff can be excused to wear a black velvet hunt cap. On a coach, however, they should be in black top hats if the driver is in a top hat.

Correct: Owner/driver in grey, staff in black
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinavannelli/403881815/in/set-72157594233256500/

Correct: Lady whip, gentleman friend in black top hat
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinavannelli/403881807/in/set-72157594233256500/

Correct for driver and staff. Gentlemen in grey - questionable as to why unless they are fellow drivers (I think I recognize one and he is a noted whip) - or that is the only color hat they had!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinavannelli/403871452/in/set-72157594233256500/

[tandem4u]

you wear a black top hat if you are a groom or if you do not own the turnout & you wear a grey top hat if you own the turnout or are riding on the carriage as a guest.
Robert