If a hunt member is awarded a hunt button, when is it appropriate to put said button on your hunt coat? I assume one would want to wait until they’ve earned a set of buttons so all the buttons on the coat would match?
I’ve had the honor of being awarded my colors, and now for the first time, a button, and although I will ultimately pose my question to the MFH, I was curious if there was a customary standard on the awarding of buttons and when to put them on your coat. 
Huh, I’ve never heard of being awarded a button. I guess we’re not civilized out here. 
I always thought colors and buttons were awarded simultaneously. According to Horse Country, once one is awarded colors, one is entitled to wear the appropriate buttons engraved with the hunt’s emblem.
That’s interesting. I have gotten the gist from my hunt that buttons are earned on their own merit and not a privilege once one has earned their colors.
Maybe my hunt only gives you one button when you earn them and you have to buy the rest to fit your coat?
I really need to ask the Master. 
But, I’m still interested in hearing others thoughts, opinions and how it’s handled in their hunts…
I have colors with three hunts. The way it has worked for these hunts is that you are ceremonially awarded the fabric for your collar, and then you purchase the buttons–I think almost universally from Horse Country, who stocks them. Can’t find my catalog, but there is a part titled “A Word About Buttons,” if memory serves. Your hunt secretary may also help, some hunts may keep buttons on hand. Traditions can certainly vary.
Congratulations on your colors!
We do things the way Flagstaff Foxhunter explained, but this is a good source for buttons. Prices seem reasonable.
S.C. Albach Custom Engraving
P.O. Box 322
Hiawassee, GA 30546
Phone/fax 706-896-9646
When I was awarded colors at first hunt, we were given collar material but had to go order/buy our own buttons. I got mine at Horse Country. When later I whipped in, bought scarlet coat used from retired MFH and so conveniently had the collar and brass buttons at no extra charge.
Second hunt where I was awarded colors, I had to go get my own collar material and buttons.
Third hunt- beagle pack- did award me ‘honorary’ colors and MB gave me one button. Nice touch, I thought! But indeed if I go beagling and get myself a green coat, I’ll need to get more buttons to go with. (To clarify I whip in to him when he’s out west and we are hunting jackrabbits from horseback- he always just loans me a green coat).
When I was awarded colors I had to buy the buttons. I know some hunts will award buttons (usually a full set) before someone gets their colors. I know of a couple of hunts that will give out buttons to Juniors one at a time.
I’ve never heard of earning buttons after colors but whatever works.
Some hunts only award buttons. In that case, they either give you a full set, or just one, and you go out and purchase the rest.
Some hunts award buttons (see above), and then colors (i.e, a 2-step process). You can wear your buttons, but no colors until they give you the material.
Some hunts just award colors. When they give you the material, you then sew it on, and purchase the buttons for the coat ant put them on at the same time. I have seen seen some men not want to purchase a scarlet coat after they were awarded their colors, so they just buy bone buttons and sew them onto their black/navy hunt coat instead.
Like others my hunt gives you the fabric when you get your colors and then you go (Horse Country) and get your own buttons. (At $18 each, make sure they are securely sewn on!!!)
Thanks for all the input! I think I’ll go ask our master (the secretary is away) what’s typical for our hunt. I’ll let you know what she says!
Why do some men not wear scarlet, if that is what your hunt does? I only know of one man who does this and think it looks odd. Feminine.
Who carries the old fashioned real silver, that you have to polish, buttons?
[QUOTE=whicker;6155243]
Who carries the old fashioned real silver, that you have to polish, buttons?[/QUOTE]
Because how many masochists are there, really?
I have only seen brass/goldplated or black with white. The silver would look gorgeous on a navy coat. Actually, forget that, I have seen silver in Ireland, on mostly British ladies’ navy hunting coats, and they did look lovely.
Well, I asked, and with my hunt (in keeping with what others have described above) it is the case of once you are awarded your buttons, the club gives you one, and you buy the rest. Makes sense to me, especially if they are $18 each! I think my Mom will be sewing them on, not me! 
My club has the buttons, so I don’t have to go searching for a place to buy them.
[QUOTE=xeroxchick;6155181]
Why do some men not wear scarlet, if that is what your hunt does? I only know of one man who does this and think it looks odd. Feminine.[/QUOTE]
My DH not-so-secretly LOVES to wear his scarlet, white cord breeches, canary vest, and hunt top boots --and he looks smashing. But our current hunt only wishes the master, visitors, and male staff to wear scarlet. Bummer!
Seeing our very alpha dog, masculine hunting males in their colorful plumage is one of the treats of the hunting tradition. At the hunt balls, it’s even better when they sport their evening tails. I adore the roomful of peacocks strutting whilst the ladies are in ever so elegant blacks and whites. I might add, the not-so masculine males can really rock a pinque!
I do however, wholeheartedly endorse female staff to wear scarlets, because it’s so practical to be able to see your whippers in and also because it’s a great point of pride.
Usually because they don’t want to buy another coat. It is very rare, admittedly. Most men are like peacocks – they like to show off all their colored finery. :lol:
I could be wrong on this but doesn’t OCH limit scarlet to just staff members?
I have my scarlet coat but would rather have just done a black coat with colors on the collar. Some day when I start my own hunt only the MFH, Huntsman and Staff will wear scarlet. I think having an abundance of scarlet in the field takes away from it.
Interesting to read of the different customs. Here, once you are a fully paid up member you are encouraged to wear your hunt’s collar - material usually supplied for free and you get it sewn on yourself. Not all hunts here have buttons, however if they do, any member can buy and wear them. Red coats are strictly for Masters and Huntsmen - whippers-in wear the hunt coat colour. If for example my partner (huntsman) rode with another hunt, he would wear his black jacket, as opposed to red. Some Masters riding with hunts other than their own, do the same, although some still choose to wear red. Tan-topped boots are normally worn only by hunt staff, but whippers-in may wear them with beige/fawn coloured breeches. Very few of them wear white - and I wish my partner didn’t have to wear white breeches either - I seem to spend most of winter soaking, scrubbing and washing them!
Yes, OCH does, as do PFH. OCH only gives buttons, while PFH does buttons first, and then colors.
I personally like scarlet on men – but perhaps that is because in our hunt, we have more women with colors than men, so there is not an overabundance of scarlet.
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