Also if they’re going "traditional " then the forward gallop should be getting rewarded…cough cough! This just seems like someone has a bee in their bonnet and instead of doing something good like making a real difference in the course scoring and drug penalties, just want to pick on stupid things like jacket colours and trim THEY personally don’t like!
9 Likes
As an exhibitor, I would not wear a burgundy jacket.
As a judge, I would not care about a burgundy jacket.
I’ve been judging for many years, so I’ve seen coats of many colors. I remember when tan was suddenly a big thing, and an occasional light blue jacket would pop up, along with a fairly light gray. As long as the jacket is clean and the right size, it’s fine with me.
I can also remember seeing a madras jacket on an older amateur at Devon, long after that was a regular thing. I can only imagine it was an old lucky jacket that just got pulled out of the closet for special occasions.
I even remember seeing a man show at WEF on Easter Sunday years ago in a pale pink jacket. Not scarlet. Genuinely pink. He was definitely getting into the holiday spirit. 
14 Likes
Well, maybe some of the judges wanted some additional guidelines instead of the traditional, mysterious " it depends". Seen some, IMO, going way overboard and can understand judges and exhibitors alike wanting some definitions.
Me! I have a very dark brown machine washable jacket that I love. In most pictures you wouldn’t really be able to tell if it was brown, black, or a very dark navy.
I hope Equestrian Canada doesn’t follow this. I think this is a ridiculous rule change or “rewording”.
3 Likes
Well, maybe some of the judges wanted some additional guidelines instead of the traditional, mysterious " it depends". Seen some, IMO, going way overboard and can understand judges and exhibitors alike wanting some definitions.
As mentioned, there are lots of rule change proposals up for consideration, some dealing with far more serious issues. Nobody has devoted their entire season to coat color legislation.
2 Likes
If someone walks in the ring and the only thing you remember about their trip is that the rider wore a burgundy or purple hunt coat, it must have been a pretty mediocre trip.
We are not judging a fashion show. I think the whole thing is ridiculous.
As for the question of trim, I still covet the French blue tweed hacking jacket with navy velvet collar that I once saw on eBay.
9 Likes
Brings back memories! In the late 90’s I had a dark tan Tailored Sportsmen coat with an olive and blue faint plaid. I loved that thing, but it truly wasn’t the most flattering option.
3 Likes
I don’t think it’s aimed at burgundy, I just think the burgundy wearers have taken the most offense to the change. Here in Atlanta we’ve seen a lot of the Aviation Blue AA motion lite, and we don’t see the burgundy. People wear this lighter color because it’s cooler in the summer 100 degree heat. This popular color would also be prohibited as would the lighter French blue coats we have seen popping up from time to time as they do not fit the criteria of “conservatively colored.”
I also think about the Charles Ancona coats with contrasting collars and piping - people have spent a small fortune customizing those. I hate to think they were suddenly unwearable in the hunter ring.
Personally, I have a closet of black, navy and hunter solid coats and have never veered into piping or collars, as I didn’t think it appropriate to put the focus on my attire in the hunter ring, but it seems a bit late in the game to make a rule change after so many have gone this direction. I also don’t have an issue with burgundy or the light blue colors, and agree with others that brown is something you rarely, if ever, see. In fact, if burgundy was added to the list I would purchase a coat in this color. I used to show in a tan/burgundy plaid coat in the 90’s and loved it! Speaking of which, what happened to traditional plaid??? Check out this sweet foxhunting coat on eBay - it’s legit and wouldn’t pass the test: https://www.ebay.com/i/273349570002?chn=ps
I do feel like the hunter ring is starting to look a bit like an AQHA show with the lapel color and colored/textured boot trims. I’ve even seen royal blue trim on a boot, which is just wrong. Why not let your horse be what catches the judge’s eye - not your lapel, pocket, helmet or boot tops? I get that we are far from the traditional hunter ring, but the foundation of this class is to put the focus on the horse, not the rider’s attire.
3 Likes
I remember seeing a girl on a dark gray horse, wearing a dark gray jacket and gray breeches. I think she may have even had a gray shirt. It was very monochromatic, but it worked. I thought of it as “the Regis look,” since that was when Regis Philbin had started the trend of wearing a shirt and tie to match his jacket. Very era-specific. :lol:
4 Likes
True. But nobody wears shadbellies out hunting except on Opening Day and Thanksgiving, either. They’re cold, bad pockets, flapping tails…
1 Like
Who gives a rat’s patootie what someone is wearing? If a judge cant see past a coat color to judge the round, maybe s/he shouldnt be judging. I prefer conservative colors myself, but I do remember when plaid was in, and velvet contrasting collars were a thing. The show hunters are so far from the traditional that is really shouldn’t matter (and this is from someone who actually hunted back in the day). If I remember correctly, black was the only color deemed truly appropriate for us juniors to wear in the field.
9 Likes
My kinda judge. 
I love hunt coats. I think I own 10…and just did my first show in three years, in a brand new coat (AA motionlite…I’m never going back. The other 9, even the ones I love, are going to have a hard time topping the comfort of the Motionlite).
All the colors of the rainbow…
needless to say, I want the light blue and burgundy AA Motionlite coats. 
4 Likes
just FYI the burgundy and bright blue coats are currently illegal. All the proposed rule change does it clarify the existing rule. In both the hunters and equitation the rule is:
- Attire. Riders are required to wear conservatively colored coats (black, blue, green, grey or brown) which are free
from adornment which in the judge’s opinion is overly distracting. Shirts must have a choker, similar collar or tie.
Breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white.
And for the record I am a USEF Judge and Steward.
3 Likes
I’m so glad the powers that be of our sport always focus on what really matters.
13 Likes
How do you get “illegal” from that? Is bright blue not encompassed in the word blue? It’s perhaps not encompassed in the word conservative, so there’s there.
Also, despite the fact that you’re a judge and steward, I would rely on a grammarian on this. Parentheticals can typically be removed without changing the meaning of a sentence. So is this parenthetical really not one? Is it meant to be the all exclusive list of acceptable colors? If so, there is no need for a rule change at all because the proposal does not change anything within the parenthetical, it just makes it an exclusive list.
3 Likes
Have people been showing in these coats at USEF shows? If so, have they been getting eliminated?
I have not seen a burgundy coat in person yet. Just in pictures.
It seems that if the “adornment” of the jacket is “overly 
distracting” (honestly it’s either distracting or it isn’t… who writes these things?) the judge can make the call, but the color of the jacket is non-negotiable.
2 Likes
Yes. I know of a junior hunter rider who got eliminated in HITS Ocala a couple years ago for a burgundy coat.
Styles change. Look at basketball players in the 70s-80s vs. today. Look at all the hair in baseball, which used to require clean cut and clean shaven. Look at the outfits in figure skating.
Anything we do to discourage people from participating in our sport is to its detriment.
11 Likes
Just quoting you because it spurred my thought.
Besides “tradition”- any idea where this crack down came from? Is someone in a burgundy. light blue, or piped jacket or blue topped boots really a big deal? Again- as personal taste equinosauraus - I don’t find the new colors/look/trend attractive. I love the classic looks (oh hell I even love the puffy breeches look hides my thighs) . I just can’t grasp what the problem is (besides some think it is ugly).
3 Likes
