Hunter Jacket Color Rule Change (Proposed)

[elctrnc]

I wonder if the “distraction” is more a concern in flat classes when many horses are in the ring? That Plaid Horse article has a picture of a lineup, and the burgundy coat is quite bright and really stands out amongst the green, black, and blue coats also shown in the picture. It just isn’t as “conservative” when compared to the others in that picture. For a sport that is supposed to be about the horse, maybe coats unlike the others are overly distracting to some judges, especially in a flat with a lot of horses?

[Sswor]

@elctrnc

I wonder if the “distraction” is more a concern in flat classes when many horses are in the ring? That Plaid Horse article has a picture of a lineup, and the burgundy coat is quite bright and really stands out amongst the green, black, and blue coats also shown in the picture. It just isn’t as “conservative” when compared to the others in that picture. For a sport that is supposed to be about the horse, maybe coats unlike the others are overly distracting to some judges, especially in a flat with a lot of horses?

Well then perhaps USEF should ban pinto, appaloosa, and horses with white socks above the knee then too.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

@MHM

I was just looking at these pictures the other day, and thinking that the tack on many of the field hunters would not be within the rules in the show ring. The two activities have diverged so much that comparisons are almost a moot point by this time. But as long as everyone is having fun, it’s all good in my book.

http://nancyjaffer.com/previous_columns/2018-11-22/

I’ve never seen a giant thermos full of hot toddy before, but I love it! So of course the hunt was in New Jersey, because those are my people!

As for the jacket color debate, I really don’t understand it. All disciplines have origins related to a practical use of riding. Dressage, show jumping and eventing all began as a test of the ultimate military horse. Those disciplines test obedience, fitness, carefulness, and other things that in battle could make the difference between life and death. But they have diverged so far from their original purposes, and that reflects in their attire and tack. Those big tumor-looking blocks on dressage saddles? Terrible for riding into battle, but no one does that anymore. Neon pink cross country pinney? Not stealthy whatsoever, but that’s not the point anyway. It’s purely sport now, so every other discipline, people have embraced in the impracticality and blinged out everything.

Show hunters have diverged dramatically from foxhunters and are purely for sport now. The practical application is no longer relevant. Do you know what the majority of foxhunters do in the offseason? They event! They don’t do the hunters because the hunters are so far removed from actual foxhunting now. So I think judges should embrace it and let people wear the darn burgundy coat that used to be “classic” anyway. This is a hobby for 90% of riders, and I think there is no harm in letting ladies wear something fun for the tiny amount of time that we spend in the show ring, especially given all the grief that goes into getting prepared to compete.

[RugBug]

@elctrnc

I wonder if the “distraction” is more a concern in flat classes when many horses are in the ring? That Plaid Horse article has a picture of a lineup, and the burgundy coat is quite bright and really stands out amongst the green, black, and blue coats also shown in the picture. It just isn’t as “conservative” when compared to the others in that picture. For a sport that is supposed to be about the horse, maybe coats unlike the others are overly distracting to some judges, especially in a flat with a lot of horses?

But that is only because right now people are stuck on navy and black. Go back 10 years and you’d have seen a lot of tan coats, soft green, light bluey-gray. The burgundy stands out right now because god forbid someone where something other than navy or black with a white shirt. That has nothing to do with the conservative nature of the ensemble, it has to do with fashion trends…and it’s stupid to make a rule to eliminate fashion trends. They are cyclical and the burgundy is the response to the stuffiness we’ve forced on ourselves for the past few years. Heck, 10 years ago you’d be the spectacle wearing a black coat…and don’t even think about hunter green.

[MHM]

@Can'tFindMyWhip

I’ve never seen a giant thermos full of hot toddy before, but I love it!

Wasn’t that great? I especially loved the label on each thermos! :lol:

[MHM]

@RugBug

But that is only because right now people are stuck on navy and black. Go back 10 years and you’d have seen a lot of tan coats, soft green, light bluey-gray. The burgundy stands out right now because god forbid someone where something other than navy or black with a white shirt. That has nothing to do with the conservative nature of the ensemble, it has to do with fashion trends…and it’s stupid to make a rule to eliminate fashion trends. They are cyclical and the burgundy is the response to the stuffiness we’ve forced on ourselves for the past few years. Heck, 10 years ago you’d be the spectacle wearing a black coat…and don’t even think about hunter green.

Honestly, I think the resurgence of hunter green in the past few years was accomplished almost single-handedly by Lillie Keenan. She wore it, she won in it, and suddenly it was seen back in the ring again after a long absence for the most part.

[eqsiu]

@Sswor

Well dressage judges have scribes and have to account for their placings in writing and in witness of a third party, and those accounts are signed and submitted to each rider upon completion of the class. Hunter judges have no accountability at all.

I’ve always thought that rating each jump and turn with a numerical score and comment would be a great thing in the hunters. Not only would it add transparency in the judging, but having the feedback is super helpful for riders and coaches as well.