Hunter Pace Turnout & Attire if on XC course, but hosted by Hunt Club?

[Fancy_That]

Our local hunt club hosts several Hunter Paces in our area, and usually they are held on a XC course (eventing facility)

So protective vests & medical armband are required.

My question is this - what do you feel is more appropriate turn-out for a Hunter Pace, hosted be a Hunt Club, but at an Eventing/XC venue? XC style or Foxhunting style?

At these particular Hunter Paces, everything goes. So I know if I show up either way, it’ll be fine. I’m just thinking that because it’s a Hunt Club, that a more “foxhunting friendly” attire would be most appropriate?

Versus FULL ON XC DECKED-OUT like you are at a 2 Star Horse Trial?

So Foxhunting turnout to me would be a ratcatcher with the Tipperary vest over top. My traditional white shaped “hunter” pad, and my traditional velvet hunt cap (ASTM certified and with harness) No boots on the horse.

Versus my XC/Eventing turnout would be: polo shirt with Tipp vest over top. My XC skull cap with Silk Cover in Hunter Green/Burgundy/White, and my matching XC saddle pad (square pad) Boots on the horse

Again - I know it doesn’t matter…people attend these looking either way (XC/Eventer types, versus Foxhunters)…but what is MORE APPROPRIATE IN YOUR OPINION?

I was leaning towards more of a traditional hunter-turnout, versus my XC get-up I use for Eventing.

[Beverley]

Well, it seems to me if it is a hunter pace, it should be hunting attire.

To put it another way, I’ve never participated in a hunter pace WITHOUT wearing hunter attire- even here in Utah where there is no hunt club but a local eventing center decided for fun to do a hunter pace one year.

[Fancy_That]

That’s what I’m leaning towards, but at these ones around here, you see mostly/many Eventers and they show up looking like they are about to run Prelim

Yes, at the Hunter Paces, held at XC courses…and hosted by our local Hunt Club, or sometimes by an Eventing Barn.

Thanks for the feedback. I’m going to go with Hunting Attire for me, personally (and my pony) Might do a polo shirt, instead of ratcatcher (will wear protective vest over top) as ours are VERY casual and it will be hot hot hot

[QUOTE=Beverley;5662924]
Well, it seems to me if it is a hunter pace, it should be hunting attire.

To put it another way, I’ve never participated in a hunter pace WITHOUT wearing hunter attire- even here in Utah where there is no hunt club but a local eventing center decided for fun to do a hunter pace one year.[/QUOTE]

[Heliodoro]

Most of our Hunter Paces are very casual attire and open to anyone, so long as they sign a waiver, wear a certified helmet and a riding boot with a heel. We usually get a few western trail riders showing up, as the jumps are all optional. If you want to jump, you can boot up, but it’s the rider’s decision. Protective vests are not mandatory, but encouraged if jumping.

I have never seen anyone personally, dress in hunting attire for a hunter pace, even for the GVH sponsored paces. Depending on weather, a collared shirt, vest, clean breeches, helmet and tall boots for me. Bells, fronts and ankle boots for my horse as a general rule of thumb as we go over all the marked fences.

[awm]

Back in the old days (I know, eye roll!) at least thru the '80’s, we all dressed for
a formal Hunt at GVH. I don’t remember when the attire became casual----
But we still run a real hunter pace in October! It runs thru the hunt country
over the coops & rails in the fencelines. If you don’t jump, you have to open &
close numerous gates! We set the optimum time with 2 sets of timers and their
time is averaged, so only one person knows the Ideal Time! It’s a great fund-raiser for the Hounds!

[Fancy_That]

This is a little more like our Hunter Paces. Most folks dress like they are schooling or for XC/Eventing. And yes, even some western riders.

So I know turnout doesn’t MATTER I’ve done several of them, and I’m going this weekend and just wanted peoples’ opinion of what is the most appropriate, since I have every kind of riding apparel and tack imagineable.

I know the organizers, club and other riders couldn’t give a hoot what you are wearing. They are more casual. I thought I’d just see what the “norm” is for Hunter Paces you all do

My plan is to wear a polo shirt, protective vest, velvet helmet and traditional hunter tack on the horse.

My breeches, if I’m going to be traditional, should be tan…but I love love wearing my darker colored breeches for schooling and XC, so I may just wear them. More flattering

Any other folks here do Hunter Paces? Just curious about how “turnout” is in your area…

[QUOTE=Heliodoro;5663705]
Most of our Hunter Paces are very casual attire and open to anyone, so long as they sign a waiver, wear a certified helmet and a riding boot with a heel. We usually get a few western trail riders showing up, as the jumps are all optional. If you want to jump, you can boot up, but it’s the rider’s decision. Protective vests are not mandatory, but encouraged if jumping.

I have never seen anyone personally, dress in hunting attire for a hunter pace, even for the GVH sponsored paces. Depending on weather, a collared shirt, vest, clean breeches, helmet and tall boots for me. Bells, fronts and ankle boots for my horse as a general rule of thumb as we go over all the marked fences.[/QUOTE]

[Roxyllsk]

I do hunter paces - I wear tan breeches and a polo shirt, and if it’s hot I wear my black paddock boots and half chaps rather than tall boots. I always boot up my horse going cross country, and I use a white square saddle pad. I try to keep my colors conservative because I ride a leopard/roany appy.

[3mares]

we do lots of paces (central NY) out here and the attire goes from jeans and cowboy boots for the western riders, gaited riders wear a mixture of clothing and I have seen less tall boots the last couple of years for the “traditional” english riders. Lots of paddock boots and half chaps - polo shirts, t-shirt and even a tank top here and there. English, Western and Endurance tack - and every bright color saddle pad you could imagine. Lots of matched people and horses - a friend of mine always has polos that match her saddle pad, her shirt and even her gloves.
Riding in NJ 25 years ago we wore full hunt attire to the hunter paces - times have changed!

[Fancy_That]

Okay, great. Thanks for the extra feedback. 3Mares, yes, our local Hunter Paces are quite a mixed lot

So I think times have changed and there may not be a “norm” for these types of “open to John Q public” Hunter Paces?

I’ll stick to what I normally wear. I’m going to use my shaped sheepskin pad, versus my square/AP pad though. More “hunt-ish” or huntery

My sister and I ride together and our mares are best friends so we LOVE to do the Pairs Classes. Going to do Hilltopper, Intro Pace and Challenge Pace (riders switch horses halfway through the course!)

[Xanthoria]

My safety vest is black and yellow, so for me there is no “hunter attire-slash-demure” option

That said, for HPs I usually don’t bust out the matching yellow-bound saddle pad, yellow taped boots, yellow/black quartered silk, yellow tee, yellow whip, black/yellow gloves… oh, you get the (garish) idea

I think your plan sounds great. As long as you are wearing a safety vest, and not trying to fry yourself by putting it over a hunt coat!

(See you Saturday!)

[Fancy_That]

I figured you’d pipe in

So you are going??? How fun!!! We are so looking forward to it! Our mares haven’t been schooling at 2’7", so if there are any maxed-out fences, we may go around (yes - DQ)…we’ll play it by ear. It’s more for schooling/fun for us.

See you then!

[QUOTE=Xanthoria;5664761]
My safety vest is black and yellow, so for me there is no “hunter attire-slash-demure” option

That said, for HPs I usually don’t bust out the matching yellow-bound saddle pad, yellow taped boots, yellow/black quartered silk, yellow tee, yellow whip, black/yellow gloves… oh, you get the (garish) idea

I think your plan sounds great. As long as you are wearing a safety vest, and not trying to fry yourself by putting it over a hunt coat!

(See you Saturday!)[/QUOTE]

[Xanthoria]

Yes I’m going! I’m doing the single rider at 400mpm and the fastest hilltopper. Weee!

[wateryglen]

Good grief!

Wateryglen scratches her head…hmmm…never heard of a hunt requiring safety vests & a medical arm band…are you sure it’s not the FACILITY that’s requiring that? Good grief…
Oh I’d wear my new rainbow colored tie died T shirt with my red pants if I was going…I’m such a trend setter! And with all my medical things…I’d need 2 armbands that go to my elbows on both arms…grrrrrr!!! Armbands=sharmbands!!! :winkgrin:

[Fancy_That]

Our Hunter Paces are normally held on XC/Eventing venues/facilities and it’s required to school XC to wear a safety/protective vest and medical armbands.

So - I guess you are right that it’s the facility that requires it, to ride on the XC course.

But that is how it is for most of our HPs around here

[QUOTE=wateryglen;5669035]
Wateryglen scratches her head…hmmm…never heard of a hunt requiring safety vests & a medical arm band…are you sure it’s not the FACILITY that’s requiring that? Good grief…
Oh I’d wear my new rainbow colored tie died T shirt with my red pants if I was going…I’m such a trend setter! And with all my medical things…I’d need 2 armbands that go to my elbows on both arms…grrrrrr!!! Armbands=sharmbands!!! :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

[wateryglen]

and I meant…

And god bless them for allowing the HP’s there too. I totally get how precious open land is to have them. We are spoiled in some parts of the country. I didn’t want to sound snide about that. We gotta make the best of what we have!

[sophie]

It’s probably the facility that requires XC attire for insurance purposes.

Around here (New England) the hunter paces are also held on varied terrain that includes parts of xc courses, and we do jump those fences, but no vest/armband are required. I would hate it if they started to require that, since I hate wearing a vest!
It is very rare that our local Hunter Paces require formal Hunt attire. Pretty much anything goes, as long as you have a helmet and boots with heels.

[Fancy_That]

Yep, I think you are in “Hunt Country”, compared to us (San Francisco Bay Area)

Our Hunt Club does have access to some amazing land, through private ranch owners, so the actual foxhunts are incredible.

But these fun “open to public” Hunter Paces are always held on/at a XC course, thus - the protective vest and medical arm band

Heading out now for the Hunter Pace! Whoo hoo!

[QUOTE=wateryglen;5670705]
And god bless them for allowing the HP’s there too. I totally get how precious open land is to have them. We are spoiled in some parts of the country. I didn’t want to sound snide about that. We gotta make the best of what we have![/QUOTE]

[Drive_NJ]

I know it sounds odd, but as an organizer of carriage drives and HP type things, we encourage non-garish nice, neat and tidy turnout.

The landowners are going to be seeing you cross their place and we encourage you to look like someone they’d want to have back another time.

[Fancy_That]

I agree. I think it’s respectful to be turned out neat and tidy and more traditional

We had a blast today. Had lots of XC Eventers there, and had some folks (only a couple/few) that looked like they were about to go for a Hunt.

but everyone looked great, rode great and had fun, including my sister and I (and Xanthoria - also on COTH

[QUOTE=Drive NJ;5671263]
I know it sounds odd, but as an organizer of carriage drives and HP type things, we encourage non-garish nice, neat and tidy turnout.

The landowners are going to be seeing you cross their place and we encourage you to look like someone they’d want to have back another time.[/QUOTE]

[trinityhill]

Glad you had fun! Our first hunter pace of the season is this weekend! YAY!!! Our farm hunter paces a bunch of times each year, some of which are put on by our local hunt, some put on by other organizations. I require conservative apparel and turnout for all of our riders and horses, polished tall boots, some shade of tan breeches, black polo shirt, showable/huntable helmet, neat and tidy hair, ponies show cleaned, tack cleaned, and our black 1/2 pads with our farm logoed baby pads underneath. (Black has made a fantastic main farm color… it goes with everything and looks great paired with black tall boots and helmets!) Like RideNJ said and I tell our riders who are attending with us… the very generous landowners will be watching, help make them want to invite the hunt back to do it again. Without those landowners, the hunter paces wouldn’t even happen. Show you appreciate it in the few minutes they will be able to see you, just like you would a judge or clinician, by showing up looking like it means enough to you that are taking it seriously enough to prepare yourself and your horse.