My SO is beginning to hunt and he’s a Lt Col in the US Army. He really really wants to hunt in his uniform. He has the proper Army Cavalry attire etc.
How well received would this be in most Hunts on the East Coast? I know in Ft Riley it’s pretty common right? The cavalry is from there afterall… but what about in VA or NC for example??
Some might take offense and others might not care. It really depends on how hardcore they are. I know some people who compete in their dress uniforms. I think it would be cool.
Can’t aswer for here in the US.
But in UK and Ireland military dress is always acceptable in the hunting field,totally correct :yes:
and drooled over by the ladies.
I guess each hunt would view it differently. Check with your MFH. I don’t think it would go over too well here…but I really don’t know. It is just my hunch.
Military dress is perfectly appropriate attire in the hunt field.
Your thinking of Fort Leavenworth. Riley is an Army base and has a mounted Color Guard. I’ve seen them several times over the years, wonderful and so inspirational!
When I had a membership w/ the wonderful Fort Leavenworth Hunt, military uniform was always correct. I’d bet the farm it still is. 
Yes, it still is, always has been, and always will be.
Any hunt that wouldn’t permit a servicemember to hunt in his/her service specific uniform should be ashamed of themselves.
And that’s all I got to say about that. 
Ft Riley was the site of the US Army Cavalry School.
I soo agree with you.
I cannot believe it would not be totally acceptable here.:rolleyes:
from hunt field to hunt ball
formal military is universaly proper.
even the hunt ball
http://hoofpics.exposuremanager.com/p/bh_hunt_ball_07_candid/bh-hb-07-c_21212
If I were your SO and the MFH or hunt secretary told me the uniform of an American military officer was not acceptable attire, I would not modify my dress to suit them; I’d hunt somewhere else. The hunt is honored if he rides with them, and refusing permission to hunt in uniform would be an insult to the men and women who are defending this country. But I imagine he’ll be warmly welcomed.
Personally I think seeing an officer in uniform would be way cool. What does the SO do about breeches? What branch of the service is he in?
Please thank him for his service to our country.
And I would say, in addition, any hunt whose leadership is so uninformed as to NOT know that hunting in uniform is absolutely, positively, always correct needs to get their leaders educated in a hurry, or get new leadership! Don’t even bother to ask permission, it is as unnecessary as asking whether you should wear a black melton with buff or canary breeches on a formal day.
The sticky wicket might be if a hunt ‘requires’ ASTM headgear- I don’t know of any offhand that go beyone ‘strongly recommended’ on that front- but it must be remembered that the uniform includes the proper lid for that attire, no ifs, ands, or buts.
(Used to bug the heck out of me that I couldn’t walk ‘outside’ back to my office after lunch, had to use the underground tunnel instead, because my colleague the Lt Col didn’t have his lid and did not want to be out of uniform for even 5 seconds).
As stated by others, Yes, the military calvary uniform (jacket, breeches, shirt, matching tie, belt, boots, cap (or whatever it is called, not a helmet)) is universally correct attire to be worn during formal hunting and/or formal showing.
Anyone who would look askance at such attire when worn properly should be ashamed.
Just a question, does the current-day military riding uniform have flared breeches like it did for so many years? Or has the military done away with those nowadays? (I haven’t seen hubby’s uniform (ret. Lt. Col.) so am not sure)
As an aside I don’t know if anyone has a copy of the Disney movie “The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit”, but there are some great scenes of a rider from South America wearing his (very proper and correct) military uniform in the WIHS parts.
Yeah, and gee I’m feeling old, but saw the d’Inzeo brothers compete too!
http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/halloffame/d/n214044654.shtml
And Col Russell. http://www.showjumpinghalloffame.net/inductees/j_russell.shtml
And Pierre Jonqueres d’Oriola. Can’t find pics on the web handy for him! And the Swiss rider whose name escapes me just now. Recently came across his picture from Lucerne 1973 somewhere in my study!
So, brief examples, who would NOT want a guy in a uniform running and jumping in the hunt field with them!
Thanks, J Swan. You rock!
The fact this soldier wishes to ride in uniform also says a LOT about him. It’s safe to say he’s a standup man who is proud of his service. Those are the best officers to serve under :yes: Not to mention he’s a horse person. I like him even more!!
But, yes, he should be well welcomed in any hunt wearing an appropriate dress uniform.
Beverly, I actually rode with Col. Russell for a bit when I was stationed at Lackland about 10 years ago…he’s a lovely guy. And, you live in my home town…small world! Though it’s not the same town it used to be and I get lost easily now when I visit my parents (trust me…I remember when South Towne was an alfalfa field. Where Jordan High School is now was the field my first horses were boarded in…I used to ride from there to Lynnleigh!)
These days, the officer would probably wear dress blues (not the mess one, but the one that looks like a regular jacket) and black boots. Fort Leavenworth is the only remaining military hunt, and it’s rare to see an officer in uniform, but does happen now and again. I have seen soldiers in uniform hunting at both FLH and Artillery over the years, and the color guard from Riley did hunt in uniform at an FLH opening hunt several years ago.
One problem is that I’ve never seen anyone wear a helmet with dress uniform, it’s always a service cap.
I’ve seen one guy show up in a historic cavalry uniform, more a reinactment outfit and not true military dress. That probably wouldn’t be acceptable most places.
Traditionally, proper military uniform is always acceptable (it used to be a requirement for calvalry officers to either hunt, play polo, or event). But as far as your particular hunt is concerned, there is no point in speculating, ask your MFH.
P.S. There is a uniform place in downtown Leavenworth that will, I think, make riding pants for the dress blues uniform.
http://www.marlowwhite.com/
400 Seneca St
Leavenworth, KS 66048
All I can say is that I would definatly swoon.
[QUOTE=Badger;3073139]
These days, the officer would probably wear dress blues (not the mess one, but the one that looks like a regular jacket) and black boots.
a friend of mine rides on occasion with military style clothing complete with some nifty WWI era breeches made for him…the Masters were as aI understand happy to have him…as he is a LT Cmdr RET navy and his wife USN ret Cmdr…so they kinda earned it;)
For what we have to spend on his uniforms (especially dress blues) it would be great to have them get more wear -riding, hunting, mowing the grass;). For years it seemed like all I did was “dust” them off for him once or twice a year, plus he just looks so handsome in them.
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