I have ordered a sandwich case and flat bridle from Bartville Tack in PA. The items could arrive later this week and I’ll post a photo of the sandwich case for you. I liked the one I saw online from Bartville and decided to give it a go.
[QUOTE=J Swan;3016153]
Jaegermonster - I bought mine off a lady on FOL for 150, I think. Had the old sandwich case in it.
New - I’ve not seen them for less than Horse Country prices. Used - I see a lot at the local consignment places. Should I add you to my list of people to shop for?[/QUOTE]
Yes J Swan you should thank you 
and SLW, if you would post pics I would surely appreciate it. The state line one is ok for trail rides and such but I would be embarrassed of it out hunting.
Did you find a website for Bartville? I looked before and could only find an address and phone number when someone mentioned them on that other thread
I’m confused that Bartville would have a website as they are Amish.
But you can request a catalog by calling (717)529-6992 or by writing Bartville Harness Shop 1243 Noble Road Christiana, PA 17509
To talk to someone in person you have to call 8am-8:15am on a Tuesday or Friday. I believe they charge $5 for a catalog, so it might be easiest to just mail them your $ with your mailing address.
The sandwich cases are very nice for the $72 price tag!
I put one in the silent auction at our hunt ball and collected well over the purchase price to help the hounds.
So do you offer to loan them an article of clothing that’s more appropriate, or do you just stand in a huddle and make fun of them?
ummm, no, because I’m from Tennessee. Here, we hunt in whatever’s appropriate for the conditions at the time, which includes, for example, the use of waterproof fabrics if it’s raining - which have the terribly modern side-effect of keeping you dry ! Hurrah ! I would of course offer to lend you my 14.99 wal-mart anorak to go hunting in if you’d like it ? I generally don’t have two of them, actually on me, on the horse, out in the field though. If you did go to Ireland and find yourself remarkably correct and very very soggy, it’d be quite awkward, I think, for me to arrange for it to be sent you from here - but I’d give it a go if it would help. (kind of a strange request, though, to want to borrow someone’s cheap anorak while wearing one worth many times as much just cos you think it looks more ‘proper’ 
)
No thanks, you can stay in TN and continue to feel smug about folks who wear different riding apparel than you. My Melton has never failed me. And gasp - get this. None of the attire I’ve bought has been expensive. Foxhunting does NOT have to be an expensive sport.
[QUOTE=MapleMeadows;3016285]
I’m confused that Bartville would have a website as they are Amish.
But you can request a catalog by calling (717)529-6992 or by writing Bartville Harness Shop 1243 Noble Road Christiana, PA 17509
To talk to someone in person you have to call 8am-8:15am on a Tuesday or Friday. I believe they charge $5 for a catalog, so it might be easiest to just mail them your $ with your mailing address.
The sandwich cases are very nice for the $72 price tag!
I put one in the silent auction at our hunt ball and collected well over the purchase price to help the hounds.[/QUOTE]
I didn’t say they had a website I asked if someone had found one because I was unable to. I did get their phone number etc off of another recent thread. But thank you for the information.
How about that gown? Now we all want pics of the thigh disguising gown!!
(JSwan, I see no evidence of large thighs in the pic you posted and your horsey is adorable, even if his brakes don’t alway work. )
As a non-hunter (hopefully someday) who is a friend of the OP (who does have thin thighs and a small butt) I’ve enjoyed the comments on this thread. In Emily’s defense, re her position, this is not her horse but her employers and it’s a new mount for her.
Em, I loved looking at the slideshow as well as your pics. I loved the same image (#159) that was commented on early in the thread. As a chicken re-rider, I can tell you that my first hunt will NOT be with Cheshire!!:eek:
I want to see the gown, too, JSwan!!!
And you keep saying you are an old fat lady…I wish I looked like you do in that picture! And now you are 20 lbs lighter? Bad, Jessica, bad!!! :lol:
I’ve enjoyed this thread immensely. Like Linny, I would love to hunt sometime, but I’ve got to get more confident in my re-riding first. (Riding a normally quiet OTTB with a burr up her butt the last week or so has been helpful with that! :D)
I also started reading this because while I do not know Emily personally, I always like her posts, am jealous of her life (in an admiring way), and would trade thighs and butts with her any day. Though, I’d look like the female M&Ms character if we did. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
I appreciate you calling me a “Lady”
That sandwich case spent its formative years attached to the saddle of the MFH
at The Radnor & West in Shropshire, several decades ago.
Equibrit - that was YOU? You never told me! Are you joking about “the lady” part - because I really do remember purchasing the case from a nice lady.
Thanks for the info on its previous life. I don’t use the actual case, though I have it and take good care of it. I keep meds and baling twine and whatnot in it. I love old appointments and their stories. It is used and well cared for.
For the rest of you folks that are living vicariously through our posts, please please please please please don’t be afraid to try foxhunting. If I can do it - anyone can. Really and truly. Doesn’t matter if you are a rerider, a fat rider, an old rider, none of it matters.
You CAN do it.
I’m not going to comment on Emily anymore because I’m entirely too jealous of her thighs and that she gallops TB’s. Both of which I’ve always wanted. So I’m going to sit in a corner and have a pity party.
The dress is nothing special. I got it off the Internet and it fit and my husband didn’t make fun of me. Simple black. Can’t screw that up.
I got what I thought was this great dress last week - and I tried it on for him and this is what he said:
"Hey - you look like that lady on that margarine commercial - you know - the one where she’s Mother Nature and takes a bite of bread with margarine and says, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” Then he says all I need to to have is a little bird perch on my finger to complete the look.
So… THAT dress got returned. And I burned his dinner.
It was I.
(brown spur straps too!)
I remember the spur straps - I still use them. I always keep things that have a story.
Alas - I still use the standing martingale. (runs and ducks for cover)
Em you ride just fine. Don’t worry about it. You should know better than to ask questions on this forum, for god’s sake! Go back to the dark side, where we belong!
I too have tried a few hunts this winter and had a wonderful time with Wicomico (www.wicomicohunt.com) and I’ve been working on developing a website for them, too. It’s a small but wonderful group of people who have been very welcoming and would be delighted to have 150 people in square pads, western saddles, bit converters and any color imaginable on the collar of the coat show up to hunt! The big picture, folks, the big picture!
[QUOTE=retreadeventer;3018442]
It’s a small but wonderful group of people who have been very welcoming and would be delighted to have 150 people in square pads, western saddles, bit converters and any color imaginable on the collar of the coat show up to hunt! The big picture, folks, the big picture![/QUOTE]
Hey, go for it! Such a great group of people surely wouldn’t care one wit what you wore - so take a western saddle, square pad, converter and hey, try a sequin collar, yeah! I could sure dig that look! and why even bother with riding breeches etc, just go in jeans, DIRTY ONES, and a cowboy hat!
You would make a wonderful “big picture” dressed like that, and BE SURE to let us know how it goes! 
Oh Tantivy, how you almost made me spit hot coffee on my computer. I’m a bit under the weather, but still at work, and in my “slow mental state” (as my b/f kindly reminds me) I didn’t get the sarcasm until the very end. I was thinking, “Wow! Tantivy has fallen off her rocker!”
Sheesh! You guys can sure be nasty. I can only think you have no idea what you sound like as you respond with horror to t-shirts, western saddles, square pads, etc…
I started reading this thread because of the OP and then kept reading because I couldn’t believe so much could negative junk could be said about turnout!
I hope those who are thinking about hunting know that only a few people in the hunting world make such harsh judgements on turnout. Hunting is about the hounds, the land, the fox, horses, excitement, magic, laughter… and port!
What an odd statement. Foxhunters are every bit as welcoming and friendly as eventers - I’ve evented, too. And lots of folks on this forum event. Why should she know better than to ask questions? When I have a question on eventing rules, I go to the eventing forum and ask. I’ve had questions about racing - I’d not post them in the dressage forum.
Of course the OP is a terrific rider. She asked about her turnout - and folks gave their opinions based upon what is customary for their clubs. We also expressed concern about one photo. But it soon became apparent that photo was not representative of her riding.
Some of the folks that have responded to her are among the best and well known foxhunters in the US. They’ve hunted for many years, all over the US and overseas. (I’m not among them).
I’d think you’d consider that before posting. In the end, every hunt is a private club and whatever their Master(s) decide is appropriate turnout is acceptable.
In other hunts - it’s just different. I happen to think it’s better to be more formal, and I appreciate the traditions and history behind the sport. I also care more about the hounds and hunting than I do turnout.
But that would also be true of dressage; I don’t appreciate seeing top hats and shadbelly’s at the lower levels. In eventing, I don’t care for the excesses in xc turnout. In hunters - well - I could write a book. In every sport, being neat and tidy and well turned out is customary, to enter the ring; looking slovenly is disrespectful. Why should foxhunting be excepted? We’re in the public eye too. Even more so. Not everyone likes the fact that Americans have taken casual attire to the extreme.
When a person’s clothing becomes MORE important than their riding - yes - that’s a problem. And honestly - it’s more of a problem in other sports than hunting. Because if you can’t ride in the hunt field- you’re going to be in big trouble. In other sports, there’s an ambulance available.
If a person wants to start hunting, and posts questions in this forum, they’ll be inundated with posts from people offering suggestions on how to get started. I’ve never read ONE that was anything less than helpful, kind, and offered tips on where to get discount or inexpensive clothing. Most people even go so far to say not to worry - just show up neat and tidy with a big smile.
For the folks that love to collect old appointments, or enjoy being a little old-fashioned - heck - don’t read so much into it.
The OP asked if her turnout was ok. If she didn’t want feedback, I think it’s safe to say she would not have asked the question. She sounds like a really fun person to ride with and I hope to get the chance to someday. And I’m sure she’ll look just fine.
[QUOTE=SEPowell;3020505]
#1 You guys can sure be nasty. I can only think you have no idea what you sound like as you respond with horror to t-shirts, western saddles, square pads, etc…
#2 I couldn’t believe so much could negative junk could be said about turnout!
#3 I hope those who are thinking about hunting know that only a few people in the hunting world make such harsh judgements on turnout. [/QUOTE]
Please help me! PLEASE!
#1: Where was anyone truly “nasty”?
#2: Where is the “negative junk”?
#3: What are the “harsh judgments”?
Would you please and I am truly sincere, list the answers to the 3 questions above so I can go back and reread the posts I must have missed!
Thank you so much in advance! and I look forward to reading your reply.
PS If you think my reply/tone in post #155 was “nasty”, may I inquire of you:
1: Did my smiley icon on the end not show upon your pc?
2: Did you not detect the dry wit in the post (Steelerider referred to it as scarcasm, but I feel scarcasm is much stronger; dry wit is a form of HUMOR;)
3: if you think that was nasty, sheesh, you ain’t seen nuth’in!
OK now I see I should step back in again and shed a little humor around…
Retread is a devoted full time fieldhunter and eventer and definitely a great friend. She was defending me from the “bullies” and all she was trying to do was guard me. (I think)
I am absolutely looking forward to hunting with you J Swan… Call in your invite and come north, or pick a saturday and I’ll come South!!!
I have to admit, looking over this thread makes me wonder a bit if a “relaxed” discipline like hunting really is relaxed??? Sure some hunts are in the spirits that SEPowell described where they enjoy the riding and don’t worry as much about the turnout. And sure our hunting peers from England make a great point that some of our “Stick to traditions” is likely to be a bit outdated.
I think it’s pretty cool/funny (in a good way) how folks who I thought would be laughing from the sidelines as the eventers school dressage 18 million times a month; the hunters practice lead chages thousands of times a week; and the DQ’s just go do their DQ thing over and over. In essence I know what it takes to leg up a horse to hunt, and it’s not that big of a deal. Riding to be fit is important, but without ribbons, entry fees, trainers and all the extraneous hoopla I somehow worked it up in my mind that foxhunters were the lucky ones who didn’t have to worry about the extra polish the night before, whether that one “dicey” braid would hold in front of the judge, or whether the weather would kill off any chance for decent footing on course.
I see now that I have totally misconstrued the hunters of today. The melton’s must be fit a certain way, the stocks should be crisp, the pads should be fitted, and the nosebands absolutely must be flat!! And honestly I am surprised.
I guess I come from the same schools of thought as SePowell. I enjoy hunting, I appreciate the traditions and turnout standards, but when we’re cooking along listening to the hounds in full cry and I get a glorious glimpse of the fox not 100 yds from a point of 3 Penn Marydel noses… I honestly couldn’t tell you who made my coat, what brand of breeches are covering my ass, or whether or not my horse has boots on. I just lose myself into the moment.
I know the same holds true when I am out on XC and I manage to clear the one fence I have built up in my mind to potentially be a “Problem.” Once I am over, well all the color comes back and my smile is as wide and open and my lovely horse’s stride.
And I guess that’s ok. That is meant to be the true spirit of all horsesports anyway.
~Emily
I think we’re all on the same page. We’re just expressing it different ways. Even you wanted to know how you looked. I’ve seen some photos of myself and thought - geez hon - think you can get that coat tailored a little? Had the photo been of me on sj - I would have said the same thing.
The most important thing is the hounds. Unfortunately, too many of us can’t talk about hunting because we get AR trolls poking their noses in, or just AR nuts in general. I just got an email from one of them last week. (a local groups of nut cases) And often, they get their information about hunting from BB’s. So - some of us remain silent. (or try to remain silent)
I consider “attire” just the uniform for hunting. I wore a uniform in the Army, I wore a “uniform” for dressage and eventing, and I wear one for foxhunting. Clean, neat and tidy and conforms to the rules of the sport/activity.
Then I get on and try and stay on the darn horse. We all come back filthy anyway.
Unless Charlie expresses his disgust as being chased by a fat chick wearing a Wal-Mart turtleneck and discount breeches - I’m not going to worry about it too much. 
