I’m not sure, but I think it’s supposed to be white string gloves for the spare pair under the off billets.
As an after thought, many hunts have sections on their websites about attire and kit–sometimes even specifically related to cappers. It might be worth the effort to do some googling.
FWIW, the only thing in your list above that made me think “hmmm…that might raise an eyebrow” with my masters were the silver buttons.
We often have guests come out the first time in show attire. If you love hunting enough to continue to come, attire seems to fix itself-but we are notoriously easy to get along with.
As 2nd flight fieldmaster, I’m more concerned that the guest in my field understands to look out for hounds, how the field will reverse, how to relay calls, that sort of thing. I want to know how comfortable they are trotting down hill, galloping in open fields in a group, and crossing water. I care a lot more about you crossing a creek than what color your buttons are!
Be clean, be on time, turn off your phone, don’t smoke or wear perfume or cologne, don’t talk at the checks. If you have a question, ask quietly, smile and laugh a lot, have a good time and come back. Easy peasy.
Libby, you have gotten some great advice here.
Personally I don’t think you should worry about the silver buttons on your jacket. I think that covering them with electrical tape would look odd. Wear your field boots, not some stiff set of dressage boots. Have your horse groomed immaculately, tail combed out, coat clipped/trimmed and glossy; tack spotless; and try to keep all other aspects of your turnout as clean, plain and traditional as possible. Have your hair perfectly tucked in a hairnet and don’t wear jewelry.
As far as your junior companion, clean, matching paddock boots and half chaps are perfectly acceptable. I would not obsess over the color of her stock tie. A correctly tied white stock tie with a navy blue jacket should be fine. Clothes should be comfortable, appropriate to the weather, and well-fitted. She should pay particular attention to having her hair neatly tucked up in a hairnet and keeping all details of her turnout spotlessly clean and understated.
I can’t overstate what a big difference little details make, like a perfectly neat hairnet, no little bits of bling, no colored crop, a nice fitted saddle pad, properly fitted tack, no weird tack or accessories, etc.
Lastly, please do not let anyone make you (or your junior rider) feel badly that you haven’t spent thousands of dollars on brand new hunting clothes, tack and accessories for your first few hunts. That is just absurd. Most of us enjoy riding with a nicely turned out field, but you know, there’s also a little thing called “reality,” a principle which dictates that you might gradually acquire proper clothing and gear after fully deciding to commit to a sport in order to avoid financial ruin.
There are some people who get a weird pleasure out of criticising other people’s turnout. Don’t be fooled by it and let it intimidate you, it’s really just basic rudeness, a problem which unfortunately seems to infiltrate many human activities. Truly “proper” foxhunters have gracious manners and generously welcome people who are genuinely interested in the sport, most especially if they have a decently behaved horse and are decent riders. Even MORE especially if they have made an effort to learn some basic etiquette such as not riding up on the horse in front of them and knowing to get out of the way of staff, hounds, etc. Proper foxhunters know that a little bit of patience is in order–newcomers to the sport, once bitten by the bug, will naturally begin to acquire proper clothing and equipment, and that is the appropriate time to offer friendly suggestions.
IMO, criticising the turnout of a junior rider on their first few hunts is disgraceful. I have seen more than one enthusiastic young person lose interest after being made to feel out of place by a comment about their turnout. I’ve also seen more than one young person gain a lifelong love of the sport while wearing incorrect attire.
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8989407]
Does the crust have to be cut off ?[/QUOTE]
I think just for the under-fives. Five and up, you should have your crusts cut off only if you wear pink bows on your braids! :winkgrin:
No seriously, I thought for things like appointment classes and for some strict hunts, you had to cut the crust off?
You can just take a black marker or nail polish to those silver coat buttons!
Yes a “proper” sandwich would have crusts removed and NO mayo, only butter.
And a lady would have port in her flask.
What would be the correct thing to put in a flask for people that don’t drink?
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8991601]
No seriously, I thought for things like appointment classes and for some strict hunts, you had to cut the crust off?[/QUOTE]
There is an interesting thread about all this here:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?485828-Question-About-Hunting-Appointments
And being serious now –
I thought there was something about chicken sandwiches for women, ham for men?
As to what to put in a nondrinker’s flask, I guess water would be appropriate? But I think that also the alcoholic beverages were supposed to be not only warming, but restorative in case someone fainted or was injured. Thus the port/brandy/whisky custom? Like wearing a real stock tie that could serve as a bandage or sling if needed, with a practical pin to fasten it in this use.
Which is why, as Libby says, correct attire is very important. It’s not just for looks.
Not sure the custom for actual hunting, but we do have an Appointments class in sidesaddle, and our options for the flask under the rules are sherry or tea. I’ve just used iced tea.
Sandwiches for us have to be white bread, white meat, cut on the diagonal, crust removed, and wrapped in wax paper.
I know the USEF rules depart a bit from actual hunting custom, but that’s what is in the books as “appointments” turnout for what I believe is the last remaining appointments class.
LOL, this thread has diverged a bit from the things I’ll be worrying about tomorrow! Love all the info though! Maybe next winter I’ll be packing the perfect sandwich and filling a flask appropriately. 
My young horse is such a rock star and I think he would enjoy it.
T minus 13 hours and I’m so excited!!! I ended up covering the buttons with black tape and it looks okay. I decided not to swap the buttons out because I’m not even sure the coat is the ideal cut and weight for hunting, so if not I might just try to sell it on consignment since I don’t use it anymore.
I also practiced tucking my very long, thick hair under my helmet and with a hair net it might actually stay. No pink ribbons for me!
I found a used tattersall stock tie for $15 at the local tack shop so I’ll take that plus an extra white one for my niece and let someone at the hunt tell us what is best.
Yes, I will definitely try to get pictures. Since they put pics on their Facebook page someone might be there taking some, but I’m hoping it would be okay if I put my phone in my coat pocket too just in case (on silent, of course).
So excited!!! Thank you all for all the advice!! Happy New Year everyone!!
The RWR hairnets are seriously the best thing ever for thick hair. It lets you smoosh your hair out a bit more around your head and leave a bit of netted hair bumped out at at the nape so as to not make your helmet so tight!
I second that the RWR hairnets are awesome for fitting hair comfortably under a helmet.
I went to Sally’s beauty supply and bought two “open top wig hair nets” for around $2 each. They only had black, but with a black helmet, I found that they were not noticeable. The extra bonus, besides being WAY cheaper is that they hold their shape a bit better.
You and your horse are going to have a wonderful time! (And hopefully you are going to post some pics for us to see. :))
Just so your rock star doesn’t show up in dreadlocks with his jeans out at the knees and his ears pierced, you two should be fine. A hairy bare chest will be permissible for him just as long as only his lip (if that) is tattooed. 
LOL, RPM! My rock star is only 3 so he will not be hunting yet this season. I’ll keep that in mind though. 
We had a wonderful time today!! Everybody was very welcoming and I think I cared about our turnout about 1,000 times more than anyone else did, though we did manage to look decent. Our horses were top-notch and very seasoned–a couple of newbies couldn’t have asked for nicer mounts. I don’t think it was a particularly “sporting” day by the members’ standards, but my niece and I thought it was super fun. We did get to do some jumping and some fast canters over hill and dale.
As promised, here are some pics (I’m not in any of them though because I was the photographer, so you will just have to imagine my taped-over buttons and hair-stuffed helmet :D):
https://libby2563.shutterfly.com/pictures/95
https://libby2563.shutterfly.com/pictures/96
https://libby2563.shutterfly.com/pictures/97
https://libby2563.shutterfly.com/pictures/98
Thanks again everyone for the good advice and encouragement!
Fabulous! I hope you and your niece return for many more days of hunting!
Looks like so much fun! I’m glad you and your niece had a great time.
One more photo! This one has me in it, though you still can’t tell that the buttons are taped-over. :winkgrin: I’m in the middle, my niece is on the right. So glad someone else was taking pics!
https://libby2563.shutterfly.com/pictures/100
My host connected me with one of the joint Masters at the hunt closest to me (I see them on our road sometimes). There’s a chance I might be able to go out with them this season, and possibly even lease a horse.
I’m not really sure how much time and money I can commit since I have some showing goals this year, but I’m curious to find out more. This hunt does offer a month of free cubbing in the fall and a six-cap package that is reasonably priced. I suppose that could be a low-cost/commitment way to wade in?
