Pre-tied stock tie, pins, and buttons

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Hi fox hunters! My dad started hunting this season and is in love with the sport. He got a flask for his birth day, and in addition to other gifts, I’m getting some little things for christmas. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know!

Are there any good (AKA fox hunting appropriate) pre tied stock ties? My wonderful, brilliant, talented dad can’t tie a stock tie to save his life. He gets the job done, but it looks like a 3 year old did it. I’m an eventer (where nobody cares if you buy pre-tied), so is a a pre-tied stock tie even appropriate for fox hunting? Any recommendations?

Second question- can he wear a ‘fancy’ stock tie pin, or is plain the only acceptable option? I’d like to get him a nicer pin, as he’s bent the one I lent him into all sorts of weird shapes. I can get a plain one, but I know he’d love something a little fancier if it’s allowed. No bling, but I was thinking something like this (in gold) or this with his initials.

Last question. My dad really likes the brass buttons on people’s hunt coats. I’d like to get him some nicer buttons to sew on his coat, but I don’t know the etiquette for that. Are there any limitations on what’s acceptable, and can anyone get brass buttons or is that a colors thing? Would a brass fox head be appropriate?

Thanks!

[jawa]

No to the brass buttons, those are part of earning your colors.

Plan stock pins are the most acceptable. You can get small kilt pins. They are heavier duty than the pins sold in tack shops. One hint for making them glide through the stock fabric, rub them along your scalp. The oils from your scalp will make it go through the fabric easier.

Tieing a stock is not that hard, it is a pretty simple knot. If the stock is long enough you don’t need to pin it with anything more than a regular pin.

As far as a gift…maybe a flask, and or something to fill his flask.
…a neat foxhunting related tie for cubbing.
…a true hunting crop, whether it is a knob end or antler end.
…a gift certificate to a nice foxhunting tack shop.
…maybe his hunt has photographers out to different meets and you could buy a photo of him and have it framed.

[tangledweb]

I think he will learn to tie a proper stock tie fairly quickly, unless he enjoys the attention getting it tied for him. Pretied ones will always look fake. It would be like going to an office job in a clip on tie.

The most traditional stock pin for a man would be a plain 3" one. Fancier ones are not uncommon, but like most jewellery I think you see them mostly on women.

Definitely no brass buttons. Brass buttons on a scarlet coat implies he has colors. Brass buttons on a black coat imply he’s a master or former master.

Maybe themed accessories to wear off a horse at social functions would give you more scope? Fox or hound ties, tie pins, cuff links?

[trabern]

Please get him a regular long stock tie and any sturdy pin, because they really have a use. This past weekend I had a fall in the field & shattered both bones in a wrist. It took a calm resourceful field, three stock ties, and a riding crop to stabilize it enough for me to ride back to civilization ( in NM, that was a long way). When they tell you tradition says it can be useful in the field, it’s not just tradition talking! When I finally got to ER, they brought student EMTs in to see the tie/crop splint. So effective. I could not have ridden down & out without it.

Help him learn to “fluff” some structure into it once tied. He’ll look great, and look like a hero in the making.

[yellowbritches]

The others have answered the majority of questions, so for other ideas, how about some light weight but warm base layers and socks (if he’s hunting in a colder area)? Look for things that are technical- wick sweat and may help regulate his temp. Books on the sport might be nice. There are some beautiful ones out there as well as some very informative ones. A hunt whip might be nice, although pricier. you can also buy him a couple of spare stocks and pins, as these are things that tend to walk off. But, please, no pre-ties!

[McGurk]

Do NOT get a gold stock pin, they are worse than useless. Gold is too soft a metal for the job, as it bends and mashes up as you try to push it through layers of cloth.

In Rita Mae Brown’s Sister Jane Arnold fox hunting series, Sister Jane has a cherished titanium stock pin - I always thought that sounded like a great idea, but I have no idea where you’d get one. I used the brass kilt pins, and always bought them in multiples as they tend to go astray.

A stock tie is just a square knot with the ends turned over and pinned, anyone who can tie a necktie can certainly learn to tie a stock. I’ve never seen a decent looking pre-tied one. Do consider getting him a bib stock, they can still be used as a bandage, but the bib covers whatever you’re wearing under your coat so can be very useful and cover a multitude of sins.

(Yes, I have used a stock and pin as a bandage for both humans and equines.)

For gifts, consider a sandwich case or pair of wire cutters that attach to the saddle, a good riding raincoat if he doesn’t already have one, a wardrobe of gloves, including a white string pair for under the billets in case of rain, silk boot socks, a foxhunting themed belt for his breeches, or a canary vest.

A hunting crop is a wonderful idea, but he should not have a thing or lash on it until he has his colors or has spent a lot of time in the kennels or walking and roading hounds.

How wonderful that he is hunting and enjoying it!

[WNT]

If he wants a pin with a touch of bling, there are straight pins that have a twisted front. It was how I figured out to have a fancy pin for Pony Club while still being in the rules

Extra pins, they always get lost; ditto a canary vest and technical base layers. Does he have nice warm hunting gloves? SSG makes a sturdy deerskin glove in an acorn brown with Thinsulate lining that foxhunters that frequent the store I work in can’t get enough of.

[tangledweb]

If you are somewhere cold, winter hunting stuff is always a good gift.
Lined leather gloves eg http://www.doversaddlery.com/SSG--Lined-Trail-Gloves/p/X1-3967/eid=X18A00U1005/?utm_source=shopz&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchantAdv&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=125&zmap=0003967219998X1-3967

Although dover only has up to a size 8 which would be a men’s small.

Related, if you are male you probably can’t drop down the local tack store and choose breeches in a range of sizes and weights. Silk thermals that will let you wear the same breeches all year are a good thing.

The best wire cutters you can get are Knipex mini bolt cutters
http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-7101200-8-Inch-Action-Mini-Bolt/dp/B000SOSC4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417116385&sr=8-1&keywords=knipex+mini+bolt+cutters
Find a leather case to carry them in

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Thanks for the hep everyone! I’m glad I asked! I will have to rethink his gifts, maybe some nice fox hunting bourbon glasses.

I would love to get him some nice technical winter under layers, but he insists on wearing 10 layers of wool instead. Some nice winter gloves are a great idea, he goes through them quickly. Fox hunting books would be good too he loves those.

[Foxglove]

Consider a four fold stock tie instead of the more commonly seen American shaped stock tie. The knot is easier, and the stock tie is more useful as a bandage as it is uniform in size. Third, it is simple to make if you are so inclined.

http://www.bosleyapparel.com/pdfs/The%20Stock%20Tie.pdf

Foxglove

[PonyTales]

Hand and toe warmers ?

Gift subscription to magazine www.foxhuntinglife.com.

Or

something from www.huntingmad.co.uk

Or

Fox hunting ringtone

Or

a nice saddle or bridle case www.horsetackinternational.com

Other things that might be useful:

Boot protectors/rubber slip covers for over riding boots
Extra pair of stirrup grip pads
Horse hoof protector EZ boot/in case of lost shoe
Wool or waterproof poncho to cover the horse as well as rider
Extra set/ of strong nylon lined stirrup leathers
Strong Breastplate
ArmorAll Underwear
Extra spur straps
Really nice professional hole puncher
Boot pulls/jack/boot care kit
Wooden boot shapers
Basic blacksmith tools/shoe puller, rasp, hoof knife
Wooden foldable mounting block
Horse/Rider First Aid kit
Rope Hay net or hay bag
Cooler/clamps/extra blanket straps

• In lieu of brass buttons on his hunt coat - perhaps he would fancy brass buckled spur straps, brass bit or brass spur & I have no idea for etiquette in brass department ?

[NYfieldhunter]

Totally agree with other posters! NO to brass buttons! That is a “colors” thing. YES to plain stock pins. They are most appropriate especially during the formal season. Try to find him one with a steel shank. They are stronger and easier to get through the fabric. Also, NO to the pre-tied stocks. There are all sorts of diagrams and tutorials on how to tie a stock tie. With some practice, dad will pick it up soon enough. Also, the stock tie is one of the most practical pieces of equipment. Many a stock tie has been used on wounded horses and riders over the years.

[KateDB]

Definitely YES to a proper hunting tie. It took four of them for me to make an adequate “tourniquet” for my horse when we were miles from roads. Thankfully everyone was generous in offering theirs, knowing they were probably not going to be salvageable.

[BCGirl]

All wonderful suggestions so far! I may have to direct Santa Claus over to this thread for some ideas…

Foxglove, I love that you linked the stock tie/attire article from Patricia Bosley because custom attire (especially from her!!!) is another suggestion I could add.

I had a tweed made by her this fall and I could not be happier. It is beyond beautiful and she has been great about little alterations and such. Just something to keep in mind, maybe for the future! Her site is http://www.bosleyapparel.com/riding.shtml

I know it wouldn’t be finished in time for this year, but her work really is fabulous!

You can’t go wrong with any of these ideas though, I know I would be happy to get any of them!