I am looking into getting my first show coat for hunter jumping. The one I used before was borrowed. While I was looking into one (which should fit perfectly, so I plan on buying it as of now) I noticed a review on it which confused me. They said they loved the coat, but " If I did the jumpers I’d buy it again in a heart beat, but I do hunters." Which now makes me wonder, is there a difference between hunter and normal jumping coats that I should know about? Thanks!
Short answer is yes. Hunter attire is quite conservative - 3 button black or navy jacket, tan breeches, white shirt, black gloves, helmet and boots. In some areas, you can get away with a French blue, brown, hunter green or gray coat. If you are only buying one coat, I would buy navy or black. In jumpers you can have all kinds of fun with colors, etc. No fun allowed in Hunters. You can have different colored collar linings for your white shirt
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Agree with @Bunker. Also, hunter coats are typically one color, whereas coats more appropriate for the jumper ring may have contrasting piping, collars, or pocket flaps.
Since hunters are about the horse, not you, you want to keep the judge’s eye on the horse - and avoid attire that calls attention to you. That’s the reason hunter attire is more conservative than jumper attire.
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@snaffle635 and @Bunker, this is the coat.
My concerns were (a) zipper pockets (b) 4 buttons. Would those make a difference? If not, I’m really leaning towards this. Thanks a bunch for the info!! 
I think that particular coat should be fine since the zipper pocket blends in pretty well. It’s a tad unconventional but probably won’t be noticed.
I disagree. Hunter coats should have 3 buttons, not 4. The zipper pockets are also not traditional. You may be okay at a schooling show, but my opinion has always been to invest in the right attire from the beginning. It’s more affordable in the long run to have the correct coat now than to have to buy another one later.
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The coat the OP linked is also short. OP, jumper riders tend to wear short coats, but hunter riders wear coats of a more traditional length. That coat screams “jumper ring” to me. If you want a coat that is specifically for the hunter ring, get a navy or black three-button traditional coat. Within those parameters there are plenty of choices with different fabrics and price points.
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Has anyone read the article in the latest PH about judging hunters? Patrick Rodes mentions “even small details can influence a judge’s opinion” and then goes on to mention he likes traditional clothing, doesn’t care for the new shorter jackets, breeches with logos, no sparkles and prefers navy or dark green jackets, no loud colors or piping. I would not buy a jacket with zippered pockets, 4 buttons and the shorter length to show hunters.
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Four buttons are fine, as long as they aren’t silver/brass and the cut is appropriate for your body. I have only 4 button coats now, because they are much more flattering on me. They are not the short Animo type coats, they are Grand Prix and cut extremely traditionally. Three button coats tend to flare around my hips and therefore look shorter than they actually are.
Yes, bright piping and other flashy bits are not necessarily hunter appropriate, but four buttons absolutely are, and are seen at the top levels of sport, because they’re simply more flattering for some people. Anyone saying otherwise is only thinking about the short, jumper style coats and not the classical cut ones that simply have an extra button.
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This is currently my favorite show coat for the hunters. Very traditional styling and length (not jumpery short) AND it’s stretchy technical fabric.
While that’s a pretty coat, I’m not seeing a lot of wool window-pane coats lately, at least not where I’ve been showing. (Mainly A circuit in the Midwest). If the OP wants something that will be comfortable in a variety of temperatures I’d recommend a technical fabric.
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I have that EXACT coat, and I definitely paid way more then that price.What a STEAL!
http://hunkyhanoverian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/wacoshow4.jpg
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I’m wearing a 4 buttoned jacket with gasp zipper pockets and gasp, white stitching in these pictures…different large gold shows, One judge from Florida, Other judge Canadian… I won both classes! I’ve also won with my navy with burgundy collar. A zip pocket or 4 buttons is not going to take a winning round away but a bright orange jacket wouldn’t sit well, lol, just make sure it fits well and the jacket colour isn’t “loud”.
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The hunters’ showing attire is a lot more restricted than jumpers. The “classic hunter” coat, would be navy or black (or hunter green), with 3 buttons (4 buttons are alright though), and nothing that sticks out on it.
Thanks a lot everybody!! After what a lot of you had to say, I decided to go with an R.J. Classics coat; it has the tradition three button, long hunter look.
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