Strict Hunt Attire

[DarkBayUnicorn]

@DarkBayUnicorn

Or just do what most of us do and wear really wild socks! No one can see them when you ride,but everyone can see them elsewise! I personally have about 75 pairs of stupid socks.

I have socks with F-bombs (no really!). I have NINJA socks that I wear for big classes. I have Corgi socks in memory of my trainer’s dog. I have swoop socks and paisley socks. Unicorn socks. Sad cat socks. Black Lab socks. Hedgehog socks.

The difference is that i KNOW what socks I am wearing to give me POWER, without causing a judge a coronary.

The Rules are there for a good reason. Uniformity of dress and turnout means the judges concentrate on performance.

Why on Earth would you wish to distract from your horse’s performance?

Buy a GD white fitted pad. They cost $20.

[Sport]

I think at the lower level shows where you will see 4-H kids that can’t afford a hunt coat you will see more tolerance for the unconventional. I am in Canada but I do know at the small schooling shows around here you do see people in a blazer or a button up shirt instead of a proper show shirt and jacket and sometimes you even see them being shared between riders.

I think the further you progress in terms of competitive shows then the dress code becomes more strict and it becomes the small things that impact the overall picture that can make a difference. When the whole class is still working on lead changes, distances, etc then overall picture has less of an impact. When every horse in the class is getting its strides, distances and lead changes and it is quality of jump and overall way of going and picture that is distinguishing the top horses than smaller things matter. I don’t think that means having the most expensive tack or clothes but it does mean horse turnout being impeccable, tack being well fitted and clean, rider being properly turned out in well fitting clothes.

[The_Mild_Equester]

@DarkBayUnicorn

Why on Earth would you wish to distract from your horse’s performance?

Buy a GD white fitted pad. They cost $20.

In my opinion, the color of the pad doesn’t really distract from the horse. When I am schooling with the kids I am never distracted with whatever outrageous color of pad they are wearing, I am instead yelling to stop flapping their arms like chickens. HAHA

I follow show rules to a T and use a white pad, just lament that I can’t use a canary yellow one if I wished.

But as far as socks go, I too wear ridiculous socks, and at my last show it was what made me smile, knowing that beneath my tall black boots were socks covered in rainbow stars.

[rockonxox]

That is your opinion… but, not everyone feels the same. You can use whatever you wish to use, just know that it is likely you’ll be definitely be noticed for it (better be a flawless rider on an amazing horse/pony) or, depending on the situation, excused from competing. When one is in a flat class with 10 other horses and they are the only one with a colorful show pad that certainly does make them stick out.

[Tiramit]

I love the traditional look. It’s elegant and timeless. Plus when everyone looks the same it’s less about fashion and more about the ride (in theory).

Count me as one who wouldn’t like to see flashy colors in the show ring. At home? Bling it up. In the ring, stick to the uniform.

[Redlei44]

I think it’s got a lot to do with one’s personality (some folks just really don’t like being told what to do, whereas others are grateful to have a uniform), and a lot to do with your background (what looks “normal”/“good”/“right”).

I think of it like having to wear business wear to a professional job - of course the job could be done wearing yoga pants, but we wear business casual or business formal because it’s expected in our workplace. Or church - you can listen just as well in jeans, but many people wear their Sunday best because it’s their culture.

[atl_hunter]

@The_Mild_Equester

Hello everyone, I’ve been casually reading COTH forums for a while and finally decided to make an account to join the conversation.

I grew up riding western and when I was competing in speed events at the age of 10-15, I was never required to wear a helmet. Now I accompany my friend’s daughter who is 11 and she is required to wear a helmet in nearly all events, how times have changed! (Not anti-helmet, just giving some background.)

In Western, especially outside showmanship, it’s almost whatever style goes. The temperature can get up to 30+C here so a t-shirt is much nicer than a button down at times. Even in Showmanship in Western, there is so much variety and there aren’t strict rules on colors and such, and you can be as flashy or plain as you want.

I started riding English about a year ago and am now entering the show ring. Nothing high as far as shows go, I actually prefer charity shows where the attire is as formal or casual as you want it to be. I recently went to a show hosted by a local Paint Association where I showed under the AB category as I ride a QH. Even though the AB was a thrown-in category, they were still being sticklers about hunt attire. I read forum upon forum about hunt attire, the history behind it, and why things are the way they are. I basically gathered that the powers-at-be what things plain and uniform as possible so as to not “get in the way of the horse.”

Forgive me for possibly overstepping, but I think it is a bit silly that I can’t wear a colored fitted or square pad in Hunt Under Saddle or Hunt Equitation classes, or any other Hunt classes like Disciplined Rail. There is so much personality in clothing and color choices so I am not sure how my wanting to show in a green or yellow pad is going to be such a distraction that a judge can’t do their job and judge my horse on her gait.

Anyone else feel frustrated or just me?

Not frustrated at all. But then again, I wouldn’t wear tennis shoes to a board meeting. I like to be taken seriously so I choose the attire that is appropriate.

There’s a reason the AQHA HMS WC a few years back won in her monochromatic plain brown outfit and plain basketweave saddle. It was because she was the best. You can challenge convention when you excel at what you do. She chose to show the judge how phenomenal of a rider she was with her simplicity. We do the same in the hunters as it’s a horse show, not a people show or a beauty pageant. The best riders don’t have to use a color to stand out as their performance speaks for itself. I rather love that about the hunter ring.

[findeight]

Nobody wears ratcathers any more. Modern show shirts are still high collar but far more comfortable fabrics and cut and a much wider range of colors.

Its not silly, it’s just the way you are expected to dress to present your horse to a professional judge for National points. A square pad with a Hunt saddle is too big to show off the horses body and can distract from a smooth moving horse and rider with a correct position…and conformation is part of what you are judged on in breed show pleasure and a strong correct rider in Equitation, Why would you want to hide those?

[kirbydog]

OP, it doesn’t matter what you think of the rules; they are what they are. In every sport, there are dress codes that MUST be followed. Don’t like it? Don’t play

[eclipse]

You may find it silly, but you WILL be eliminated! In Canada, and I’ll asume USEF rules will be the same…hunter rules state, saddle pads must be white, saddle shaped and can be sheepskin. As long as the show is using USEF OR Canadian rules, you must fill them too…and just an fyi, around here, even our schoolhorse shows stay true to hunter rules for hunter classes!

[mmeqcenter]

@eclipse

You may find it silly, but you WILL be eliminated! In Canada, and I’ll asume USEF rules will be the same…hunter rules state, saddle pads must be white, saddle shaped and can be sheepskin. As long as the show is using USEF OR Canadian rules, you must fill them too…and just an fyi, around here, even our schoolhorse shows stay true to hunter rules for hunter classes!

I don’t see anything in the USEF rule book that states a saddle pad color or shape requirement.

Related thread:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…d-attire-rules

Technically, if you want to use a yellow or green square pad, you are perfectly allowed to. As long as you don’t mind sticking out like a sore thumb, have at it.

[eclipse]

@mmeqcenter

I don’t see anything in the USEF rule book that states a saddle pad color or shape requirement.

Lol…the one thing we are strict on you’re not! Whodathunkit!!!

[gottagrey]

Well I’m watching the Landrover Kentucky 3DE cross country and guess what - not many outrageous colors… many riders are now opting for the more contoured saddle pad for cross country - many are white or black, not colors, same with riders who are using all purpose pads. But then again this is the Kentucky 3DE.

[merrygoround]

@Willesdon

Ironically, the conservative “strict hunter” attire that is based on foxhunting rules is far more strict in the show ring than in the real foxhunting field, where function is more important than form. People even foxhunt in western gear.

Well actually it depends on the Master. Some are sticklers for tradition, other are more “come as you are”.

[mmeqcenter]

@merrygoround

Well actually it depends on the Master. Some are sticklers for tradition, other are more “come as you are”.

Agreed, definitely depends on the Master.
The hunt I knew in Ohio that an acquaintance was part of was extremely strict. Black coats ONLY, no navy, no other color unless you were the huntsman or had your colors. Not even on guest day, where members could bring a guest to a hunt (once per year). There’s a hunt down here in Florida that I know of, and while they’re not quite as strict as the one in Ohio I knew, they definitely would not allow western gear.

[sherian]

I like my boring conservative kit - looks good on any of my horses, I can use it for years and hopefully people assess my horse and riding and not my colour sense.

[Wanderosa]

@Willesdon

Ironically, the conservative “strict hunter” attire that is based on foxhunting rules is far more strict in the show ring than in the real foxhunting field, where function is more important than form. People even foxhunt in western gear.

I’ve seen some unique get ups on some of the jockies that are schooling young timber horses with one of the hunts that has a rep for being casual. (ratty chinos half tucked into LL Bean duck boots worn with spurs, anyone?) But never any western tack or outfits.

[Highflyer]

This is River Hills, one of the local hunts for me. Definitely depends on the hunt, but many are open to non-traditional riders. That said, show hunters are so focused on appearance and tradition that I don’t think you can take that away without changing the sport completely.

[BeeHoney]

Every equestrian discipline from saddleseat to dressage to fox hunting has a turnout code. I don’t know why you wouldn’t just suck it up and adhere to that as best you can. In life there are a lot of hoops you have to jump through. Having to set your colored pads aside for a hunter show is not a particularly onerous one. Frankly, the conservative traditions of the hunter ring are convenient. If I wanted to, I could pull out tack and clothes from 20 years ago and with a few exceptions use it in the show ring (barring the stuff that is worn out or simply doesn’t fit anymore). Sure, some people might notice that I wasn’t wearing “the latest thing” but the judge would be unlikely to.

FWIW, hunt clubs have a wide variety of attitudes regarding strictness of turnout. Some hunt clubs are ridiculously strict, others are quite lenient. Additionally, the disciplines of show hunters and fox hunters are extremely separate at this point in time. If I went in the show ring in my extremely correct fox hunting attire I doubt I would be overtly penalized, but the judge would surely do a double take and might even have to check the rulebook.

[asterix]

I’m kind of chuckling at the rationale offered for some of these - I really think it’s just tradition, it is pretty far removed from actual fox hunting in so many ways - but I think the dressage folks would be amused to read that a square pad means you can’t appreciate the horse’s body properly.
OP, I feel your pain, but the look seems to be a pretty big part of the discipline. I event, fox hunt, and do dressage, and have somewhat different accessories for each one. If the sartorial demands of hunters seem confining, I can recommend eventing and jumpers!