I’ve thought about this for a couple of days and will now jump in! Like the OP, I love the traditional look and turnout and strive to achieve it myself with my hunter every single hunt regardless of weather. I assume others are trying too, but if there is a misstep by another member, I assume it is due to the “other” saddle pad being in the wash and forgotten; or the correct gloves being left in the stable forcing one to wear the incorrect gloves. In other words, I notice but I don’t say anything and I don’t let it bother me (ok, the rider who wore the rainbow snood bothered me, but I tried not to look at it).
However, there is a member who has set herself up as the Queen of Turnout and I might point out that while I think that is a good thing, it would be a lot better if she herself were turned out properly. She speaks to members and guests who are not turned out correctly, while she herself is not. She actually tried to tell me I was turned out incorrectly ONCE. I wear a four-fold stock tie, correctly tied. She actually offered me one of her stock ties the “American” version that one piece slips through the back --not what I use. When I first rode out, she said, “You’ll want a stock tie if you keep hunting with us.” I told her I had one, and when she said why don’t you wear it, I pointed out that I was wearing it. I didn’t tell her the type of stock tie she offered and wore herself was suitable for grooms and juniors, but generally not seen on the adult members where I hunted previously. She never brought up the subject again, and now, about half the membership has made the change to four fold stock ties.
She wears field boots, no hair net, and uses a square colored pad --if one is going to admonish others, one should set an example first.
I must say that our staff is always turned out perfectly!
We hunt in Michigan, so once the Blessing of the Hounds has happened (Oct.) as a group we change to the winter riding boots --Rimfrost is the one most people wear. Leather boots (zipper or not) cannot keep feet warm in the weather we ride in. -16 was the coldest we went out last year --at 0 degrees, huntsman allows all kinds of coats. I generally wear my Melton with an electric vest under it (runs on a battery) to keep warm. If it’s raining, we generally go with Aussies as our hunts can and do go quite long.
Except for the Queen of Turnout, I think most members are accepting of others and try to turn out as best each on any given hunt.
Ok --there was ONE instance where a guest wore Pajama pants over her boots and breeches “because it was cold.” I think the field master spoke to her sponsor about that one.
Foxglove
