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The Loudoun Hunt
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Hunt
Attire:
Scarlet, black velvet collar. Evening - same. |
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| Masters |
| Staff |
| Gentlemen |
| Ladies |
| Informal
or Ratcatcher Attire |
| Juniors |
| Tack |
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The following dress code
is from the 1997 Guidebook of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of
America. We particularly emphasize that proper, neat and clean attire,
tack and horses show proper respect to the Landowners without whom
foxhunting would be impossible. Please take this to heart and show them
the utmost courtesy at every opportunity. Thank you.
The formal Hunting Dress,
below, is given for guidance only. Over the years it has proved to be
practical, comfortable and comparatively safe, for which reason it has
become traditional. Masters have always had the authority to insist on
whatever degree of formality or informality of dress which suits their own
particular countries. These suggestions reflect decades of tradition and
should only be deviated from for significant reasons.
Personal Appointments
(a) Master -
Lady or Gentleman
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Coat:
Square-cornered, single-breasted frock coat, cut to suit the wishes
of the owner. No flaps on waistline, and no pockets on the outside
of the coat except an optional whistle pocket. A Master who does not
hunt hounds should have four front hunt buttons. A Master who does
hunt hounds should have five buttons. There should also be two hunt
buttons behind and two or three small buttons on the cuff of each
sleeve. The material should be heavy twill or Melton Cloth. Scarlet
is the most traditional color for hunting, but if the regular Hunt
livery is of another color, that color should be worn. The collar
and lapels of Hunt coats should be in conformity with the Hunt's
livery. No Master, Whipper-in, Huntsman or member should wear his or
her Hunt livery (scarlet coat, Hunt colors or buttons) in another
country unless invited to do so. It is correct to wear a black or
dark coat when participating in a joint meet without their own
hounds. |
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Breeches:
May be brown, canary (ladies), buff or white, of heavy cord,
heavy synthetic stretch twill or other heavy material. Light weight
breeches of silk or light synthetic knits are not correct. |
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Vest:
Canary, tattersall pattern or appropriate Hunt color. |
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Hat: Black
or dark blue (ladies) velvet hunting cap with ribbons down or up
according to local custom. (Ribbons down traditionally indicate
professional Hunt staff.) A plain black safety helmet with chin
harness securely fastened is recommended as well. |
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Boots:
Traditional hunting boots of black calf with brown tops sewn on,
well polished, with tabs sewn on but not down. White or brown boot
garters (to match breeches) may be worn. Rubber boots are
acceptable, especially in wet weather. |
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Spurs: Of
heavy pattern with moderately short neck and no rowels. Light racing
spurs are not permissible. Spurs should be set high on the boot just
below the ankle and the spur arms should be parallel to the ground.
The free end of the spur strap should be on top of or outside of the
boot. |
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Gloves:
Heavy wash buff, brown or black leather. White wool or string gloves
are also acceptable. |
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Crop:
Traditional hunting whip |
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Horn:
Traditional hunting horn carried either between buttons of coat or
in a leather case fastened on either side of the front of the
saddle. No horn should be carried by anyone except Master, Huntsman
or First Whipper-in when given permission by the Master. |
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Wire Cutters:
Wire cutters may be carried in a leather case attached to the
saddle. |
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Neckwear:
Plain hunting stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain,
horizontal safety-pin. Ends of the stock should be pinned down to
remain tidy |
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Flask and
Sandwich Case: Gentlemen may carry either a flask or sandwich
case (or both). Ladies may carry either a sandwich case or a
combination flask and sandwich case. |
(b) Honorary (Amateur)
Huntsman
Turn out the same
as for Master. Should have five buttons on front of coat and ribbon
on hat up or down, as determined by local custom.
(c) Professional
Huntsman
Same as Honorary Huntsman
except:
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Hat: Ribbon
down. |
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Couplings:
Should carry one set of couplings fastened to a dee on off side of
saddle. |
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Crop:
Traditional hunting whip or white whip. |
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Flask and
Sandwich Case: Not permitted. |
(d) Honorary Whipper-in
Same as Honorary Huntsman
except:
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Couplings:
Should carry one set of couplings fastened to a dee on off side of
saddle. |
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Four buttons on
coat instead of five. |
(e) Professional
Whipper-in
Same as Honorary Whipper-in
except:
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Flask and
sandwich case are not permissible. Coat should have a large
"hare pocket" on inside of skirt. |
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Stirrup leather
should be worn outside of coat over right shoulder, under left arm,
buckled in front with the point of the strap down. |
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Hat: Ribbon
down. |
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Crop:
Regulation hunt whip or white whip. If the Huntsman
carries a white whip the lash should be long enough to
strike the ground. |
Formal Attire
(f) Gentleman Member
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Scarlet coat:
should have rounded corners and three buttons in front, or: |
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Black coat:
Frock coat cut same as scarlet coat, or black hunting coat is
preferable to a shadbelly coat. Buttons may be regular buttons
adopted by the Hunt, but most preferably a dark button with Hunt
initials or crest design in white. There should be three buttons on
the front of the coat and two buttons on back if frock coat. It is
not customary to wear Hunt colors on the collar of a black coat. It
is customary that brass buttons on black coats are reserved for
Masters, ex-Masters, Honorary Secretaries and ex-Honorary
Secretaries. |
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Vest:
Canary, tattersall or appropriate color designated by the Master. |
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Breeches:
May be brown, buff or white (only with a frock coat) of heavy
cord, heavy synthetic stretch twill or other heavy material.
Light-weight breeches of silk or synthetic knits are not correct. |
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Hat: A
safety helmet in black with chin harness fastened is recommended.
Ribbon should be up. With the Masters permission: Top Hats can be
worn with scarlet coat, frock coat or shadbelly coat (hat-guard
optional). Bowler hat with formal black hunting coat. |
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Boots: Plain
black calf without tops worn with black hunting coat. Brown topped
boots should be worn with frock coat. Black field boots with laces
are not considered proper formal boots. White or brown boot garters
(to match breeches) may be worn. |
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Hair: If
long, to be confined neatly. |
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Neckwear:
Plain white hunting stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain,
horizontal safety pin. End of the stock should be pinned down to
remain tidy. |
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Spurs: Same
as for Master |
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Crop:
Traditional hunting whip. |
(g) Lady Member
(Astride)
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Coat: Frock
or hunting coat of black, dark blue, tan, or dark gray or color
material, suitably cut, with buttons and collar trimming adopted by
the Hunt represented. A frock coat should have rounded corners with
three buttons in front and two on back: hunting coats have rounded
corners and three buttons are required on the front of the coat. |
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Vest:
Canary, tattersall or appropriate color designated by Hunt. |
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Breeches: Buff,
rust, brown or yellow (not white cord or heavy synthetic stretch
twill (not knitted) material. |
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Hat: Velvet
hunting cap in black or dark blue or a safety helmet in dark blue or
black with a chin harness fastened is recommended. Ribbon up. With
permission of the Master: Black bowler or silk top hat (the crown
should be six inches or more and worn only with a frock coat). Short
dressage hats are not appropriate. |
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Sandwich Case
(or combination flask and sandwich case) optional. Flask case is not
customary. |
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Hair: Should
be neatly confined. Hair nets are advisable and correct. |
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Gloves:
Heavy wash leather, buff, black or brown leather. White wool or
cotton string gloves are allowed. |
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Spurs:
Regular hunting spurs, same as for Master |
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Neckwear:
Plain white hunting stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain,
horizontal safety pin. The ends should be pinned down to remain
tidy. No other jewelry should be visible. |
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Crop: Light
hunting whip with thong. |
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Boots: Black
calf hunting boots without laces. Black leather or patent leather
tops are appropriate, especially with a frock coat. |
(h) Lady Member
(Side-Saddle)
Same as Lady Member
(Astride) except:
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Habits: Dark melton or
other cloth, suitably cut. |
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Veil: Must be worn with a
top hat but not with a bowler. |
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Hat: Top silk (hunting
hat) to be worn with double-breasted dress hunting coat (crown should be
six inches): black bowler (derby) to be worn with plain jackets. Safety
headgear in black with chin harness properly fastened is recommended with
ribbon up. |
Exceptions to the
Suggested Attire:
(i) Juniors
It is not necessary for
Juniors to wear formal attire as it is often both difficult and expensive
to obtain properly fitting formal attire in the small sizes. Whichever
type of turnout is chosen, it should be immaculately clean and appropriate
for various weather conditions with an approved ASTM (American Society of
Testing Materials) safety helmet properly fastened.
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Formal Attire: Same as
for Lady Member (Astride). Junior colors may be worn according to
individual Hunt customs. |
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Hat: A properly fitting
ASTM approved safety helmet with chin strap properly fastened is required
with ribbon up. |
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Crop: A light-weight
hunting crop with or without thong. |
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Neckwear. A
plain white
stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain, horizontal safety pin.
Turtleneck shirts should not be worn except by very young children. |
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Hair: If long, should be
neatly confined or braided. |
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Informal Attire: A tweed
coat in a muted color (no reds), tan or brown breeches or jodhpurs, shined
brown/black jodhpur boots, string or brown/black leather gloves, a plain
or colored stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain, horizontal safety
pin. "Ratcatcher" shirts are also correct with a neck band or
neatly-tied bow or necktie. Turtleneck shirts are usually for very
young children only. Hat as stated. |
In hunting countries
where extremes of temperature regularly occur, modifications to the
foregoing suggested formal attire may be in order. Such modifications may be made by the Master(s) of individual Hunts
as needed, particularly in cold weather.
(j) Informal or
Ratcatcher Attire
Gentlemen and Ladies
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Hat: Black hunting cap,
black or brown bowler or approved ASTM helmet with secure chin strap with
ribbon up. |
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Coat: Tweed or wool in
muted color, tailored and vented. |
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Shirt: Ratcatcher or
other light colored shirt. Stock tie (plain or colored) with horizontal
pin or necktie. Whether stock or necktie, ends should be pinned
down to remain tidy. Neckbands are also appropriate for ladies.
Turtlenecks and polo shirts are usually reserved for children, but are
used in some hunts that experience extremely hot temperatures during cub
hunting season. |
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Breeches: buff, tan,
or grey. |
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Spurs: Regular hunting
style with no rowels. |
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Boots: Brown or black
leather, dress or field with laces. |
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Formal boots with brown,
patent or leather tops are not appropriate. Rubber boots are acceptable
with the Master's permission as are canvas-topped (Newmarket) boots and
jodhpur boots with either canvas or leather leggings. |
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Gloves: Black or brown
leather or string gloves. |
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Wire Cutters, Flask and
Sandwich: Same recommendations as in formal attire. |
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Crop: Regulation hunting
whip. Thong and lash may be removed during cub hunting. |
Lady Member - Side Saddle
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Coat: Beige, brown or
off-white; suitably cut; plain, tweed or salt sack. |
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Skirt: Should coordinate
with the coat. |
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Hat: Bowler, velvet
hunting cap or safety helmet with chin harness fastened. |
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Veil: Not appropriate for
informal attire. |
Accessories
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Raincoats: Masters
can allow certain rain gear (common sense should prevail), but they should
be used sparingly and be of muted colors (brown, black or dark green). |
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Eyewear: Sunglasses
or tinted eyewear are not appropriate unless specifically prescribed or
recommended by a physician. This does not preclude clear prescription
glasses. |
Tack Appointments
At the most basic level,
horses and all tack should be impeccably clean, polished and shining. It
is a disservice to the landowners to do anything less.
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Bridle: Black or brown
leather, may be either double or single. A noseband should be
used. Colored or ornamental browbands are not acceptable. |
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Breastplate: Optional. |
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Martingale: Optional; if
used, should be plain or raised leather. A running martingale must have stops on the reins. |
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leather. Saddle pads (if used) should be saddle-shaped, of a light color
(white, buff or yellow). Saddle cloths
are not proper. Stirrup irons should be large and workman-like and clean
(shined). Safety equipment such as cruppers, grazing over-checks and
safety stirrups should be used whenever advisable. |
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Girth: Preferably
leather, but clean string and cloth girths are permissible as are girth
covers made of fleece. |
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Accessories: Accessories
such as figure eight and flash nosebands, bell and shin boots, gel and
cushion saddle pads should be used sparingly and only when required for
safety or health of the horse. Accessories like fly hoods, and ear or
muzzle covers are not appropriate in the hunting field. |
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