THE PROPER UNIFORM OF FOXHUNTING

Foxhunting is one of the oldest aristocrat

sports, which is still popular today in many

countries all around the globe. The tradition

keepers and hunting clubs are careful to be able

to provide the most original and unique experience

they can, despite the strict regulations. The

foxhunting is an autumn-winter activity, starting

in September until March, about one up to four

hours a day. In a classic form, it is an equestrian

sport where the horse, the rider, and the hound

track a scent, either real or artifi cial, through varied

terrain and wilderness. Also, a traditional

uniform and etiquette belong to the sport, which

barely changed through the centuries.

The base of the uniform consists of breeches,

a shirt, a stock tie, a vest, a coat, a helmet, a pair

of riding gloves and a pair of knee height leather

boots. The shirt and the stock tie have to be white;

the gloves are usually white, brown or black. The

wearing of a vest is not regulated by all clubs, but

its colour is usually white, beige or canary. A standard

hunt-style helmet is proper with any attire in

a colour of black, and some clubs accepting navy

and graphite grey helmets too. The other pieces of

the attire are varied by gender, title and the activity

of the season.

The gentlemen without colours have to wear a plain

black or dark navy hunting jacket with a single

vent or frock coat, with plain black buttons. In

case of breeches, beige or buff has to be worn with

a black jacket, and white with a frock coat. The

boots are plain black dress boots with garters, but

no laces. The attire of the ladies without colours is

regulated by the same guidelines of the foxhunting

dress code as the gentlemen’s.

Those members of the community who were titled

with colours; in case of gentlemen the outer garment

can be the same, but with buttons displaying

the hunt’s emblem. A member with his colours is

entitled to wear a scarlet coat with the hunt’s colour

on the collar and with gold buttons embossed with

the hunt’s emblem. A gentlemen member of the

fi eld should wear a single vented jacket with three

buttons. Masters signify their position by wearing

four buttons and a huntsman, or a master wears fi ve

buttons. The dress code for the breeches are beige

or buff, that is proper with a regular hunting jacket

and white should be worn with scarlet or a black

frock coat. Black dress boots with brown leather tops

are correct with both black and scarlet coats. Plain

black dress boots are acceptable with black jackets

but not with scarlet or frock coats. In case of garters;

black should be worn with a black jacket and white

with white breeches. Aside from a helmet, a top hat

may be worn with a scarlet coat or black frock coat,

especially on formal occasions.

The dress code for ladies with colours is less varied;

the coat shall be either black or dark navy-blue

jacket, or frock coat with black buttons imprinted

with the hunt’s emblem and with the hunt’s colour

on the collar. A lady only wears scarlet if she is a

master or huntsman. The breeches should be beige,

buff, or canary, and the boots are black dress boots

with black patent leather tops or black patent garters.

In every occasion, long or short hair should be restrained

within a hairnet preferably matched to hair colour.

If a lady’s hair is long enough to be braided, she can

wear her hair in a braid. Jewellery is not forbidden, but

only a minimal amount of simple jewellery accepted.

Perfumes and colognes should not be used during hunting,

because it could be very distracting for the riders

and the animals too. The wear of sunglasses is also not

forbidden, but not favoured and it can be dangerous

during riding. Both ladies and gentlemen may carry a

pocket fl ask or a leather sandwich box. Nowadays small

gadgets and medicine can also be carried but is advised

not to. As the hunting is only cancelled in case of heavy

raining, it is recommended to have waterproof attire or

raincoat with the riders, by the guidelines of the club

dress code.

The attire for the juniors, who are defi ned as anyone

under the age of 16 should wear tweed jackets, jodhpurs

with paddock boots during the whole hunting season.

For those aged 16 and above, the adult rules of

proper turnout apply.

The rules and the dress code can be different in different

clubs, so it is advised to inquire some information

or look around on the favoured club’s website to be able

to fi t the guidelines.