Proper Turnout & Etiquette for The Fairfax Hunt

Our masters, officers, and staff endeavor to honor both the traditions of the sport and the practical considerations that help promote a safe and enjoyable day in the hunt field. If you have a question regarding turnout, etiquette, or other hunt-related considerations, please do not hesitate to ask one of our masters or the honorary secretary for a clarification.

A Suitable Hunt Horse

Hunt Etiquette The most important quality in a hunter is safety. The horse should go quietly in a group, stop without a fight, stand patiently at checks, wait its turn at jumps, and jump without refusals. The surest way to avoid a kicking incident is to allow sufficient distance between horses to assure contact will not be made if a horse kicks out. A horse known to exhibit kicking behavior should be kept to the rear. Always point your horse's head toward hounds, never the rear end. The horse should arrive at the meet clean, neatly trimmed, and properly tacked up. As cold weather approaches, the horse's shoes should be either fitted with studs or treated with borium to assure adequate traction on slick surfaces.

Proper Tack

Hunting tack is not fancy. Bridles should be flat without embellished stitching. A standing martingale and breastplate is appropriate if needed but neither is required. Running martingales, however, are not proper in the hunt field as they present a safety hazard. The bit should assure sufficient braking power. Some horses stop nicely in a snaffle, even when the hunting action has the adrenalin pumping, but many need something stronger. Relying on the circling technique to stop a horse creates a distraction and, more significantly, poses a danger to others. Only fitted white saddle pads should be used. Square pads or sheets, colors, and decorative elements such as initials are incorrect. The saddle should be brown leather (English style, of course). Synthetic materials or black leather saddles are not suitable.
Proper Turnout: Attire varies according to three main variables-gender, colors, and cubbing versus formal season. (There are also distinctions between adult members of the field, masters, huntsmen, and juniors but we are only addressing the turnout etiquette for adult field members here.)

Cub Hunting

During cub hunting season in September and October, there is no distinction in attire between members who have been awarded colors and those who have not (or, for that matter, between the field, masters, and staff). There is also very little difference regarding the attire of gentlemen and lady members.

Hacking jackets are worn by both ladies and gentlemen, preferably wool tweed or a linen material and in an earth tone color such as shades of brown or green. Subtle plaids are correct. Jackets should have three buttons, all of which are kept buttoned during the hunt. The jacket should be tailored specifically for riding; a conventional sports coat is not an acceptable substitute.
Shirts and blouses may be white or a pastel color and muted striping or subtle patterns are allowed. Both men and women may simply wear a dress shirt and tie. Ladies may wear ratcatcher collars, either plain or with a stock tie. If a stock tie is worn, it should be colored and/or patterned but not a plain white formal stock. Gentlemen may also choose to wear a hunting shirt and stock tie. The ends of a stock tie should be secured to the shirt with safety pins to hold the tie in place. Turtlenecks are also permissible.
Breeches may be beige, buff, rust, or canary. White breeches and dark colors, such as forest green or navy blue, are not correct.
Brown field boots are the most appropriate footwear for cub hunting, followed by black field boots or black dress boots (without brown leather or black patent leather tops). Paddock boots with half-chaps (gaiters) or any variation thereof are never proper in the hunt field for adult riders during either cub hunting or formal season.
Regular hunt-style helmets should be worn (more about headgear under Formal Season). Bowlers are also acceptable.
Gloves may be shades of light or dark brown, either full leather or with crochet backs. Black gloves are also acceptable.

Formal Season

Once formal season begins, more distinctions apply based on the member's gender and whether or not he or she has been awarded colors. There are, however, four elements of proper turnout that are universal-headwear, neckwear, gloves, and vests-and we will consider these first.

Headwear: All members of the field should wear a hunt-style helmet which is defined as a brimmed cap with a black velvet covering. Safety harnesses are recommended and, if the helmet is so equipped, the harness should be kept latched at all times during the hunt. Nylon covers are not permitted and helmets with the center vent, popular among show jumpers, are also not correct in the hunt field. Ribbons at the back of the helmet should point up. (Masters and professional staff signify their positions by turning the ribbons to point down.) Top hats and bowlers are proper under certain conditions as will be noted below.
Neckwear: The only appropriate neckwear during formal season is a white stock tie, properly tied and secured with a plain (i.e., no emblems, ornaments, initials, etc.) gold pin. The pin should be placed horizontally; only professional staff may place the pin vertically. Although faux stock ties are permissible, a full length, four fold stock is preferable both for the sake of appearance and, more significantly, in the event it is needed as a bandage or sling. It is also recommended that the ends of the stock tie be secured to the shirt or blouse with safety pins to assure the ends of the tie do not work out from beneath the coat and flap loosely in the wind.
Gloves: Gloves worn during formal season may be brown, either dark or lighter shades such as tan or buff, full leather or with crochet backs. Black gloves are also acceptable. White string gloves are suitable for rainy conditions.
Vests: Appropriate vests are canary or tattersall (in various color combinations). A vest made from material matching the hunt's official color (a muted gold) is also acceptable. Solid colors, such as red, are not proper.

Other elements of formal turnout vary according to gender and whether or not the member has been awarded his or her colors. These distinctions run as follows:

Gentleman Member Without Colors

Coat: Plain black hunting coat or frock coat, plain black buttons.
Breeches: Beige or buff with black jacket; white with frock coat.
Boots: Plain (i.e., without brown leather tops) black dress boots Laced field boots are not proper. Rubber boots are also permissible, particularly under inclement weather conditions, provided they adequately replicate the appearance of conventional hunt-style boots.

Gentleman Member With Colors

Coat: Black hunting coat or frock coat with black buttons displaying the hunt's emblem in white. A gentleman with his colors is entitled (although not required) to wear a scarlet coat with the hunt's color on the collar and with gold buttons embossed with the hunt's emblem. A gentlemen member of the field should wear a jacket with three buttons. Masters signify their position by wearing four buttons and a huntsman, or a master who also hunts hounds, wears five buttons. (To get very technical, a field member's coat should feature rounded skirts while masters and huntsmen wear coats with squared skirts. This arcane practice is rarely observed today. However, when selecting a new scarlet coat, if there is a choice between rounded or squared skirts, choose rounded.) Scarlet is appropriate for special days such as Opening Meet, Blessing of the Hounds, and New Years Day. It is also proper to wear scarlet for a joint meet where Fairfax is the host hunt. However, scarlet should not be worn to a joint meet where we are the guests of another hunt (unless the host hunt has specifically invited our members to wear their colors).
Breeches: Beige or buff is proper with a regular black hunting coat. White should be worn with scarlet or a black frock coat.
Boots: Black dress boots with brown leather tops are correct with both scarlet and black frock coats. Plain black dress boots should be worn with black Melton (i.e., shorter cut) coats. (A good rule to follow is that if your coat has buttons on the back, wear brown-top boots. If not, wear plain black dress boots.) Laced field boots are not correct. Rubber boots, as described above, are acceptable.
Headwear: A standard hunt-style helmet (as described above) is proper with any attire. However, a top hat may be worn with a scarlet coat or black frock coat, especially on formal days such as Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds. A bowler is also correct with a black frock coat, but never with scarlet.

Lady Member Without Colors

Coat: Plain black or navy blue coat with plain black buttons. A lady without her colors may also wear a black shadbelly (with plain black buttons).
Breeches: Beige, buff, or canary.
Boots: Plain black dress boots (i.e., without black patent leather tops). Laced field boots are not correct. Rubber boots, as described above, may be worn.
Headwear: Standard hunt-style helmet. A bowler may also be worn with a regular hunting coat. A top hat is correct with a shadbelly.

Lady Member With Colors

Coat: Black or navy blue coat with black buttons imprinted with the hunt's emblem in white and with the hunt's color on the collar. A black shadbelly may also be worn, with the hunt's color on the collar and black buttons with the hunt's emblem in white, and is particularly suitable for formal days such as Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds. (A lady only wears scarlet if she is a master or huntsman, both of which are gender-neutral titles.)
Breeches: Beige, buff, or canary.
Boots: Black dress boots with black patent leather tops. Ladies with their colors may also wear plain black dress boots. Laced field boots are not correct. Rubber boots, as described above, may also be worn.
Headwear: Standard hunt-style helmet. A bowler may also be worn with a regular hunting coat. A top hat is correct with a shadbelly.

Miscellany

Here are a few other general considerations regarding proper turnout and etiquette:

Ladies' Hair: Long hair should be restrained within a hairnet (preferably matched to hair color). If a lady's hair is long enough to be braided and can then be tucked down into the back of her coat, this is also acceptable. Short hair that does not protrude from beneath the helmet requires no additional support. However, long hair hanging out loosely from beneath the helmet, braids, pigtails, or ponytails are not proper. Hair clips and ribbons are also not appropriate but, then, there should be no hair showing to which such embellishments could be attached.
Ladies' Jewelry: Only a minimal amount of jewelry, if any, should be worn in the hunt field and what is worn should be fairly plain. Dangling earrings or loose bracelets that could catch on tree branches or other objects should not be worn.
Perfume/Cologne: Fragrances, particularly heavy applications thereof, should not be used on a hunting day. This applies to both ladies and gentlemen.
Sunglasses: There is no hard and fast rule regarding sunglasses but the more ardent proponents of proper turnout argue against their use as it is felt they detract from the classic hunter look.
Flasks: Ladies may carry a pocket flask in a coat pocket or in a leather sandwich case (lady's size with both sandwich case and flask) secured to the D-rings along the offside of the saddle. Gentlemen may carry either a pocket flask or a bayonet-style flask in a holster case affixed to the front of the saddle.
Rain Gear: Although the hunt is likely to be cancelled if heavy rain is falling, there are occasional days when we go forth even if some precipitation is coming down. On such days, the masters may choose to allow hunting coats to be replaced by rain jackets. If so, the jacket should be a Barbour or similar style, preferably in a dark green or brown color, and should not have loose pieces that flap in the wind. All other elements of attire remain the same as on any other hunting day.
Braiding Manes: It is correct to braid manes for formal days such as Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds. It is also proper, although not required, to braid for joint meets. If a horse's mane is braided, it should be done neatly. An unbraided mane that is nicely trimmed is preferable to a poorly done braiding job.
Juniors: A junior is defined as anyone under the age of 16. Juniors wear tweed jackets, paddock boots, and jodhpurs during both cub hunting and formal season. For those aged 16 and above, the adult rules of proper turnout apply.
Upon Arrival: It is proper to greet the masters before the start of the hunt and to announce your presence to the field secretary. If you have brought a guest, the secretary must be informed, the guest introduced, and the cap paid.
Order In The Field: The generally observed custom is that members with their colors (or buttons) are entitled to ride in front of the field behind the master. This may be referred to as the right of colors or a privilege awarded to those members who have not only been consistent and knowledgeable foxhunters but who have worked diligently in the interest of the hunt for some time (see Awarding of Colors). This is not to say that a hunting member who has not yet been awarded colors cannot ride in the front with those who have but suggests that in the case of a chase the regular hunting member should give way to a member wearing colors. However, if the member with colors does not keep up with the pack during a chase, then the regular member has the right to pass in an open field and move to the front behind the master provided he or she does not interfere with or impede the member with colors or, for that matter, any other rider. Courtesy and safety to all other riders should be foremost in our thinking.
Refusals: If a horse refuses a jump, the rider should move to the back of the line before making another attempt.
Coffeehousing: For those unfamiliar with the term, "coffeehousing" refers to idle chitchat in the hunt field. Given the social nature of this sport, there is always a temptation to engage in conversation. It should, however, be avoided at most times. The correct prosecution of a hunt depends on good communication between hounds, huntsman, and field master. Chatting among the field can distract the huntsman and masters, thus detracting from the integrity of the sport. This does not mean absolute silence must be observed at all times but attention should be paid to the focus of the day's activity-i.e., hound work-and socializing should be kept to a minimum. Attempts to engage the field master in conversation, particularly when he or she is trying to monitor hound work, should be especially avoided.
Withdrawing Early: Ideally, everyone should come out with the intention of remaining for the duration of the hunt, no matter how long the day lasts. However, situations do arise-lost shoe, lame horse, rider injury, illness, etc.-that necessitates heading back in while the hunt is still in progress. When such a situation occurs, word should be passed to the master or field secretary so that he or she is aware of the departure. The withdrawing member should also ask the master or secretary for directions back to the meet, even if he or she knows the territory, to avoid interfering with the work of hounds. Where possible, the return route should use hard-surfaced roads.
Arriving On Time: The hunt waits for no one. Hounds move off at the appointed time and hunting begins immediately. Certainly, the unforeseen impediment befalls us all eventually but every effort should be made to arrive at the meet with sufficient time to be mounted and ready to move off with the field. Not only is it simply rude to arrive late when everyone else has made the effort to be there on time, but riding through the hunting territory to catch up with the field can cause problems for the hunt. The line of scent may be crossed, hounds may be distracted, and a collision could occur if the field is riding hard in one direction and suddenly comes upon a tardy member riding the other way. If something has occurred to cause sufficient delay, if may simply be best to forego the day's sport rather than risk ruining it for others. Repeated tardiness simply shows a lack of consideration for the hunt as a whole and will not be tolerated. If you do arrive late and the hunt has begun, do not ride into the country to find the field. Wait at the meet and, if the hunt comes back that way, you may join in. Alternatively, if hard-surfaced roads are available, ride forth but stay to the roads until you have located the field and then approach with caution. Once you have joined up with the field, the first obligation is to apologize to the master for your tardiness.
Excusing A Member From The Field: It should be noted that our masters and honorary secretary are empowered to excuse riders from the field if a sufficiently egregious transgression has been committed. Riding with the hunt is a privilege, not a right. Although rarely exercised, the authority does rest with masters and field secretary to send a rider home if he or she deems such action is necessary. A faithful observance of proper etiquette is the surest way to avoid such an unpleasant occurrence.

Does it is really matter what we wear when riding to hounds? Absolutely! For one, it is only through the graciousness of the landowners over whose property we ride that we are able to engage in this sport. A properly turned-out field honors the landowners, shows them we take our sport seriously, and displays the appropriate pageantry and spirit of tradition as they watch us ride by. (And don't forget to wave or tip your hat.)

Hunting In a more subtle sense, it is an appreciation for that pageantry and tradition that has led most of us to take up this sport. The preservation of the centuries-old foxhunting spirit depends, more than anything else, on the continued observance of the rules of etiquette that distinguish this activity from simply riding casually around through the countryside.

Besides the landowners, we also depend on our masters and huntsman for the enjoyment we derive from a long season of hunting. The leaders of our hunt work hard to provide us the opportunities to follow hounds and nothing cheers the heart of a huntsman or master more than to gaze upon a well turned-out field of riders who conduct themselves properly. This demonstrates our recognition of their efforts on our behalf, especially our huntsman who devotes long, hard days of work to give us a few hours of sport.

Side Bar: The Awarding of Colors

The official policy of The Fairfax Hunt regarding the award of colors reads as follows:

The award of colors is made by the masters at their sole discretion to hunting members who have made an ongoing significant contribution to the continuation of Fairfax Hunt's tradition of sportsmanship.

Those considered are typically members who have hunted regularly at least three years and hunted primarily with the jumping field; who have been exemplary, well turned-out and on a groomed horse; who have participated in and contributed to the success of the hunt's activities; and who are a credit to the hunt's reputation.