logo

Royal Artillery Hunt Supporters Club

  • Home
  • About
    • Hunt Officials
      • The Masters 09/10
    • Reminiscences
    • RA Hunt Kennels
    • RA Hunt History
    • Subscriptions
    • Etiquette
      • Car Followers
    • Guestbook
    • Sitemap
  • News
    • Army Website
    • Photo Galleries
      • Newcomers Meet 2011
    • Weather
    • Bailys Hunting Directory
    • Links
      • Links - SHOPPING !!
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Novice Weekends
    • X Country Rides
    • Terrier Show
    • Puppy Show
  • For Sale
    • Hunt Shop
    • Horses/Ponies
    • Hirelings
  • Help
    • Contact Us
  • Hunt Officials
  • Reminiscences
  • RA Hunt Kennels
  • RA Hunt History
  • Subscriptions
  • Etiquette
  • Guestbook
  • Sitemap

NOTE If there are a lot of comments here then you may need to scroll down to enter new comments.

GUESTBOOK - we're happy to see you here.

Let us know you've been here by signing our guestbook, be aware that all comments are first inspected before they are posted to the website. Is there something else you would like? A blog perhaps?

Comments:

Posted by Major Roger Hanington on Feb 15th, 2010
Reference ---Turnout

I am surprised to read ----

You are aiming to look tidy and inconspicuous. A tweed jacket, fawn breeches, a white shirt with a tie, black boots and a velvet cap or jockey skull with a dark silk will do it.

In my time one would not have been seen with a tweed jacket and black boots !

Also --

Your horse and tack should be clean and, unless you have specifically been told otherwise, you should plait the horse's mane.

Perhaps I am of the wrong generation but I always believed that only draught horses had their manes plaited !

Apart from that -- all best wishes and the banner pictures evoke so many happy memories - and a few painful ones !

Roger Hanington
Posted by Ali Welsh on Mar 8th, 2010
Hi web site !! Looks great ! I have a lot of recent pics which I have posted on my facebook page for only friends to see. Do you want some?

Ali
Posted by Barbara Scriven on Mar 9th, 2010
This website is just what I need to keep in touch. Since my old faithfull roan Jake has gone to the eternal hunting field in the sky I have not yet had the courage to bring out my new steed, Eric.Jake knew the plain like the back of his hooves & brought me home safe & sound for 11 seasons.I will be back just as soon as Eric & I are"as one" Hope to see you all soon

Barbara Scriven
Posted by John Jago on Apr 3rd, 2010
I am somewhat reluctant to disagree with Major Hanington, whose experience and knowledge is probably far greater than mine, but in the 55 years that I have been hunting butcher boots have always been perfectly acceptable when wearing "ratcatcher" dress.

Those in doubt should read Foxhunting by the Duke of Beaufort (1980) - on page 203, when talking about correct hunting dress, he says that "brown field boots or black butcher boots" should be worn in ratcatcher.

There can be few greater authorities than "Master"!

John Jago.
Posted by Andrew D Thompson on Jun 9th, 2010
A quick google search will find the following link http://nhh.glencarry.com/attire.htm this states that Black Butcher Boots for both Ladoes and Gentlemen is a correct form of dress in Ratcatcher. It is therefore fair to state that current day formal dress expectation is that if in Ratcatcher wearing Black Butcher Boots is considered correct.

Please find text below

"RATCATCHER

Informal dress, known as ratcatcher, is usually worn during autumn hunting (cub hunting) prior to opening meet. Ratcatcher may also be worn for informal meets during the regular season.

Ladies

Ladies wear a tweed coat or hacking jacket; natural-colored (buff or tan, but never white) breeches; shirt and colored tie or ratcatcher shirt with collar and stock pin; tattersall vest; brown leather gloves; brown or black field boots; and hunt cap or saftey helmet .

Gentlemen

Gentlemen wear a tweed coat or hacking jacket; natural-colored (buff or tan, but never white) breeches; shirt and colored tie; tattersall vest; brown leather gloves; brown or black field boots; and hunt cap or safety helmet.

Juniors

Juniors wear a tweed coat or hacking jacket; natural-colored (buff or tan, but never white) breeches with tall black boots or jodhpurs with brown jodhpur boots; shirt and colored tie or ratcatcher shirt with collar; tattersall vest; brown leather gloves; and either a black velvet hunting cap with a harness or a ASTM safety helmet with a harness and a black cover."
Posted by margaret ruffell on Jun 28th, 2010
please define butcher boots

Margaret
Posted by Andrew D Thompson on Jun 29th, 2010
Margaret

In response to your question on the correct definition of "butcher" boot I am not aware of a formal definition of the term “butcher” boot however the follow description is taken from the Light Cavalry HAC Dress Regulations and describes the style of mounted boot that is known as a “butcher” boot:

“BOOTS - (Mounted) Plain black long (butcher) riding boots – with straight cut tops”

An example of the “butcher” boot style can be seen on the Saunders & Saunders - Regent Website www.regent-footwear.co.uk via the “Pro Cotswold” and “Pro Police”. The key style point is the straight cut top. When you look at other examples in the Regent long boot range you will note that an alternative top cut style to the boot is called “Continental” which is more shaped.
Posted by Margaret Ruffell on Jul 1st, 2010
Thank you Andrew. I am enlightened!
Posted by Roger Hanington on Sep 2nd, 2010
On the subject of boots I stand corrected; and annihilated.
(Nevertheless it seems to have started some exchanges).
I shall now be able pension off my 75 year old Field Boots with a clear consciense. Thank you John Jago.
Posted by Roger Hanington on Sep 8th, 2010
Boots --- Further to my tactical withdrawal in the face of John Jago's retort, he might like to consider that R S Summerhays (writing in 1930s)was quite unequivocal on the point; quote ---

" Black or tweed hacking coat, fawn or brick-red breeches,
black boots with black coat (brown with tweed),
white or discreetly coloured stock, safety-pin as before, black bowler
(or hunting cap if farmer), crop and spurs.
None of the above customary before opening meet.
Rat-catcher (only worn during cub hunting). Tweed or covert riding coat,tweed or any coloured vest, stock, or collar and tie,
fawn or brick-red breeches,
bowler, brown boots or high ankle boots and leggings.
Spurs and crop optional. "

Of course times change as do fashion and perhaps there are these days men who would wear black shoes with a tweed country suit!

Roger Hanington
Posted by R Hanington on Sep 8th, 2010
Further to my last submission -- R S Summerhays wrote from th1 1930s until the 1960s. The quotation is from approx 1965.
Posted by margaret ruffell on Sep 8th, 2010
Does anyone if there exists a map of UK showing hunt countries and if so where I can get one
Posted by admin on Sep 8th, 2010
The following might be of interest Margaret:-
http://www.berkeleystudio.co.uk/acatalog/Foxhunting_Maps.html
http://www.btinternet.com/~countryside.webservice/

Excuse me while I just check the colour of my shoes.
Posted by Rob on Mar 5th, 2011
Hi this is Rob from Norfolk, great website, say hi to your huntsman from me!
Posted by Rob on Mar 5th, 2011
Hi this is Rob from Norfolk, say hi to your huntsman from me, maybe I will make it down to see the RA one day.....
Posted by Jacqueline (nee Reynolds) on Jun 8th, 2011
Dear Phil
Well Phil, back to the Heaton-Ellis, John Jago, Taffy and Anita, Greg Stokes, Phil Hodson, Moisey Barton days!! Im looking through your site and its bringing back memories of a VERY VERY happy childhood spent on the ponies hunting with the RA. Was your mare called Melody? She came to stay at our fields in Brigmerston once on holiday. Im still very horsey, and yes my mother Vanessa still riding. My 2 boys ride alot too. We all had a great time at The Bustard, and I cant forget cubbing at Blackball Firs! A jewel of a childhood for me. My God didnt we hack miles in those days, hunt all day, then hack home.
Happy Hunting
Jacqueline (we usually had coloured ponies)
I dream of coming back to Salisbury Plain.
Leave a Reply



(Your email will not be publicly displayed.)

Please type the letters and numbers shown in the image.Captcha Code



 
© 2012 Royal Artillery Hunt Supporters Club RAHSC.    All rights reserved. Sign In to Edit this Site