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

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

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

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.

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."

please define butcher boots

Margaret

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.

Thank you Andrew. I am enlightened!

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.

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

Further to my last submission -- R S Summerhays wrote from th1 1930s until the 1960s. The quotation is from approx 1965.

Does anyone if there exists a map of UK showing hunt countries and if so where I can get one

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.

Hi this is Rob from Norfolk, great website, say hi to your huntsman from me!

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.....

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.