Hunting Appointments Guidelines for The MFHA Field Hunter Championship Best Turned Out Competition
(These guidelines are offered to aid judges and competitors.)
The Best Turned Out phase of the MFHA Field Hunter Championship is optional. All competitors are welcome and encouraged to participate, but this part of the competition will be judged separately from the performance phases and will not count toward placings in a District Qualifier or the Finals.
Correct hunting attire has several versions. A version of formal attire should be worn at the District Qualifiers, not cub hunting attire, unless you are a junior. A competitor in a suitably cut hunting coat will be as competitive as one in a shadbelly or a frock. The MFHA Field Hunter Championship Committee has put together the following information as a guideline for the most formal turnout. A competitor is not required to wear the most formal turnout in order to be
considered. When judging turnout, as when judging performance, judges follow some hard and fast rules, but are also guided by their own subjective opinions.
In addition, each Hunt has its own colors, buttons and traditions. Each competitor should check with their individual Hunt and know what is appropriate for them. Whatever formal attire is chosen, the competitors should be turned out to the best of their ability. All horses, tack and riders should be impeccably clean. Tack and clothes should be in good repair. Safety headgear is acceptable in the Best Turned Out Competition. If competitors choose to wear non-safety headgear for the BTO, they do so at their own risk. Once the judging is completed, the competitors, if not wearing safety headgear, must change into safety headgear before the performance phases begin.
Lady Member – Formal Guidelines (not obligatory)
Hat: Silk top hat with a crown of five inches or more. A hatguard is required. Dressage hats are not appropriate. Hairnets are correct. No jewelry should be visible with the exception of small gold ear studs.
Coat: Shadbelly or frock, black, dark blue or charcoal melton or other suitable material. Colors and buttons as adopted by the Hunt represented, if the wearer has her colors.
Vest: Solid buff, canary or hunt livery color as adopted by the Hunt represented.
Stock: White four-fold, properly tied with a plain horizontal stock pin.
Breeches: Buff or tan (not white) or as adopted by the Hunt represented. Breeches with four small buttons at the knee are preferred.
Boots: Regulation hunting boots of black calf. Patent leather tops are allowed if the wearer has her colors. Tabs sewn on but not sewn down to tops, tops should be sewn on boots. No Field boots and no zippers.
Bootgarters: Black if wearing black calf or black patent leather if wearing tops; worn between the two lowest buttons, the buckle against the buttons on the outside.
Spurs: Regulation hunting spurs, with plain black leather straps. The spurs should be worn high on the heel.
Gloves: Heavy wash or brown leather. Black is not appropriate. Rain gloves (white string) should be carried under the girth: left glove on left side, right glove on right side. Glove thumbs should be turned against the palm, fingers facing toward the front of the saddle.
Whip: Regulation hunting whip with a thong.
Gentleman Member – Formal Guidelines (not obligatory)
Hat: Silk top hat with a crown of six inches or more. A hatguard is required. Dressage hats are not appropriate. A silk top hat is to be worn with coats cut in the shadbelly, weasel belly or frock style.
Coat: Scarlet, shadbelly, weasel belly, frock or hunt livery with appropriate colors and buttons for the Hunt represented if the wearer has his colors. Scarlet should be worn only by members with their colors.
Vest: Solid white, buff, canary or hunt livery as adopted by the Hunt represented.
Stock: White four-fold, properly tied with a plain horizontal stock pin.
Breeches: White (buff or brown according to the livery of the individual hunt) breeches to be worn with scarlet, shadbelly, frock or weasel belly. Breeches with four small buttons at the knee preferred.
Boots: Regulation hunting boots of black calf. Brown tops if the wearer has his colors. Tops should be sewn on boots, tabs sewn on but not down. No Field boots and no zippers.
Bootgarters: Black if boots are without tops. If tops are worn must conform to the color of breeches. Worn between the two lowest buttons, the buckle against the buttons on the outside.
Spurs: Regulation hunting spurs, with plain black leather straps. The spurs should be worn high on the heel.
Gloves: Heavy wash or brown leather. Black is not appropriate. Rain gloves (white string), should be carried under the girth: left glove on the left side, right glove on the right side. Glove thumbs should be turned against the palm, fingers facing toward the front of the saddle.
Whip: Regulation hunting whip with a thong.
Juniors
- It is not necessary for juniors to wear formal attire. Cub hunting attire is appropriate and acceptable for a junior in the best turned out phase.
- A shadbelly should not to be worn by a junior.
- A properly fitting safety helmet with the chin strap fastened is required.
Tack – General Guidelines
- All tack must be flat, not raised and without decoration. It should be an appropriate hunting weight. Rubber reins are not allowed. The bridle should be a snaffle, pelham or double bridle.
- All cheek pieces and reins must be sewn-in.
- Caveson nosebands are required.
- Breastplates or martingales are optional.
- No saddle pads or stirrup pads should be used. The stirrups should be traditional, not jointed.
- Three-fold girths are preferred. String or web girths are permissible. No elastic should be used.
- Billet guards are required.
- Sandwich case and/or a flask must contain the appropriate food and beverage. The sandwich should be chicken or turkey (butter is allowed) on white bread with the crust removed, wrapped in wax paper. Ladies may carry tea or sherry in their flask. Gentleman may carry brandy.
Download the Appointments Guidelines
For questions concerning the turnout guidelines, competitors may contact Penny Denegre at 540-687-6069 or e-mail at rideaside1@gmail.com.
If you are not competing the committee will be happy to answer questions at a later date.
