Attire and Appointments

Formal Attire

Formal hunting attire is always proper and is never considered over-dressed. Formal hunting attire will be worn at weekend, holiday, and joint meets at home.

• Helmet: An ASTM-approved helmet is required. Helmets must have a chin strap. For formal hunts, your helmet should be black velvet, with the bows in back pointing up (unless you are a member of the staff). Long hair should be in a low bun or tucked into your helmet with a hairnet. Top hats are not allowed as riding attire, but only for on-ground ceremonial attire.

• Coat: Black, lightweight for warm weather or wool frock for winter. Navy is also acceptable, but black is always a safe choice. Three buttons in front.

• Shirt: White, long-sleeved (like a show shirt), tucked in.

• Stock tie: A plain white stock tie should be fastened with a gold, horizontal stock pin. The ends of the tie can be pinned down to remain tidy.

• Vest: A canary yellow or a tattersall vest is acceptable.

• Breeches: Tan, buff, or canary breeches. Masters and red coats will wear white breeches.

• Boots: Black leather dress boots are traditional, although many riders wear field boots (with laces).

• Belt: Belt should be black or brown and shirt should be tucked in. Leather belts are advised, as they can be substituted as a rein or stirrup leather if needed.

• Gloves: Heavy wash buff, brown or black leather. White or navy (wool or cotton) gloves are also acceptable.

• Simple, neat, comfortable, safe and warm should be the goal.

• JUNIORS: It is not necessary for juniors to wear formal attire, as it is often both difficult and expensive to obtain properly fitting formal attire in small sizes. Whichever type of turnout is chosen, it should be clean and appropriate for various weather conditions and always with an ASTM-approved safety helmet with chin strap properly fastened.

• COLORS: In order to recognize and perpetuate a sincere and continuing interest of Members in the Wicomico Hunt and to recognize outstanding contributions of Members to the Hunt, each year the Master or Joint Masters may determine those Members of the Hunt who are entitled to wear the colors of the Wicomico Hunt, and the Joint Masters may award colors to deserving Members. Once awarded, colors shall be retained and worn with honor and dignity by those Members who have earned this right, subject to the right of the Masters to withdraw colors from a Member who fails to abide by the bylaws and/or whose actions brings dishonor upon the hunt. The following guideline shall be used in determining and awarding Hunt colors:

  To earn the right to wear colors, a person must be a riding Member in good standing and hunting regularly for at least three (3) years, and must show a conscientious willingness to contribute to and improve the Wicomico Hunt and demonstrate a knowledge of fox chasing and the ability to ride to hounds , at home and away, and be a person who can well and faithfully represent the Wicomico Hunt whenever he or she wears the colors.

Ratcatcher Attire

Informal dress, known as ratcatcher, is usually worn during autumn hunting prior to opening meet. Ratcatcher may also be worn for informal meets during the regular season when indicated by the Masters.
 

• Helmet: An ASTM-approved helmet is required. Helmets must have a chin strap. For informal hunts, your helmet can be black or brown. Long hair should be in a low bun or tucked into your helmet with a hairnet.

• Coat: Tweed (in many patterns) and muted earth tone coats are acceptable for informal hunts and autumn hunting. If you do not have a tweed, a black or navy coat is fine, too.

• Shirt: A light-colored, collared shirt with sleeves, or an Oxford shirt with a necktie.

• Stock tie: A stock tie (plain or colored) with horizontal pin or a man’s necktie. A plain or patterned stock or necktie, with ends pinned down to remain tidy. White stock ties are not correct. Stock pins may be decorative, but other jewelry is discouraged.

• Vest: Vests are optional but can be canary yellow, tattersall, plaid, or patterned.

• Breeches: Tan, buff, canary, gray, or rust (earth tone colors.)

• Boots: Brown or black leather dress or field boots. Rubber boots are acceptable, as are canvas-topped boots. Three buckle brown field boots are also correct.

• Belt: Belt should match the boots and shirt should be tucked in. Leather belts are advised, as they can be substituted as a rein or stirrup leather if needed.

• Gloves: Brown leather, black leather, or string gloves. White is not correct.

• As always, simple, neat, comfortable, safe and warm should be the goal.