Brenda Simmons, ex-MFH, at Glenmore Hunt Opening Meet, 2014Brenda Simmons is an ex-Master of the Glenmore Hunt (VA). While an active Master, Brenda, who also whipped-in at the time, wore a scarlet coat.
Brenda asks, “Being an ex-MFH, is it still correct to wear my scarlet coat even though I am a lady?”
When visiting other hunts for joint meets, Brenda tells us that she wears a black hunt coat with Glenmore buttons, colors on the collar, and black boots with patent leather tops, even though Glenmore members may have been invited to wear their colors. When capping at other hunts—no joint meet—Brenda wears a plain black hunt coat, no colors, and plain black boots.
At Glenmore, however, she continues to wear her scarlet coat and wonders if she is correct in doing so. We asked two members of our Panel of Experts for their opinions, and your editor weighs in as well!
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Comments
Ladies should never wear scarlet. Our lady master wore navy with collar and buttons, and certainly not tops! When She retired she continued to hunt in the same dress, but with ribbons up (A tradition honoured more in the breach than the observance.) and a brown whip.
When hunting with other packs all masters and servants that I know wear blue or black with collars and buttons. We only hunt at home in coloured coats (Actually green in my pack)
I do know some ladies entitled to wear tops who wear subtle black tops which look very smart, but I think consensus here is that patent leather is best saved for the dressage arena.
On Another note, an this is probably me being a turnout snob, but a horse of that stamp should probably be hogged rather than plaited.
Hope that helps and doesn't sound too prescriptive.
Tim.
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