Master ◊
Huntsman ◊
Whipper-in ◊ Gentleman
Member ◊ Lady Member
◊ Juniors ◊
Informal (Ratcatcher) ◊
Accessories
From the opening meet of the cubbing season - around Labor Day -
until the first of October, the dress code for Goshen Hounds is fairly
relaxed. Boots, breeches, and a hard hat or helmet are required.
Generally, members of the field will wear ratcatcher attire.
While the dress code for all hunts is at the discretion of the
Masters of the hunt, the following dress code is taken from the 1997
Guidebook of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. Any requests for deviations from this
code should be addressed directly to the Masters.
Formal Attire
Master - Lady or Gentleman
Coat
Square-cornered, single-breasted frock coat, cut to suit the
wishes of the owner. No flaps on waistline, and no pockets on
the outside of the coat except an optional whistle pocket. A
Master who does not hunt hounds should have four front hunt
buttons. A Master who does hunt hounds should have five buttons.
There should also be two hunt buttons behind and two or three
small buttons on the cuff of each sleeve. The material should be
heavy twill or Melton Cloth. Scarlet is the most traditional
color for hunting and is the correct color for Masters at
Goshen. The collar of hunt coats should be in conformity with
the Hunt's livery which is "confederate grey with gold piping"
at Goshen. No Master, Whipper-in, Huntsman or member should wear
his or her Hunt livery (scarlet coat, Hunt colors or buttons) in
another country unless invited to do so. It is correct to wear a
black or dark coat when participating in a joint meet without
their own hounds.
Breeches
May be brown, rust, canary (ladies), buff, or white, of heavy
cord, heavy synthetic stretch twill or other heavy material.
Light weight breeches of silk or light synthetic knits are not
correct.
Vest
Canary, tattersall or appropriate Hunt color as approved by
the Masters.
Hat
Black or dark blue (ladies) velvet hunting cap with ribbons
down or up according to local custom. (Ribbons down
traditionally indicate professional Hunt staff.) A plain black
safety helmet with chin harness securely fastened is recommended
as well.
Boots
Traditional hunting boots of black calf with brown tops sewn
on, well polished, with tabs sewn on but not down. White or
brown boot garters (to match breeches) may be worn. Rubber boots
are acceptable, especially in wet weather.
Spurs
Of heavy pattern with moderately short neck and no rowels.
Light racing spurs are not permissible. Spurs should be set high
on the boot just below the ankle, and the spur arms should be
parallel to the ground. The free end of the spur strap should be
on top of or outside of the boot.
Gloves
Heavy wash buff, brown or black leather. White wool or string
gloves are also acceptable.
Crop
Traditional hunting whip.
Horn
Traditional hunting horn carried either between buttons of
coat or in a leather case fastened on either side of the front
of the saddle. No horn should be carried by anyone except
Master, Huntsman or First Whipper-in when given permission by
the Master.
Wire Cutters
Wire cutters may be carried in a leather case attached to the
saddle.
Neckwear
Plain hunting tie (stock) neatly tied and fastened with a
plain, horizontal safety-pin. Ends of the stock should be pinned
down to remain tidy.
Flask and Sandwich Case
Gentlemen may carry either a flask or sandwich case (or
both). Ladies may carry either a sandwich case or a combination
flask and sandwich case.
Honorary (Amateur)
Huntsman
Turn out the same as for Master. Should have five buttons on
front of coat and ribbon on hat up or down, as determined by local
custom.
Professional
Huntsman
Same as Honorary Huntsman, except:
Hat
Ribbon down.
Couplings
Should carry one set of couplings fastened to a dee on off
side of saddle.
Crop
Traditional hunting whip or white whip and thong.
Flask and Sandwich Case
Not permitted.
Honorary Whipper-in
Same as Honorary Huntsman, except:
Couplings
Should carry one set of couplings fastened to a dee on off
side of saddle.
Coat
Four buttons on coat instead of five.
Professional
Whipper-in
Same as Honorary Whipper-in, except:
Flask and sandwich case
Not permissible.
Coat
Should have a large "hare pocket" on inside of skirt.
Stirrup leather
Should be worn outside of coat over right shoulder, under
left arm, buckled in front with the point of the strap down.
Hat
Ribbon down.
Crop
Regulation hunt whip or white whip and thong.
Gentleman Member
Scarlet coat
Should have rounded corners and three buttons in front, or:
Black coat
Frock coat cut same as scarlet coat, or black hunting coat.
Buttons may be regular buttons adopted by the Hunt, but most
preferably a dark button with Hunt initials or crest design in
white. There should be three buttons on the front of the coat
and two buttons on back if frock coat. It is not customary to
wear Hunt colors on the collar of a black coat. It is customary
that brass buttons on black coats are reserved for Masters,
ex-Masters, Honorary Secretaries and ex-Honorary Secretaries.
Vest
Canary, tattersall or appropriate color designated by the
Master.
Breeches
May be brown, rust, buff, or white (only with a frock coat)
of heavy cord, heavy synthetic stretch twill or other heavy
material. Light-weight breeches of silk or synthetic knits are
not correct.
Hat
A safety helmet in black with chin harness fastened is
recommended. Ribbon should be up. With the Masters permission:
Top Hats can be worn with scarlet coat, frock coat or shad belly
coat (hat-guard optional). Bowler hat with formal black hunting
coat.
Boots
Plain black calf without tops worn with black hunting coat.
Brown topped boots should be worn with frock coat. Black field
boots with laces are not considered proper formal boots. White
or brown boot garters (to match breeches) may be worn.
Hair
If long, confined neatly.
Neckwear
Plain white hunting tie (stock) neatly tied and fastened with
a plain, horizontal safety pin. End of the stock should be
pinned down to remain tidy.
Spurs
Same as for Master.
Gloves
Heavy wash buff, brown or black leather. White wool or string
gloves are also acceptable.
Crop
Traditional hunting whip.
Lady Member (Astride)
Coat
Frock or hunting coat of black or dark blue, suitably cut,
with buttons and collar trimming adopted by the Hunt
represented. A frock coat should have rounded corners with three
buttons in front and two on back: hunting coats have rounded
corners and three buttons are required on the front of the coat.
Vest
Canary, tattersall or appropriate color designated by Hunt.
Breeches
Buff, rust, brown or yellow (not white) cord or heavy
synthetic stretch twill (not knitted) material.
Hat
Velvet hunting cap in black or dark blue or a safety helmet
in dark blue or black with a chin harness fastened is
recommended. Ribbon up. With permission of the Master: Black
bowler or silk top hat (the crown should be six inches or more
and worn only with a frock coat). Short dressage hats are not
appropriate.
Sandwich Case
(Or combination flask and sandwich case) optional. Flask case
is not customary.
Boots
Black calf hunting boots without laces. Black leather or
patent leather tops are appropriate, especially with a frock
coat.
Hair
Should be neatly confined. Hair nets are advisable and
correct.
Gloves
Heavy wash leather, buff, black or brown leather. White wool
or cotton string gloves are allowed.
Spurs
Regular hunting spurs, same as for Master.
Neckwear
Plain white hunting tie (stock) neatly tied and fastened with
a plain, horizontal safety pin. The ends should be pinned down
to remain tidy. No other jewelry should be visible.
Crop
Light hunting whip with thong.
Lady Member
(Side-Saddle)
Same as Lady Member (Astride), except:
Habits
Dark melton or other cloth, suitably cut.
Veil
Must be worn with a top hat but not with a bowler.
Hat
Top silk (hunting hat) to be worn with double-breasted dress
hunting coat (crown should be six inches): black bowler (derby)
to be worn with plain jackets. Safety headgear in black with
chin harness properly fastened is recommended with ribbon up.
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 the small sizes. Whichever type of turnout is chosen, it
should be immaculately clean and appropriate for various weather
conditions with an approved ASTM (American Society of Testing
Materials) safety helmet properly fastened.
Formal Attire
Same as for Lady Member (Astride). Goshen does not normally
award colors to junior members under the age of sixteen.
When awarded, juniors attire will follow the guides for adults.
Hat
A properly fitting ASTM approved safety helmet with chin
strap properly fastened is required with ribbon up.
Crop
A light-weight hunting crop with or without thong.
Neckwear
A plain white hunting tie (stock) neatly tied and fastened
with a plain, horizontal safety pin. Turtleneck shirts should
not be worn except by very young children.
Hair
If long, should be neatly confined or braided.
Informal Attire
A tweed coat in a muted color (no reds), tan or brown
breeches or jodhpurs, shined brown or black jodhpur boots, brown
or black leather or string gloves, a plain or colored stock
neatly tied and fastened with a plain horizontal safety pin.
"Ratcatcher" shirts are also correct with a neck band or
neatly-tied bow or man's necktie. Turtleneck shirts are usually
for very young children only. Hat as described above.
Informal Attire or Ratcatcher
Gentlemen and Ladies
Hat
Black hunting cap, black or brown bowler or approved ASTM
helmet with secure chin strap with ribbon up.
Coat
Tweed or wool in muted color, tailored and vented.
Shirt
Ratcatcher or other light colored shirt. Stock tie (plain or
colored) with horizontal pin or man's neck tie. Whether stock or
necktie, ends should be pinned down to remain tidy. Neckbands
are also appropriate for ladies. Turtlenecks and polo shirts are
usually reserved for children.
Breeches
Earth tone colors - buff, tan, gray or rust.
Spurs
Regular hunting style with no rowels.
Boots
Brown or black leather, dress or field with laces. Rubber
boots are acceptable with the Master's permission as are
canvas-topped (Newmarket) boots and jodhpur boots with either
canvas or leather leggings.
Gloves
Black or brown leather or string gloves.
Wire Cutters, Flask and Sandwich case
Same recommendations as in formal attire.
Crop
Regulation hunting whip. Thong and lash may be removed during
cub hunting.
Lady Member - Side Saddle
Coat
Beige, brown or off-white; suitably cut; plain, tweed or salt
sack.
Skirt
Should coordinate with the coat.
Hat
Bowler, velvet hunting cap or safety helmet with chin harness
fastened.
Veil
Not appropriate for informal attire.
Accessories
Raincoats
Masters can allow certain rain gear (common sense should
prevail), but they should be used sparingly and be of muted
colors (brown, black or dark green).
Eyewear
Sunglasses or tinted eyewear are not appropriate unless specifically
prescribed or recommended by a physician. This does not preclude clear
prescription glasses.
