[BirdM]

Any ideas on where I might find a brown velvet hunt cap NOT made by Charles Owens? The CO caps do not fit my apparently pumpkin-shaped head so I need to find an alternative for cubbing season...

[Hinderella]

There's an eBay seller in England that sells Champion helmets, and they have one in brown. But of course, it would be tough to return.

There's also this one, from Horse Country:
http://www.horsecountrycarrot.com/in...rod=931&cat=75

I'm going to look at one there when I'm in VA. I don't NEED another helmet, of course, but I like the look of the brown.

[Belair]

The new samshield helmets come in brown. http://www.doversaddlery.com/samshie...et/p/X1-36317/

[pook]

have you tried the Charles Owen Wellington model ?
It is the only CO that fits my head.

[xeroxchick]

There's an eBay seller in England that sells Champion helmets, and they have one in brown. But of course, it would be tough to return.

There's also this one, from Horse Country:
http://www.horsecountrycarrot.com/in...rod=931&cat=75

I'm going to look at one there when I'm in VA. I don't NEED another helmet, of course, but I like the look of the brown.

I think I have that and it is a CO. I need a new one as mine is gross and I ahve glued the lining back too many times. Nicely aged, finally, but maybe not so safe anymore after my mishaps and manynyears. I want a CO Fiona in brown but cannot find it here in the U.S..

That other samsheild is SO UGLY; sorry I am a traditional look hunter.

[BirdM]

I can confirm all the Horse Country helmets are CO - that's where I discovered they don't fit my pumpkin head. May try the one from the UK, worth a shot!

[Hinderella]

Here's a link to the ebay listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270751248041...84.m1438.l2649

[wateryglen]

I thought it was ALWAYS supposed to be black to be correctly attired for both cubbing & formal season.
But colors very cool for trailriding etc! I prefer blaze orange during deer season of course!

[JSwan]

Brown boots and hunt caps/helmets are appropriate and correct for cubbing. Black is for the formal season.

These days it's harder to find brown, so you tend to see black, which is ok. Though if a person is going to make an effort to be attired correctly, consider staying away from the skunk stripe or other flashy helmets. Foxhunting isn't flashy.

But brown is most certainly correct. And so is a tie instead of a colored stock tie. For cubbing.

[wateryglen]

I respectfully disagree. Perhaps it is with your hunt but with most others a tie is NOT proper. Only eventers think it is. A stock tie is always proper foxhunting. Always. Many hunts will allow many casual accomodations during cubbing. Like field boots, ratcatcher collars, turtlenecks and even polo shirts when jackets are forgiven. It's an individual hunt thing really.
And brown helmets are the same. MOST hunts prefer you wear black. Black is always proper, always.
Brown or even navy blue helmets may be ok with your hunt but it isn't with many others. It's always an individual hunt thing.
Be sure to not confuse any one hunts dress allowances as being across the board. Just because you like it and think you can get away with it and do doesn't mean it's proper also! Ask me about my burgundy breeches story sometime!!
I'm old fashioned I guess. You know I love you guys but.....just think otherwise!

[xeroxchick]

Ratcatcher. Brown boots with brown hunt cap.

[JSwan]

Sorry - wateryglen. While every hunt might have slight variations based upon climate or local availability - brown hunt cap and brown boots is proper turnout. So is a lady wearing a man's tie. I know it seems like an eventing thing - but they actually got it from us. I've got photos from 1920's showing women wearing ties. Really - check it out. It does seem rather old fashioned, doesn't it! :-) I don't how all this stuff came to be, though. sidesaddlerider would surely know.

[Hinderella]

I love the look of the brown with tweed, but I certainly don't know whether it's proper or not...i defer to others, and to the standards of the hunt with which I am capping, as I haven't yet gotten the trailer...and the courage...to join my local hunt.
If it were safe as a helmet, I could have used my cap from my teenaged years. It started out as black, but faded to a greyish brown before I tossed it. I though I should try to preserve my brain for important things like following the debate on helmet colors

[Beverley]

Yup, females wearing ties for cubhunting perfectly fine, has been since long before I started hunting in 1971. Including two hunts where I know WG has hunted.

I have a brown cap kicking around in my garage somewhere. It started life as a black cap, but enough hunts in the sunshine and cap sitting on truck dashboards does the trick!

[pook]

brown boots, brown hunt cap, shirt and tie. Was good enough for me when I was cubbing in England, and I am sure it will be good enough for you !

[JSwan]

Yeah, but did you have a tie with all the looney tunes characters on it? Elmer Fudd, Marvin Martian, Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote...

Mine does. So far I don't think any Masters have noticed that the tie isn't as conservative as its supposed to be.

Shhhh.. Be vewy vewy quiet.

[Hinderella]

I'm afraid my figure is not quite ....womanly...enough to pull off a tie. Someone might mistake me for a junior boy, and therefore think Me a much better rider than I am

[Major Mark]

I have a Brown Velvet elastic cover that fits over my black cap perfectly. Even has a big button on top and seams, and fits tightly over the brim. It looks just like a proper brown hunt cap. I got it at a equestrian sales show years ago.

And yes, brown cap and brown boots are correct for Ratcatcher.

/or brrrrrown boots even....

[Beverley]

Yeah, but did you have a tie with all the looney tunes characters on it? Bugs Bunny

Hey, that oughta be peachy for whipping in to the bassets too. After all they can legally hunt the wabbits...

[wateryglen]

I never said brown boots weren't correct for cubbing. Yes they are!

I said a stock is always PREFERRED to other neck wear during cubbing. Not just for formal. I've hunted w/2 hunts that did not approve ties for men or women during ratcatcher days. Including the local hunt. It's an individual mfh kinda thing!

I said black hats were ALWAYS correct. Not just for formal. Brown allowed per individual hunt during cubbing.

If 97% of folks wear black hats all season then how is that not more ok than the 3% that want to be different or fashionable or stand out during cubbing. I don't want to stand out. I wanna be with the norm. I don't want to wear mens ties. A stock tie on a lady looks more classic imho. If stock ties are the mainstay of foxhunting and mens ties are not then why not the mainstay? Mens ties are meant to simulate stocks imho. Why not wear the real thing?!!

To return to the original theme.....the OP doesn't have to go brown hat shopping unless she wants to. Black will be fine for cubbing. Thats why they are hard to find. It's not the norm! No demand!
JMHO!!