[gypsymare]

I'm looking for a mid to lightweight hunt coat after spending a 4 hour hunt in my double thick heavy weight melton on a sunny 65 degree day. I've seen a lot of options online but I can't tell what the material really looks like and I need something that comes in tall--and not too expensive as it will only be used on rare hot days (MD here).

Any suggestions?

[jawa]

http://www.equestriancollections.com...upcode=RJ10037

The reviews are very good for fit and also for being cool.

[gypsymare]

http://www.equestriancollections.com...upcode=RJ10037

The reviews are very good for fit and also for being cool.

Thanks, but the closeup of the material looks like it has a bit of a plaid pattern to it. I was looking for something that wouldn't stand out. More of a true melton or frock, just of a lighter weight.

I don't mind changing out buttons... I've seen some suitable looking dressage coats with silver I could change to black but it's hard to tell what the material is really like through a computer screen and I find the supply of talls at most tack shops rather lacking.

[SidesaddleRider]

If you have your colors... a member of my hunt just got a navy LW frock from The Tack Box (www.thetackboxinc.com), and another lady also purchased the same one in black. They are quite nice, well-made, and are only incorrect in that they have 4 buttons, not 3 (so both members just purchased 3 hunt buttons to put on them, and left the bottom one plain, which made it much less obvious). I am not certain what brand they are (Pytchley, perhaps?), but you can call the Tack Box and ask them.

[CC]

Years ago, I bought a cheap Devon Aire 100% wool dressage coat as a hunt coat. Now, it was hot on sunday (which is probably why we only stayed out for 2 hours!) but I wasn't sweating to death in it. I would have died in my heavy melton.

It actually came with black buttons but I've since switched them out to my hunt's buttons when I was awarded colors.

[tangledweb]

Why would you seek out a dressage one with 4 buttons? I would have thought that lightweight black ones with 3 buttons aimed at hunter/jumper riders were easy find.

[jawa]

It seems to me that the 3 button hunter/jumper competition offer a little less "coverage". The coats are shorter than dressage coats.

I bought a light weight technical fabric dressage coat. It had four buttons. I took the top button off, stitched the top hole closed, and repressed the collar so that you couldn't tell it was supposed to have 4 buttons.

I look for coats that have the bottom come close to my finger tips.

I did use a cheapy hunter/jumper show coat for years as my light weight formal coat.

Most years you only need it for a hunt or two, but I used a light weight coat alot last year. It never really seemed to get cold.

[gypsymare]

Yes, I find the regular hunt show coats too short to blend in well on a formal day. Everything is short on me to begin with and those are even worse. I would like something more like a true hunting frock, just not 1/2 inch thick and $800. Under $400 would be nice.