[sammicat]

I saw the article about blue coats for a better world and thought how nice it would be to have a show/class where participants could use less conservative colors? I think it would be tremendous fun. What do you think and what color would you wear?

[supershorty628]

No. Hunters are about tradition...that does not include loud coats.

FWIW, I'm a JustWorld ambassador and I love my coat to death, but I would never dream of wearing it anywhere other than the jumpers.

[fourmares]

No... it isn't as if there are no options... we have all shades of grey and brown, plus greens, blues, and black... solid, pin striped amd window pane... I do think a super dark plum would look awesome on a black or dark bay... but...

[Renn/aissance]

Not particularly. Where the focus is on the horse, the rider's attire should not distract from the horse's performance. Where the focus is on the rider in an equitation class, the rider's attire should not distract from her own performance. Jumpers already do a bit of whatever they want.

[toxicity]

I don't see the point in a whole new class for fun colors...? If you need bling, wear it for schooling or do western pleasure.

[Kat.]

No! I like conservitave colors, having your horse well turned out and looking professinal, bright blue coats just don't say that to me.

[Satin Filly]

No thanks.

[MaybeMorgan]

I think that's called the costume class and it happens once a year

[VirginiaBred]

NO!

Hunters are about Tradition & Elegance!

[Silk]

I agree. I would actually prefer to go back in time to the buff breeches, black coats and brown topped boots But, I am old

I did not mind the rust era but the puke green made me shake my head.

[Rel6]

Sure, if its free. But I'm not paying money just to do a class so I can wear a pretty color.

[doublesstable]

I agree about tradition and like the conservative look. If you want bling - buy a horse with four white socks and a blaze like I did LOL

All the years I have been around horses the Hunter ring has remained professional and tidy. It would be sad to see it change because IMHO our world has already changed enough away from elegance, respect and tradition as it is. It's nice to see the Hunters still remain.....

I do have to admit, when I see a rider with hair hanging out of her helmet it is a distraction to me.

[gottagrey]

rent The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit - they have some wild colors in that movie! I can remember my sister and her friends wearing colored velvet hunt caps (royal blue, maroon, grey etc); ratcathers/show shirts came w/ some bow tie thing so many a show mom made chokers from a variety of fabrics - plaid, floral etc; summer jackets were madras plaids or light colored linen.

[Lucassb]

The hunter ring is supposed to be about the horse... personally I think it should stay that way, with conservative tack and attire.

[tinydragon]

I'm not particularly traditional by any means; I'm visibly tattooed, wear big boots and some weird clothes. However, I, like most of the posters above, prefer keeping tradition in Hunters. If I want to wear something a little unconventional, daring, or 'loud', there's Jumpers for that.

[vxf111]

Not really. If I want to wear a pink coat I have every hour in the day when I am not horse showing to wear it.

[danceronice]

NO!

Hunters are about Tradition & Elegance!

Point: Then you should wear only black, buff breeches, black dress boots, and a white shirt with a pinned stock, unless you are entitled to wear Hunt colors. Unless it's cubbing season...

That's the silly bit of the ZOMG tradition argument, that and it going along with the silly number of threads about "What is trendy in hunter right now?!?" If it were absolutely about tradition and elegance, trends and brands and fussing over shades of tan or invisible plaids wouldn't happen. (Honestly, when I see what riding catalogs call 'color variations'....)

Personally, I kind of like the idea of canary breeches with a black coat and vest...but then I think the stuff in "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit" looks rather nifty, too. Vintage class?

[AmmyByNature]

Nope.

[Mukluk]

Welllllll. I have a hunter green coat that I LOVE and looks smashing on my chestnut girl. I also would love to have a deep purple coat. I only have the funds to do schooling shows. But if I had funds to do the bigger shows, I would still wear what makes me happy. I think black and navy blue are BORING. On the other hand, you would not see me in pink, orange, lime green, or safety orange... But if someone choose to wear that it wouldn't matter to me. It's about putting in a good round. Not the color of your clothing. And besides Dr. Seuss wisely said....

"Be who you are and say what you feel,
Those who mind don't matter.
Those who matter don't mind."

[SidesaddleRider]

Point: Then you should wear only black, buff breeches, black dress boots, and a white shirt with a pinned stock, unless you are entitled to wear Hunt colors. Unless it's cubbing season...

Actually, in addition to black you could also wear a navy or dark charcoal gray coat with your canary breeches and stock (all three are formal coat colors for hunting). And, some hunts use hunter green coats, so in some areas that is a formal color too.

But in response to the original poster, no, I would not want to see less conservative colors in the hunter ring. But I also ride side saddle -- how much more hunter traditional can I get?