DRESS CODE

The Ottawa Valley Hunt (OVH) has different dress codes for our hunts and summer cross-country and trails rides or our public events. Safety is of course of utmost importance, other than that, neat and tidy does the trick.

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Summer cross-country, trail rides and OVH public events

No jackets are required and breeches can be any colour. You can also use any colour or shape of saddle pad.

Hunt attire

When you cap (ride as a guest) or are a new member of the OVH, the dress code is flexible to make sure that you do not have to spend a fortune on hunt attire. Wear your beige, tan or buff breeches, tall boots or short boots with half chaps, a white shirt, a dark grey, navy or black jacket and black or brown gloves. A white stock tie with a stock pin is the most correct, but you can also wear the choker that comes with your show shirt. A safety helmet with chin strap is a must.

This is considered formal attire and is always correct. Formal attire is worn on Saturdays from opening hunt in September until the end of the season.

On Wednesdays, you may also wear a light coloured or tweed jacket, coloured shirt, coloured stock tie or regular tie, brown gloves, and of course your safety helmet. This attire is known as “ratcatcher”.

 Learn more about the origin of the ratcatcher name

String gloves are always acceptable and do give you better grip on rainy days. For cappers who do not have all the attire, the OVH just asks that you wear the closest you have to the recommended dress code. A guideline for you and your horse is to be “clean, neat, tidy and comfortable”.

If possible, use a white fitted saddle pad for both formal and ratcatcher hunts.

What are hunt colours?

When you have been a hunt member for some time and have contributed to the club by volunteering and in other ways, the Masters may award you your colours. This entitles you to wear the OVH green colour on your formal jacket and the OVH buttons. The dress code for men and ladies with colours is outlined below.

MEN WITH COLOURS

  • Scarlet coat with 3 to 4 OVH buttons on the front, 2 on the back and 2 small OVH buttons on each sleeve. Hunter green collar.
  • Canary or other subdued coloured vest (optional).
  • White breeches.
  • Black leather boots with tan coloured tops.
  • White, string or tan leather gloves.
  • White stock, with horizontally pinned gold-coloured stock pin.
  • Hunt whip with thong and lash (optional).

Note: White stocks and white breeches are correct with scarlet coats but should not be worn with black or tweed riding jackets.

WOMEN WITH COLOURS

  • Black coat with 3 OVH buttons on the front, 2 on the back and 2 small OVH buttons on each sleeve. Hunter green collar.
  • Canary or other subdued coloured vest (optional).
  • Buff, tan or beige breeches.
  • Black leather boots with black patent tops.
  • White string, black or tan leather gloves.
  • White stock, with horizontally pinned gold-coloured stock pin.

Where do I find reasonably priced hunt attire?

Here are some ideas:

  • Post an ad in the local Facebook tack groups
  • Post an ad in the Fox Hunting in Eastern Ontario Facebook group
  • Check thrift stores like Value Village
  • Check Kijiji and eBay
  • The OVH has some jackets and vests that were donated by members who no longer ride. Contact masters@ottawavalleyhunt.com for more information.

How do I tie a stock?

Watch the following video on how to tie a stock tie.