Attire For the Old Dominion Hounds
For riders who are new to fox hunting (including children), we realize the traditional hunting dress code can be intimidating and expensive. Please feel free to discuss with a Master what might be appropriate to wear as you ease yourself into our sport. We have many resources available to help acquire or borrow items if needed. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BE A FUN AND APPROACHABLE FOXHUNT.
Informal or Ratcatcher Attire - worn during cubbing season (Sept 1st up to before Opening Meet) and Thursdays during the formal season.
Helmets: Plain black, navy, or brown. All Riders MUST WEAR AN ASTM CERTIFIED HELMET with a chin strap. NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED. Unless close cut, hair should be tucked up under the helmet or covered with a hair net.
Coat: Wool or lightweight in a tweed or muted color, tailored and single or double-vented. In extreme heat, coat and neckwear may be excused at the meet by a Master. See next page for the September polo option.
Shirt/Neckwear: White or light-colored dress shirt with man’s necktie. Ladies may also wear a riding shirt with colored stock tie (secured with a stock pin) or choker. See next page for the September polo option.
Breeches: Rust, buff, or tan.
Boots: Brown or black (rubber or leather) Field or Dress boots are acceptable.
Juniors: Same as above. Juniors may wear jodhpur boots and may wear jodhpur breeches with leather garters or wear half chaps of matching color (rather than tall boots). For September polo attire, juniors may acquire an ODH logo navy polo shirt or they may use their navy Old Dominion Hounds Pony Club polo shirts if they are members of the pony club.
September-Only Cub Hunting: Due to elevated temperatures during this month, ODH will allow riders to wear polo shirts during September only. The 2023 season shirt must be navy blue colored with a red ODH Logo. The shirts must be solid navy blue (no color accents) and have the red ODH logo located on the left side of the chest. The shirts must have a collar. NO TEE SHIRTS ALLOWED. Shirts may be long or short sleeved. However, WE ARE NOT ALLOWING LONG SLEEVED UNDERSHIRTS TO BE WORN UNDER SHORT SLEEVED SHIRTS. If there is a cooler morning, we suggest purchasing a long sleeve shirt with a red ODH logo. Ratcatcher or cubbing attire is always appropriate and expected otherwise. NO CREW NECK SWEATSHIRTS, HOODED SWEATSHIRTS, or HOODED JACKETS WILL BE ALLOWED.
ODH will NOT do a central order for polos this year and they will not be available at hunt meets. Riders are responsible for acquiring their own shirts, so please plan sufficient time for your order to be received. The following are suggestions to obtaining a shirt:
Formal Attire – worn Opening Meet through March (Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Holidays)
Helmets: Plain black. Ladies may wear black or navy. All Riders MUST WEAR AN ASTM CERTIFIED HELMET with a chin strap. NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED. Unless close cut, hair should be secured under the helmet or covered with a hair net.
Coats:
Neckwear: Plain white stock tie, secured with a plain gold or silver horizontal stock pin. Ends of the stock should be pinned down.
Boots: Black boots are always acceptable. Black field boots are permitted by ODH. Men wearing scarlet should wear black boots with brown tops. Ladies wearing colors may wear plain black boots or black boots with patent leather tops.
Breeches: Rust is required when wearing ODH colors. Rust, buff, or tan is acceptable when not wearing ODH colors.
Vest: Canary or tattersall colored vest.
Juniors: Juniors may wear the same formal attire as above or they may wear informal/ratcatcher attire during formal season.
For riders who are new to fox hunting (including children), we realize the traditional hunting dress code can be intimidating and expensive. Please feel free to discuss with a Master what might be appropriate to wear as you ease yourself into our sport. We have many resources available to help acquire or borrow items if needed. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BE A FUN AND APPROACHABLE FOXHUNT.
Informal or Ratcatcher Attire - worn during cubbing season (Sept 1st up to before Opening Meet) and Thursdays during the formal season.
Helmets: Plain black, navy, or brown. All Riders MUST WEAR AN ASTM CERTIFIED HELMET with a chin strap. NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED. Unless close cut, hair should be tucked up under the helmet or covered with a hair net.
Coat: Wool or lightweight in a tweed or muted color, tailored and single or double-vented. In extreme heat, coat and neckwear may be excused at the meet by a Master. See next page for the September polo option.
Shirt/Neckwear: White or light-colored dress shirt with man’s necktie. Ladies may also wear a riding shirt with colored stock tie (secured with a stock pin) or choker. See next page for the September polo option.
Breeches: Rust, buff, or tan.
Boots: Brown or black (rubber or leather) Field or Dress boots are acceptable.
Juniors: Same as above. Juniors may wear jodhpur boots and may wear jodhpur breeches with leather garters or wear half chaps of matching color (rather than tall boots). For September polo attire, juniors may acquire an ODH logo navy polo shirt or they may use their navy Old Dominion Hounds Pony Club polo shirts if they are members of the pony club.
September-Only Cub Hunting: Due to elevated temperatures during this month, ODH will allow riders to wear polo shirts during September only. The 2023 season shirt must be navy blue colored with a red ODH Logo. The shirts must be solid navy blue (no color accents) and have the red ODH logo located on the left side of the chest. The shirts must have a collar. NO TEE SHIRTS ALLOWED. Shirts may be long or short sleeved. However, WE ARE NOT ALLOWING LONG SLEEVED UNDERSHIRTS TO BE WORN UNDER SHORT SLEEVED SHIRTS. If there is a cooler morning, we suggest purchasing a long sleeve shirt with a red ODH logo. Ratcatcher or cubbing attire is always appropriate and expected otherwise. NO CREW NECK SWEATSHIRTS, HOODED SWEATSHIRTS, or HOODED JACKETS WILL BE ALLOWED.
ODH will NOT do a central order for polos this year and they will not be available at hunt meets. Riders are responsible for acquiring their own shirts, so please plan sufficient time for your order to be received. The following are suggestions to obtaining a shirt:
- Navy polo shirts may be purchased directly from LAND’S END UNIFORMS and have them add the red ODH logo.
- Navy polo shirts may be acquired from other sources/brands. The red logo embroidery is available at Klein’s Embroidery in Warrenton VA 540-341-8682 (please use the “small” size logo).
- Emmy Lewis may also have limited numbers of navy logo polo shirts available through the ODH store. Please feel free to contact her at emmylewis@mac.com or 202-257-3886.
Formal Attire – worn Opening Meet through March (Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Holidays)
Helmets: Plain black. Ladies may wear black or navy. All Riders MUST WEAR AN ASTM CERTIFIED HELMET with a chin strap. NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED. Unless close cut, hair should be secured under the helmet or covered with a hair net.
Coats:
- Gentlemen: Black hunt or frock coat with plain black buttons. If awarded colors, a scarlet frock coat may be worn with scarlet collar and silver colored ODH buttons.
- Ladies: Frock or hunting coat of black or dark navy blue with plain dark buttons. If awarded colors, red/scarlet material on the collar and black or silver colored ODH buttons (contact Judy Allen for buttons and collar material assistance).
Neckwear: Plain white stock tie, secured with a plain gold or silver horizontal stock pin. Ends of the stock should be pinned down.
Boots: Black boots are always acceptable. Black field boots are permitted by ODH. Men wearing scarlet should wear black boots with brown tops. Ladies wearing colors may wear plain black boots or black boots with patent leather tops.
Breeches: Rust is required when wearing ODH colors. Rust, buff, or tan is acceptable when not wearing ODH colors.
Vest: Canary or tattersall colored vest.
Juniors: Juniors may wear the same formal attire as above or they may wear informal/ratcatcher attire during formal season.
