What to Wear & When
During cub hunting and informal season in December, there is no distinction in attire between members who have been awarded colors and those who have not (or, for that matter, between the field, masters, and staff). There is also very little difference regarding the attire of gentlemen and lady members.
Informal Attire
Cub hunting attire may be Palm Beach Hounds polo shirt or plain white shirt with breeches that are either buff, canary, rust, light gray or white. Black of brown boots are acceptable. Black or summer weight hard hat is required.
Ratcatcher attire is acceptable for Wednesday meets during the formal hunt season. Hacking jackets are worn by both ladies and gentlemen that are tweed or pinstripe. Shirts and blouses should be white with a colored stock or choker tie.
Breeches may be beige, buff, rust, or canary or light grey. White breeches and dark colors, such as forest green or navy blue, are not correct.
Brown and black field boots are appropriate footwear for the informal season, black dress boots are acceptable. Paddock boots with gaiters or any variation thereof are never proper in the hunt field for adult riders during either cub hunting or formal season.
A black hard cap should be worn. Unless close cut, hair should be tucked up under the hat, or done up in a bun, then covered with a hair net.
Formal Attire
Once formal season begins, more distinctions apply based on the member’s gender and whether or not he or she has been awarded colors.
All members of the field should wear a black hard cap. Safety harnesses are recommended and, if the helmet is so equipped, the harness should be kept latched at all times during the hunt.
The only appropriate neckwear during formal season for all members, is a white stock tie, properly tied and secured with a plain (i.e., no emblems, ornaments, initials, etc.) gold pin. The pin should be placed horizontally; only professional staff may place the pin vertically. It is also recommended that the ends of the stock tie be secured to the shirt or blouse with safety pins to assure the ends of the tie do not work out from beneath the coat and flap loosely in the wind. Men wear a 3” stock pin, ladies a 2 1/2” stock pin in gold.
Hunt Staff and Gentlemen Members with Colors
The coat should be scarlet with a hurricane blue collar and white piping, and brass buttons engraved PBH. A canary vest, white britches, a white stock shirt and stock tie properly tied with a horizontal, plain gold, stock pin. Black boots with tan tops are required.
Lady Members with Colors
The coat should be black or navy with hurricane blue collar, white piping and black buttons. A canary vest, buff or canary britches, a white stock shirt and stock tie properly tied with a horizontal, plain gold, stock pin. Black boots with patent leather tops are required. Hair should be secured by a hairnet.
Members without Colors, Junior Members and Guests
The coat should be black or navy with a black collar and black buttons. A canary vest, buff or canary britches, a white stock shirt and stock tie properly tied with a horizontal, plain gold, stock pin. Black boots with plain tops are required. Ladies’ hair should be secured by a hairnet. Junior members may wear Ratcatcher attire.
Turnout
Your horse should be well groomed and trimmed with his mane pulled neatly.
Hunting tack is not fancy. Bridles should be flat without
embellishment. A standing martingale and breastplate is appropriate if needed but neither is required. Only fitted white saddle pads should be used. Square pads or sheets, colors, and decorative elements such as initials are incorrect. No polo wraps, they are extremely dangerous if they come loose while galloping across country.
