What type of hunt seat attire for Quarter Horse hunter under saddle class?

Question

I am getting back into hunt seat equitation and hunter under saddle and was wondering what type of hunt seat helmet or cap is popular at the QH and paint shows? Also, is a plain white shirt still pretty common under hunt coats? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Get the AQHA rule book and read the Hunter under saddle section carefully.  They do have some specifications.  The other thing to do is - watch an AQHA show in your area to see what's in style.

I disagree with your poster who says white breeches.  I don't think they're illegal, but they are definetly NOT the style.  The only color that is truely popular is the khaki/greenish tone you see.  White breeches are generally saved the the hunter/jumper ring, and not for HUS or equitation classes.  Shirt color becomes a matter of personal preference.  In AQHA there is a huge range of colors.  Some people prefer white, and it is considered the ideal traditional color.  But now days the majority of riders wear colored shirts.  Some will wear quite bright tones, even purple and orange shirts!  Believe it or not, that's why you need to either subscribe to the AQHA show paper, or go onto YouTube and see if you can find any classes, or else watch a local show.  Hunt coats are supposed to be dark.  Dark navy and black are the most common colors, but you will see all sorts of other dark shades - grey, even brown tones, or dark green.  People do try to tone them to their shirts, so if you have a dark green jacket it can look sharp with a light green shirt.

Hunt caps are the toughest of all.  People show in the old style of velvet hunt caps, not the more common velvet or plastic type schooling helmets.  The new velvet helmets with the stripe down the top are seldom seen at AQHA shows.  And you will almost NEVER see a helmet with a harness of any sort, as they all come with now.  I spent all last spring trying to find a helmet that looked like what everyone else was riding with, and I ended up using a 30 year old velvet helmet.  It isn't safety approved, and you sure wouldn't want to count on it to protect your head.  But the narrow outline is what everyone is wearing, and I have no idea if there is a place you can buy such shaped helmets, or not.  Most of the newer helmets are flatter, more mushroom shaped, then what is common.

Also, consider your saddle pad.  Where I'm located the most popular style is the shaped pads with a spot along the back to slide your numbers.  So they aren't square pads, and they aren't the average shaped pad, either.  I had to special order mine, and it cost about $80.  A few riders do use a normal shaped pad and then put their number on their back, but it isn't very common.  And I think if you read the rule book you'll see that the square pads aren't allowed (or at the very least, not recommended)

Get the rule book and go from there.  Good luck and happy riding!

Answer 2

Yeah black velvet helmets are still popular. the most brands that you'll see around are GPA, IRH, and Charles Owens. No one really wears the thin helmets anymore, they usually have to be safety certified. Not many people wear white shirts under their jackets anymore at local shows, but if it's rated I recommend wearing a white shirt or a shirt with a light pattern that will disappear from a distance.

I hope that I helped you, good luck showing (:

Answer 3

Well the black cap is still the velvet covered one brand is up to you.  A white ratcatcher as a blouse with a stock tie and pin still are the rule of thumb.  Of course white or off white tight fitting breeches, black hunt boots, gloves and of course your jacket (DARK colours are still the rule of thumb, black, dark blue, green, etc.)