In equestrianism, a ratcatcher refers to a specific style of traditional riding attire — principally a shirt with a collar and stock tie, worn in place of more formal hunting dress. The term is most commonly used in the context of informal or “ratcatcher” days in the hunting field, where members ride out in practical country dress rather than the formal scarlet or black coat associated with full hunting livery.
Origins of the Term
The word “ratcatcher” has a somewhat irreverent origin. In the English countryside, a ratcatcher was the working man employed to catch rats and other vermin — a practical, unglamorous job requiring hard-wearing, sensible clothing rather than anything fine or formal. The term was adopted in equestrian circles to describe similarly practical, unpretentious country attire worn when formal dress was neither required nor appropriate.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, “ratcatcher dress” had become an established term in the hunting world to describe the tweed jackets, coloured waistcoats, cord breeches, and plain stocks worn on informal autumn hunting days before the official season opened. Today, the term extends broadly to any traditional but non-formal English country equestrian attire.
What Constitutes Ratcatcher Dress?
Ratcatcher is characterised by a tweed or check hacking jacket — typically in muted earth tones of brown, green, or grey — rather than the traditional black or dark navy show jacket. It is worn with a coloured or checked shirt, a hunting stock or plain collar, and usually cord or fawn breeches. Headwear is typically a hunting cap or a skull cap with a dark cover. Gloves, long boots, and a hunting whip complete the picture.
The overall effect is smart but practical — appropriate for a day in the field without being the formal livery reserved for opening meet or point-to-point day. In contemporary usage, ratcatcher is the accepted dress code for cub hunting (autumn hunting), some informal hunter trials, and cross-country schooling days affiliated with hunting packs.
Ratcatcher in Showing and Competition
In the show ring, ratcatcher dress is specified for certain classes and disciplines. Working hunter classes, in-hand showing at informal level, and some equitation classes in the UK traditionally call for ratcatcher. It is also commonly worn at Pony Club events, hunter trials, and pleasure rides where formal showing attire is not required.
Show rules vary, and competitors should always check the schedule before entering. Classes with “ratcatcher” in the dress code expect tweed jackets and traditional country attire; those specifying “show jackets” expect navy or black with white shirts. Mixing the two is considered a dress fault in judged classes.
Modern Interpretations
Contemporary equestrian fashion has blurred some of the traditional lines around ratcatcher dress. Modern “country” jackets in performance fabrics now sit alongside traditional tweed in most equestrian outfitters, and the strict conventions around colour and pattern have relaxed in many non-hunting contexts. However, in the hunting field itself, traditional ratcatcher dress remains an important part of the culture, and most established hunts still expect members to observe the dress code conventions of their particular hunt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ratcatcher and formal hunting dress?
Formal hunting dress — typically a scarlet (hunting pink) coat for men with the appropriate hunt buttons, or a navy or black coat for women — is worn on formal hunt days once the season is properly underway. Ratcatcher is the informal equivalent, worn during autumn hunting (cubbing), informal days, and situations where full livery is not required or appropriate. The key distinguishing item is the jacket: tweed for ratcatcher, scarlet or dark formal coat for full dress.
Can I wear ratcatcher at a horse show?
It depends on the show and the class. Many working hunter, in-hand, and pleasure classes specify ratcatcher as the required or acceptable dress code. Formal dressage competitions, show jumping, and breed showing classes typically require more formal attire. Always read the show schedule carefully — if in doubt, contact the show secretary before the day.
Is ratcatcher the same as “informal” hunting dress?
Yes — the terms are used interchangeably in the hunting world. “Informal dress” or “ratcatcher” both describe the same convention: tweed jacket, coloured shirt and stock, practical country breeches, and long boots or paddock boots with gaiters. The opposite is “formal dress” or “full livery,” which involves the hunt’s formal colours and the complete hunting turnout expected at major meets.