Just in case you were wondering. A junior is any rider who is under the age of 16. If you want your junior to be truly correct, this is the attire. Juniors should wear a tweed jacket, collared shirt and tie, paddock boots and jodhpurs. This look is correct during both cub hunting and formal season. Anyone over the age of 16, adult turnout rules apply. We know if you have a tween/teen you may get some pushback on this, we have some of those; we’re just telling you what is “correct”. Of course like everything else, if your junior is clean and tidy they should come out even if they don’t have all the “right” stuff. We know it can be expensive, they grow so fast!
“Be Scared and Do It Anyway” is about hunting, nerves, and wanting to go badly enough that you go—even while privately questioning your judgment. You don’t have to ride to know that feeling. Although horses do give you some excellent reasons. Come read it on Chasing a Fox on Substack. We can question our judgment together. Link in bio.
Before I had opinions about proper turnout, I apparently had these braids. This is me, about eight or nine, at my first Myopia Horse Show aboard Mrs. Saltonstall’s horse, Henrietta. Yes, I braided her myself. There is quite a lot happening along that neck, and I appear very pleased with all of it.
I rode at Pine Grove Stables with Patty Murray, and I would ride my bike from Beverly to Hamilton to muck stalls in exchange for lessons. I wanted to ride, and that was how I could do it.
Looking at this picture now, I can have a good laugh at the turnout, but I’m rather fond of that little girl. She was willing to pedal her way there and shovel whatever was necessary to get on a horse. The braiding needed supervision. The enthusiasm was taking care of itself. And look at the helmet not even an elastic strap holding it on!
Bobby Costello was riding with Patty then, too. He went on to the Olympics, which does make me wonder where my invitation went. Perhaps someone saw this photograph.
After recording the podcast about proper turnout, finding this feels like being confronted with evidence. Here I am, having developed rather firm opinions over the years, and Henrietta has been quietly holding on to my early work. Fair enough. We all started somewhere, and someone had to be patient while we learned. I was lucky to have people who gave me that chance and a horse generous enough to wear my handiwork in public.
Who remembers their first horse show. And, more importantly, is there photographic evidence?
Cold Sunday morning. Dog in my lap, absolutely nowhere to be—and yes, my pajamas are monogrammed. I know. I’m insufferable. But I’m also very comfortable.
There is nothing particularly practical about riding sidesaddle. The habit contains enough fabric to furnish a small drawing room, mounting requires a certain amount of planning, and once everything is finally arranged, one tries not to disturb it by doing anything rash. And yet, sitting there with Thomas beneath me, it all felt perfectly sensible. Tradition is rather good at making the impractical feel indispensable.
A handful of old toy horses, tiny riders and a pack of hounds have somehow become an entire world in the woods behind my house. I never quite know what Frank is going to get up to next.
🦊 Want to meet Frank? Tap my name above, then tap the link at the top of my page to read the story.
That horse is MUCH too big for that child. Why do people “over horse” their children? Just buy it a pony
she rode it for a bit of fun on the day as she is an exceptonal jockey, was working hunter champion so the judge disagrees.
No such thing as over-horsing, just under riding and she looks like she has things under control. Great picture!
@Traditional English… because it’s sometimes fun to mix things up a bit.