A toot of the horn and the foxhounds cast out before the huntsman.

Noses to the ground, tails pointing upward, they sniff for the scent of their prey. Scarlet-clad riders on chestnut horses canter after the pack, looking very British.

But, instead of the lush, green hillsides of Great Britain, these equestrians ride through the bristly sagebrush of Southern California.

Horse and rider jump fences, not centuries-old stone walls. Getting out of the way are longhorn cattle in the dirt of dry river beds, rather than sheep on dewy grass.

"Riding overseas is very different than in America," said Bob Knox, the professional kennel-huntsman for the Temecula-based Santa Fe Hunt. "I've ridden in Ireland and the hunt there is physically exhausting. There are 80 jumps or more per hunt and you're gone all day until dark."

Adds Terry Paine, the joint master of the Santa Fe Hunt since 1990: "I was hooked the first time I rode in a hunt." As a joint master, he is responsible for making decisions in the field and in the kennels.

Over the last six years, the group's hounds have been kenneled at KingsWay Farms in Temecula, a thoroughbred breeding and training farm run by Paine and his wife, Linda. This month, the Santa Fe Hunt, one of three in Southern California, dedicated its new kennel in Aguanga, also in southwestern Riverside County.

"The new facility is better for the hounds, but I'll miss hearing them sing in the morning," Paine said. "They'll be living with their kennel-huntsman 24 hours a day, so Bob Knox can supervise and teach them rather than just spending the morning with them as he does now."

When fox hunting began hundreds of years ago in Europe, the animal was considered a pest and not a game animal. Hunting it was open to everyone. Fox hunting is now a social event for huntsmen and spectators, Knox said.

Early settlers brought the sport to America, where today, more than 150 groups carry on the traditions from scarlet coats, tall black boots, black velvet hats and the proper etiquette. They even yell "Tally Ho" when prey is sighted.

Except that in America, the coyote has mostly replaced the fox as quarry and it is rare to catch this faster animal, Paine said.

"If we catch up with one, chances are it is sick, old or only has three legs," said Knox, casually brushing his handlebar mustache with a gloved hand.

Paine said that in 17 years of hunting, they've only killed two coyotes and that only happens if the coyote chooses to fight. But what usually happens, he said, is that the coyote lays down like a puppy and no harm comes ot it.

And Knox said that coyotes pose more of a challenge. "I'd rather work with a coyote that pulls a few tricks so the hounds have to learn and work at keeping a line on the scent. I want the coyote to win and then chase it another day."

Foxhounds are a working breed, not pets, Paine said. They are scent hounds, with their noses to the ground to find something as opposed to sight dogs such as greyhounds that see an object like a rabbit and chase it.

At maturity, foxhounds weigh from 60 to 75 pounds and stand about 2 feet high. Around their first birthday, they begin schooling. For two or three days a week, they go out for roadwork with Knox and Paine.

During the hourlong workout, the men post along, keeping the hounds between them with commands like "Bounty, get to" or "Waggles, pack in." They wind through sandy river beds, up and down hills, and along asphalt roads, schooling the hounds as they ride. They know each by name.

"Everything from eating to sleeping to hunting is done as a group so they learn from each other," the 51-year-old Knox said. "It's my job to direct the pack to follow hounds I think have a better nose or that have got a line on a coyote."

When a hound veers off after a rabbit or squirrel, Knox yells " 'ware hare." For larger animals, such as cattle or deer, it's " 'ware haunch" -- meaning "beware of that animal" -- to bring the hound back into the pack.

At one hunt last month, it was 8 a.m. and near freezing at 5,000 feet in Garner Valley when the hunt began. The sun was lost behind the gray clouds that hung over the valley. Everyone was shivering, but the discomfort quickly disappeared as 20 riders pulled on their boots, fastened their hats and donned coats of scarlet, black or navy. Colors are worn according to ability and hunt patronage.

About 50 families belong to the Santa Fe Hunt; ages range from 10 to 90. Many live in the Temecula Valley, but the hunt draws riders from as far away as San Diego, Palm Springs, San Pedro and Orange County. The group includes teachers, accountants, pilots and military personnel.

The huntsman, carrying the horn, goes out first with 20 hounds, or 10 couples. It's tradition to refer to and count the hounds in couples.

Four other riders, or whipper-ins, ride two to a side of the pack, keeping the hounds from running astray.

Close behind are the first field of riders. More experienced, they trot and canter, staying close behind the huntsman and the hounds and jumping whatever comes their way.

In the second field of horseman, jumping is optional. Rather than jump the fences, they use gates. Depending on the terrain and the number of jumps, they might be right on the tails of the first field. Bringing up the rear are the hill toppers, composed of beginners and novice riders who walk and trot.

A typical hunt lasts about three hours. At the end, riders change into tweed jackets and hats or earmuffs, depending on the weather, and gather around the punch bowl and barbecue.

Clarice Grado of Murrieta always wanted a horse but with raising children and lack of time and money, didn't buy one until she was 33. Two years later, she rode it in her first hunt.

"My stomach was in my throat," said Grado, a medical administrative secretary. "My horse was jumping all over. I had no control and thought I was going to die but I loved it."

The hunt is not for the faint of heart, but as in sports such as skiing, surfing or race car driving, there is that special moment that thrills.

"To have control over such a large, powerful animal that's going full bore," said Grado. "There's the teamwork of the hounds, horses and riders, the rules, the tradition. It's a unique sport."

Tradition plays a key role. The hunt staff wears scarlet so they are easy to see from a distance. Tall, leather boots protect legs from the brush and brambles. After a spill, the white stock tie serves as a bandage or a sling.

Paine recalls one memorable hunt where a coyote was cornered and knew it was outnumbered.

It rolled over on its back like a puppy and the hounds lay down beside it. Tongues wagged all around. After a few minutes the coyote caught its breath and ran off -- to hunt another day.

Published 5/23/1999