Foxhunting, Sans Foxes

摘要

INSTEAD, REDMOND, a top executive recruiter at Russell Reynolds Associates, and her fellow riders participate in what's called a drag hunt. It is an ingenious and particularly American adaptation of the British sport, one that disarms critics and limits the experience to a couple of hours while still letting riders give themselves over to the chase. Two set off ahead of the group and lay down the scent of a red fox, squirting a combination of fox urine, glycerin, and water onto the ground. The hounds are sure to pick up the trail, and fast, so animals and riders are in almost constant motion. The lines of scent, about a mile long, take 15 minutes to ride. On this Sunday the "foxes"-two women wearing red T-shirts-lay down six lines. The hunt begins promptly at 10 a.m., with horses and riders, nearly half of whom are women, in a rough approximation of a circle facing 32 very lively hounds. It will conclude 100 minutes later when one of the masters blows a long, triumphant howl with his horn.