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With the Arapahoe Hunt snowed in for the longest period of time (more than nine weeks) in its nearly 100 years of history, we ventured south for hunting in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
These parts were once home to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three volunteer cavalry regiments raised for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action in 1898. The original nickname for the regiment was “Wood’s Weary Walkers,” later becoming known as the “Rough Riders,” then “Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.”
Hunting coyotes in this desert home of the Rough Riders seemed fitting, since the word “coyote” was borrowed from Mexican Spanish, which itself borrowed the term from the Aztec word cóyotl, which may have meant “singing dog.”
We hunted with Caza Ladron (N.M.), Juan Tomás Hounds (N.M.), and the newly organized Fort Carson Hounds (Colo.). These hunts have some rough riding country, and a sure-footed horse is a necessity. When asked how this hunt country differed from our wide open rolling plains, I affectionately termed their members the “rough riders” as they stick to their saddles like glue through these often rocky, hilly countries.
On Feb. 24, we were graciously hosted by Caza Ladron. Guy McElvain, MFH, outfitted us with lovely, warmblood sport horses for us to hunt, as we met at the Buckman fixture under threats of snow in the forecast. The temperature warmed from a windy and cold 28 degrees to a nice 55-degree sunny, but windy day.
Professional kennelman Daniel Woods hunted 131⁄2 couple of American, English and crossbred hounds. Brian Gonzales, MFH, introduced us with a warm welcome and we were off into high desert mesas and river valleys thick with brush, cholla cactus and yucca.
Hounds worked several cold lines, taking us twisting and turning across arroyos and ditches. There are a few paneled fences, but barbed wire is not common at this fixture, so jumping is not often necessary. However, the drop banks and rocky hills at a gallop proved to be more than enough challenge, that even the most courageous of riders would find their adrenaline rush in a day. Don Gonzales provided a graceful lead and carried a bone-handled hunting whip, made from the wood of a cholla cactus, an appropriate choice for this rough country.
The next morning, we drove to the Diamond Tail Ranch, also just south of Santa Fe, to hunt with the Juan Tomás Hounds. Juan Tomás Hounds were established in 1970 and Helen Kruger, who has been an MFH there for nearly as many years, greeted us. Huntsman James A. Nance, jt.-MFH, graciously offered his personal horses and hosted our hunting.
I was given a very pretty 17-hand, gray Thoroughbred, aptly named the Gray Bomber, who was very sure-footed throughout the day and never winded by this rugged country. My wife, Rebecca, rode a “mountain horse” of Mrs. Nance’s, and this little roan knew the country on autopilot. This hunt is also a family affair, as James L. Nance led the field, with son Adren Nance and Mrs. James A. Nance whipping in.
