Horse Thief Shorty was a Taos legend, an original cowboy, and the embodiment of that unique Wild West spirit New Mexico still champions today. Shorty earned his name when he was caught stealing the same horse twice in the same day. 

Shorty was known to steal horses in the night, take them across the Rio Grande and paint spots and stripes on them.  Then in the morning, he’d bring ‘em back across the river and sell the horses as his own.

The story goes that he was caught red-handed when it rained during the sale, and the white spots began to wash off of the horse he was selling. 

Less known is that Shorty was an early lifeline for many restaurants around Taos who regularly provided them with meat and game.

Courtesy of the Taos News.