New Mexico
Strange laws in New Mexico, including trouble for tripping a horse
Every state has its own unique, rather strange laws that make you wonder where they come from and why they are still there.
Some strange laws in states have since been repealed, or were never true laws after all, and rather just rumors that have circulated.
Though, there are weird laws that can be found in U.S. states with just a simple search.
Among the strange laws in New Mexico include ones involving tripping a horse and calling for a duel. (iStock)
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In New Mexico, some of the strangest laws include the playing of the national anthem as well as strict penalties for engaging in the tripping of a horse.
Read more about a handful of weird laws in New Mexico below.
- New Mexico’s dueling law
- Punishment for tripping a horse
- No improper use of the national or state anthem
1. New Mexico’s dueling law
New Mexico still has a law that prohibits duels in the state.
An ancient duel was a planned fight between two individuals who engaged in combat to settle a disagreement.
New Mexico is one U.S. state that explicitly bans duels in law.
New Mexico explicitly describes and prohibits duels in state law. (Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Dueling law in the state is laid out in New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30. Criminal Offenses § 30-20-11, according to FindLaw.com.
In the law, the definition of a duel is described as consisting of a person “conveying by written or verbal message a challenge to any other person to fight a duel with any deadly weapon, and whether or not such duel ensues; accepting a challenge from another person to fight a duel with any deadly weapon, and whether or not such duel ensues; engaging in or fighting a duel with any deadly weapon; or aiding, encouraging or seconding either party to a duel and being present at such duel when deadly weapons are used.”
According to the statute, those who break the law are “guilty of a fourth degree felony.”
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2. Punishment for tripping a horse
One head-scratching law in New Mexico is one that involves the penalty for tripping a horse.
The details of this law can be found in New Mexico Statute § 30-18-11, according to Justia.com.
“Unlawful tripping of an equine consists of intentionally using a wire, pole, stick, rope or any other object to cause an equine to lose its balance or fall, for the purpose of sport or entertainment,” the law states.
Tripping a horse in New Mexico is against the law, and causing injury or death is a fourth-degree felony. (iStock)
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Under the law, an equine is described as a donkey, horse, pony, mule or a hinny.
“The provisions of Subsection A of this section do not apply to laying an equine down for medical or identification purposes,” the law also states.
Those who break this law will be guilty of a misdemeanor, though if the horse is injured as a result of the incident, the penalty becomes more severe.
“Whoever commits unlawful tripping of an equine that causes the maiming, crippling or death of the equine is guilty of a fourth degree felony,” according to the law.
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3. No improper use of the national or state anthem
Many U.S. states have laws that revolve around the national anthem. New Mexico is one example of a state with such a law.
In New Mexico, it is illegal to “improperly use” the national anthem or the New Mexico state anthem, “Oh Fair New Mexico.”
This law is written out in New Mexico Statute § 30-21-5, according to Justia.com.
Those who “improperly use” the national anthem, or the state anthem of New Mexico, are guilty of a petty misdemeanor, according to state law. (iStock)
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The law defines “improper use” as “singing, playing or rendering ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ or ‘Oh Fair New Mexico’ in any public place or assemblage in this state except as an entire or separate composition or number.”
Those who break the law are guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
After Lance St. Louis served as the starting long snapper for the Texas Longhorns for four seasons, special teams coordinator Jeff Banks landed an experienced replacement when New Mexico Lobos transfer Trey Dubuc pledged while on a visit to the Forty Acres.
The pledge from Dubuc ensures that Texas has experienced replacements for three specialists despite signing high school prospects at each position — with the SEC expanding to 105 scholarships in 2026, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian can afford to develop high school recruits at those positions behind experienced transfers like Dubuc.
The Fort Lauderdale product started his career at USF after playing on two state championship teams at Cardinal Gibbons. A 6’1, 209-pounder, Dubuc redshirted during his freshman season in 2023 before appearing in one game as the backup long snapper the following year.
After transferring to New Mexico, Dubuc served as the starting long snapper while making two tackles for the Lobos.
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