PLATTE COUNTY – A re-ride of the historic Pony Express will be conducted June 17 – 27, with 600 members of the National Pony Express Association, Inc. riding 24/7cross-country from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California.
The riders are divided into eight state divisions and will ride relays of one to five miles each, transferring authentic United States Postal Service mail in a mochila (traditional horseback mail-carrying bag with four pockets.) The riders are sworn in with an Oath of Conduct, and receive a small Bible for their journey, as those riders long ago did too
The riders will canter off after a dedication ceremony by the USPS in St. Joseph to releasing “Horses Forever®” stamps and commemorating the 164th commemorative Pony Express re-ride. In a press release, the USPS says the “Horses Forever®” stamps reflect the concept horses are “Known for their loyalty, hard work, and steadfast character, horses have long been integral to American culture and society. Today these valued athletes and loyal companions also work in law enforcement, forestry, entertainment, equine therapy and cattle ranching.”

The Pony Express re-ride seeks to preserve living history and as much as possible follows the trail ridden by employees of the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company from April 1860 to November 1861. The concept was to improve time for mail to reach the west coast, and the short 18 months pony express delivery was available was iconic in American History, shortening the time mail was delivered by weeks (30 or more days for delivery was reduced to 10 days). Though the route was successful, the final connection of the transcontinental telegraph line on October 26 1861, spelled the end of the pony express. There was now direct communication between New York, New York and San Francisco.
“We like to encourage people to greet us and walk for a little while on the trail with us at our check stops. We like to have to have the public involved – we really enjoy that,” ride captain for Platte County, Sephanie Goulart said.

More information can be found on the nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/current-reride/ website or on their Facebook page. There is also a GPS tracker in the mochila, giving real-time location of the mail that is updated on a map accessed from the website, nationalponyexpress.org.

https://nationalponyexpress.org/the-states/wyoming/#2024-wyoming-reride-schedule