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. …
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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.”
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.