Pony Express Re-Ride visits Carson City

The weather was hot, dry and windy Wednesday afternoon as a lone rider traveled South Curry Street heading to Jacks Valley for the annual Pony Express Re-Ride. That a Red Flag Warning for wildland fire had gone into effect seemed to heighten the western-era historical reenactment.

“Each June, members of the National Pony Express Association recreate the Pony Express in a Commemorative Re-Ride over a 10-day period. Letters are carried in a mochila over the original trail. The 1,966-mile, eight-state event is conducted 24 hours a day until the mail is delivered to its destination,” reads the website for the National Pony Express Association. “Over 750 riders participate and around 1,000 letters are mailed each year. Riders come from all walks of life, but are all members of NPEA.”

It was clearly a team effort in logistics behind the scenes, and through the streets of Carson the rider was escorted by Carson City Sheriff’s deputies and volunteers.

Running ahead of schedule, “The Pony” arrived in Dayton by 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, at Mills Park in Carson by high noon, on to Jacks Valley Road in north Douglas County by 1 p.m., and was scheduled to be at Stateline in the Tahoe Basin by 5:30 p.m., according to the site’s tracking map. The final destination, Sacramento, was expected to be reached by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

“The incoming rider reins in and greetings are exchanged. Dismounting, the incoming courier lifts a leather mochila from the saddle. It is placed on the new horse and the fresh rider steps into the stirrup, swings into the saddle and begins a ride over the horizon and back into history,” reads the website.

To follow the progress of the re-ride, visit https://nationalponyexpress.org/.