Pony Express Riders ‘hit the road’ for 164th annual Re-Ride

By Leah Rainwater

Hundreds gathered at the Patee House on Monday afternoon for the official kick-off of the annual National Pony Express Association’s Re-Ride.

Attendees were able to write commemorative letters, take pictures and pet the horses starting the long trek across the country.

“This building was the headquarters for the Pony Express 164 years ago,” said Gary Chilcote, the museum director of Patee House.

One pair of friends both traveled from different states to St. Joseph to see the reenactment of the ride.

Amy Manning came from Wichita, Kansas, and Marciana Rinaldi-O’Halloran traveled from San Francisco, California. They both said they would follow the Re-Ride to some extent.

“I will follow it for the bits that it’s here in Kansas and Nebraska and then Marci is actually gonna fly home,” Manning said.

“Then I’ll drive from San Francisco to Sacramento and I’ll be at the Pony Express Statue to see it there,” Rinaldi-O’Halloran said.

Rinaldi-O’Halloran said she’s grateful she was able to attend.

“It’s history and the reenactment in the making,” said Rinaldi-O’Halloran. “And it’s the closest I’ll be to it and it … it links our nation, and mail is important to me.”

Manning said the pair had never witnessed a Re-Ride before and that she wished she were able to contribute more to the ride.

“I love horses, but no, never the Pony Express and so I’m really happy and if I was just, oh my god, even five years younger, I would be on one of those horses,” Manning said.

One thing that the two noted that drew them to the Re-Ride, was their love for history and their new love for St. Joseph.

“Oh my god, we both love history, I love horses, but we both have a shared love for history and why not?” said Manning. “St. Joe is an adorable town, um, who would have thought that something as magnitudinal as this started in this teeny little town in Missouri.”

One specialty for this year was the incorporation and dedication of the new U.S. Postal Horse stamp.

“Horses have been such a vital part of our country’s history and by honoring these magnificent animals, we are acknowledging their beauty and stamina as well as their part in our history and vital role for the Pony Express,” said Pam Simmons, president of the National Pony Express Association.