Pony Express riders..... The Handoff
That's a really nice set of fun shots, Jack. I'd like to be out there to see that in person sometime.
Mr. B
Loc: eastern Connecticut
Yeah, but the Pony Express advertised for small, light weight riders.
Cwilson341 wrote:
Sharp and colorful narrative series? Well done.
Thanks for the reply Cwilson341, it was a fun experience.
Jack Olson
Reuss Griffiths wrote:
Great set of images. Like the action and the way you captured it.. How long was your "mail route" from beginning to end? Horses are pretty good at endurance but not at the speeds that the Pony Express rode.
Thanks for the reply Ruess, not sure how many miles they covered, some streets, roads and lots of desert trails. Each segment was approx one mile, so the horses weren't worked to hard.
Jack Olson
jaymatt wrote:
That's a really nice set of fun shots, Jack. I'd like to be out there to see that in person sometime.
Thanks jaymatt, we have several Pony Express runs around our area. The longest is a three-day run called the "Hashknife". It begins in Holbrook, AZ and ends in Scottsdale (a distance of 167 miles). Letters are picked up along the course and carried to the US Post Office in Scottsdale where they are cancelled with a special stamp and mailed to the recipients all over the world. I wanted to photograph that run but got sicker than hell at that time and missed it.
The Hashknife is run in early January. Riders are sworn in as legit mail carriers the night before the run, to make it all legal.
Jack Olson
Mr. B wrote:
Yeah, but the Pony Express advertised for small, light weight riders.
Yup, and most of them were just kids in their teens.
Jack Olson
Diesel fuel. Horse feed is along the highway and its free for the to eat.
Thank you for beatiful photos, it is great that they keep honoring that amazing chapter in history now that distance does not exit for voice and image
Nice set. Who says you can't go back.
fhayes
Loc: Madison, Tennessee
What a wonderful set of photographs and story!!
Hey Wilderness Images those are some fine images of Pony Express riders of the modern vintage; not exactly the "young skinny fellows" called for in the original advertising asking for riders. I live in St Joseph, Missouri where the Pony Express began (and incidently Jesse James ended). There are museums dedicated to both and there is no doubt that both Jesse and the Pony Express have generated more money after they passed than they ever did while they were alive. I also never knew that the Pony Express had an alternate route that took the riders through Arizona, but what's a little "frolic and detour" if its for a good cause. Thanks for sharing these with us.
RodeoMan wrote:
Hey Wilderness Images those are some fine images of Pony Express riders of the modern vintage; not exactly the "young skinny fellows" called for in the original advertising asking for riders. I live in St Joseph, Missouri where the Pony Express began (and incidently Jesse James ended). There are museums dedicated to both and there is no doubt that both Jesse and the Pony Express have generated more money after they passed than they ever did while they were alive. I also never knew that the Pony Express had an alternate route that took the riders through Arizona, but what's a little "frolic and detour" if its for a good cause. Thanks for sharing these with us.
Hey Wilderness Images those are some fine images o... (
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Thanks for the interesting reply RodeoMan. We're blessed with lots of horse lovers around here and they are always looking for some reason to get out and ride. It's not uncommon to see horseback riders on the streets of Apache Junction and several places still have hitching rails outside the doors, so an annual Pony Express run is reason enough.
Jack Olson
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