By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Pony Express is riding again all the way from St. Joseph to Sacramento, California.
The 2022 National Re-Ride of the express kicked off in St. Joseph in front of the Patee House Museum, where it began on April 3rd, 1860.
Director of the Patee House Museum Gary Chilcote says many people know about the Pony Express, and most believe it lasted 20 years.
"But it didn't at all, it left from St. Joseph on April 3rd, 1860 and it lasted 18 and a half months, so we think that it's important enough that we should try to keep the story alive," Chilcote tells reporters.
And that's why Chilcote and the National Pony Express Association put together the annual Re-Ride, which began yesterday.
"Today we started them over to Elwood, Kansas, but over the next ten days there will be about 600 riders sitting on that mochila carrying it all the way to Sacramento, California," Chilcote says.
Rider Penny Orrick from Easton was the first rider this year. She says riding in the annual reenactment is something she's been doing for 21 years.
"Started when I was 15, I was volunteering at the museum and Gary found out I had horses and so he asked if I would be willing to ride in it," Orrick explains. "And I said of course because I've always been a horse crazy girl so, just one more reason to get on a horse and ride."
Orrick says for her the only inspiration she needed to do this ride for all these years is her love of horses.
"Just the fact that I can be a part of history that involves horses, ever since I was little, I had horses plastered all over my room, so then finding out that horses played a huge part in history and being able to help reenact that, for me anyway that's probably the most exciting part of it for me," Orrick says.
Orrick kicked off the journey from St. Joseph to Sacramento, California before handing it off to riders from the Kansas chapter of the National Pony Express Association in Elwood, Kansas.
You can see details about the Re-Ride and see how far along it is on the journey HERE. Penny Orrick also streamed the ride from St. Joseph into Elwood which you can view below.