Pony Express rides again: Centennial mail relay ride begins Saturday in Hobbs

Carlsbad Current-Argus - Today, mail is transported by air, truck or electronically across the country. But there was a time in our history when brave riders mounted their horses and galloped across the country to deliver mail. They were called the Pony Express. To celebrate the state's centennial, a group of riders will mount their horses on Saturday for a two-week relay ride from Hobbs to Santa Fe with their saddle bags filled with mail from the region that includes Carlsbad. "The 14-day ride begins at the Western Heritage Museum Complex and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame and will conclude on June 8 when the riders reach Santa Fe," said Carlsbad Museum Director Patsy-Jackson-Christopher. "We have a stack of mail already and we hope to get more from Carlsbad." Jackson-Christopher said it is her understanding that up to 300 people have signed up to be a Pony Express rider. "It's truly a relay like they had when the Pony Express was operating. But the only difference from then and now is that we will have a lot more riders than they had back then. Riders will probably ride a mile or more before handing off to the next rider." Read More News New Mexico

Pony Express rides again: Centennial mail relay ride begins Saturday in Hobbs