FROM: John and Missy Harris,Sweetwater County, Wyoming
PST
This was our twelth year riding with the Pony Express. In the weeks before the ride our mule broke my hand and I was going to be unable to ride. Disappointment was mingled with fear for my husband. His horse can be unpredictable, at best, if ridden alone. I attempted to find someone to ride my fairly head-strong mustang but that also didn’t end well. In the end it would be John and Dark Moon Rising, aka Giraffe, 15 year old breeding stock paint, with our daughter, Emily who is 9, and myself trailing on the 4 wheeler. I figured if things went horribly wrong at least I could get to him sooner rather than later.
With this goal we practiced near the house, riding along with Giraffe and carrying horse treats to give him every time we stopped. It wasn’t long before Giraffe looked forward to approaching the 4 wheeler just for his treats. I was hopeful everything would be okay, but still worried.
The morning of the ride dawned sunny and cool. We were anticipating a ride around 10:30 am. Should be a great day for it. What we didn’t know when we left at 7:35 am was the mail was now 5 hours late. We got to our spot at around 9 am and didn’t find out til 11 how far the mail was behind. Our gorgeous morning was turning into a very windy afternoon. The windspeed at times that afternoon was 35 mph with gusts of 48 mph. It was windy.
We were now anticipating riding around 2 pm so we unsaddled Giraffe and settled in to wait. Giraffe went from being calm to being very nervous, the wind was not helping anything.
I am not exactly sure what time we got the mail but it was close to 3:30 pm. For the first time in 7 years of Giraffe participating in the Pony Express he didn’t stand still for the transfer of the mochilla. I know it was the unrelenting wind causing the nervousness but it sure didn’t help my confidence that this was going to be okay.
Finally the mochilla was settled, signed and they were off. I had requested they start slow and build up into a canter. I was quite relieved to see that was exactly what was happening. I ran to the 4 wheeler where our daughter was waiting, and it wouldn’t start. I was practicially in a panic, how could this be, I had started it numerous times throughout the day. Just as I realized, pull start it, Emily said the same thing. It started right up and we were in pursuit. I noticed that Giraffe was running with his head cocked to the side and it took me a minute to realize he was looking for the 4 wheeler. With a signal from John we passed them and took off down the trail with Giraffe in pursuit. It seems Giraffe had decided that the 4 wheeler was now his “companion horse” and looked to us for leadership. Strange I know, but once we got in the lead Giraffe galloped straight and true.
Two miles went by in a blur and we handed off to the next rider and turned for the trek back to the trailer. Last year we had rode 4 miles and the horses were so done in we decided to only do 2 miles this year. I don’t know what was different this year but Giraffe still wanted to run, so they did. We arrived safely at the trailer, got everything loaded and headed home. I don’t think we have every had a ride without “something” happening and this would be no exception. We had barely started the trip home when John stated very calmly “the truck is on fire”. Well it was only the brake controller for the trailer, John was able to unplug it and we continued home with no further excitement.
Till next year, wishing everyone a safe, swift ride. Run Pony Run.