FROM: Karen Trotter-Melton, Cushing, Oklahoma
PST
Sabetha KS 2015 Went to Sabetha, to meet my great niece, Whitney. While visiting with her and her maternal family, I notice the Pony Express Race signs. I was, like, OMG, this is where, they ran the pony express race.
After Goggling, the National Pony Express Race Association webpage, I contact Daniel with the Kansas Division, if I could ride for Kansas. After receiving, “If you are willing, to drive that far, from Cushing OK to Sabetha KS, we will give you three miles, at midnight. I said, “Great, I do most of my training at night time.”
On Wednesday, June 22, my Pony, The Harley Hank (Hank) and I drove to Sabetha, KS. Doug Garber and family was nice enough, to let Hank stay at his farm and I got a room at the Magnuson Hotel. On the following Thursday, I went to Seneca and Maysville, to take in the Pony Express museums. And Beattie. The next day on Friday, I was given my contact point, north of Beattie, at Summit.
Hank and me had arrived early, around midnight, Saturday AM, at our contact point. I was glad to give my pony, Hank, time to acclimate himself to the sounds of the winds flowing through the corn fields and the whooshing of the big windmills. As I watched Hank look around and down the road, we were to travel, I notice how calm he was. I sill didn’t know, if I had brought the right horse. Hank by nature, doesn’t like surprises, he cautious, and he likes to buck. I just knew he could cover a lot of road, in a fast distance.
Darrel Boyd, an 90 year old Pony Express rider, show up and while we were visiting, Hank walked over to him and laid his head on his shoulder. This was not usual for a cautious horse, but he truly rested and show Mr. Boyd, he was his friend. And Mr. Boyd truly enjoyed it. About 15 minutes before the arriving Pony Express horse appeared, Hank relieved himself. He knew something was getting ready to happen.
And then they came…Hank and me bothe had the same expression…Wow, there’s a horse and rider. As Lyle Lander removed the mochila from this rider to Hank, and said, “Karen, go with it.” I knew the moment had come, when Hank would show me what he was going to do. As we finish up our fifth mile, I was so proud of my pony, because he had been willing to carried the mochila and me to where we need to be and I felt a sense of pride knowing we had help the Kansas division arrival in Seneca KS.
Riding on the reenactment of the Pony Express race had and will always be a wonderful memory, but it’s not the main reason, I did it. It was a honor and privileged to remember the Brotherhood of the young riders, who did an extraordinary task in adverse circumstances. No one told them to stay out there and deliver the mail. They just did it. I hope, our youth of this county is never forgotten.
Thank you, Kansas, for letting me ride for you.