What Kind Of People Ride For The Pony Express?

Rather than burly cowboys, most of the riders were small, wiry men who weighed between 100 and 125 pounds—roughly the same size as a modern horseracing jockey. Their average age was around 20, but it wasn’t unusual for teenagers as young as 14 to be hired.

What were the criteria for selecting rider for the Pony Express?

Official riders shall be members who are fourteen years of age (turning 14 at ANY time during the Re-Ride year) or over, with a suitable horse, apparel and equipment. Persons 14 – 17 years of age must have parent or guardians consent. Each rider must be a member in one of the state divisions.

What do Pony Express riders do?

Riders would carry the mail in a mochila (a leather knapsack) before passing it along to the next rider at one of the 190 designated stations along the route. On average, a rider would travel for up to 100 miles at a time, changing horses they were riding at full gallop every 10 to 15 minutes.

Who were important people in the Pony Express?

Meet a few of the notable riders:

• Johnny Fry. Johnny was born in Kentucky and moved with his family to Missouri when he was 16 years old.
• William Campbell. Billy came to the United States with his parents as a young boy.
• Major Howard Egan.
• Robert Haslam.
• William (Sam) Hamilton.

Which was probably not a requirement to be a rider for the Pony Express?

This was so the riders wouldn’t get so lonely at night. This was as far as a horse could run without getting tired. Which was probably not a requirement to be a rider for the Pony Express? You had to be light.

How heavy can a rider be for a pony?

On average, a pony between 9 and 14 hands may weigh between 400 and 800 pounds. Following the 20% rule, this means that a pony can generally carry a person (including tack) who weighs between 80 and 160 pounds. This is why ponies are usually ridden by children, or smaller adults.

What was the maximum weight a Pony Express rider carried?

and the Pony
Weight restrictions were strict. Riders had to weigh less than 120 pounds and carry 20 pounds of mail and 25 pounds of equipment. Some riders were given an inscribed leather Bible (see far left).

What age is pony riding for?

It provides a selection of beginner to novice children’s horse riding and fun pony care classes from 4 years of age, the range of classes starts with their fun pony care class ‘Pony Pals’ which is learning about ponies using learning games, which specifically aimed at younger kids.

Do horses care about their riders?

Yes, they do. Very much so. And they have long memories for both the humans they’ve bonded with in a positive way and the ones who have damaged or abused or frightened them.

What age should you start pony riding?

In general, with proper supervision, kids can start riding a (smaller) horse or a pony as young as 2-3 years old. Some schools do offer courses for toddlers as the earlier a child gets introduced to a horse, the easier it becomes to be comfortable around them.

Were there any female Pony Express riders?

There were no known female Pony Express riders. However, some of the ‘stations’ at which the Pony Express riders stopped to change horses or to hand-off the mail to a new rider were owned by or run by women.

Who was the best Pony Express rider?

One rider completed a 380-mile run in less than two days. In May 1860, Robert “Pony Bob” Haslam took off on the most legendary ride in Pony Express history. The 20-year-old was scheduled to make his usual 75-mile run from Friday’s Station east to Buckland Station in Nevada.

How old were Pony Express riders?

Qualifications: Age ranged from 11 to mid 40’s. Riders had to weigh less than 125 lbs. Youngest Rider: Legend has it that Bronco Charlie Miller was 11 years old when he rode for the Pony Express. Horses Used: Mustangs, Morgans, Pintos, and Thoroughbreds.

Are horses fine with being ridden?

There is no definitive answer to the question of whether horses like being ridden. While some horses seem to enjoy the companionship and the attention that they receive from their riders, others may find the experience to be uncomfortable or even stressful.

Did Pony Express riders carry guns?

Ten days later, at 1:00 a.m. on April 14, the package was finally delivered by another rider to its destination in San Francisco, California. In addition to the mailbag, the Pony Express riders carried two things: a Bible, and a gun.

How far would a Pony Express rider travel in a day?

75 to 100 miles a day
Riders would travel 75 to 100 miles a day, switching horses every 10 to 12 miles. The fastest delivery in the history of the Pony Express was seven days and seventeen hours. It was to deliver President Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address. The Pony Express was started by William H.

How fat is too fat to ride a horse?

20 percent
According to THE U.S.CAVALRY MANUAL OF HORSE MANAGEMENT (1941) a horse should not carry more than 20 percent of its own weight.

Can adults ride ponies?

Although relatively new to North America, German Riding Ponies have been bred in Germany for more than 50 years. They resemble small warmbloods and are ridden by children and adults alike in Europe.

What weight is too big to ride a horse?

Deb Bennett, PhD, founder of the Equine Studies Institute and an expert in the biomechanics of horses, has advised that the “Total weight of rider plus tack must not exceed 250 lbs. There is no horse alive, of any breed, any build, anywhere, that can go more than a few minutes with more weight on its back than this.

How much did Pony Express riders get paid?

The riders were paid $25 a week, which in those days was good money. Each carried a gun, a waterbag and the mail, in a pouch specially designed to survive even if the horse and rider did not. Riders changed to a fresh horse at each station along the way and handed over to a new rider every 75 to 100 miles.

How many Pony Express riders were lost?

7. How many Pony Express riders died on the job? There is historical documentation that four Pony riders were killed by Indians;one was hanged for murder after he got drunk and killed a man;one died in an unrelated accident;and two froze to death.