GUERNSEY—Although their portion of the event is a week away for the Southeast Wyoming Pony Express Association riders, the first rider for the annual re-ride of the National Pony Express Association heads out of Sacramento, California this Wednesday at 3 p.m. PST.

The re-ride is a full, ten-day re-enactment of the original Pony Express run between California and St. Joseph, MO. Covering eight states (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri), smaller association groups cover designated sections of the original trail by horseback, riding day and night over the course of 10 days, the amount of time it took the original riders to cover the 1,966 miles of the route.

Carried in a leather mochila, a four-pocketed carrier made to fit over the saddle, specially marked letters sold in advance to the public, will be transported from California to Missouri and then sent through the regular U.S.Postal Service to the intended recipient.

Locally, the route between Glendo and the Wyoming-Nebraska state line will be covered by the riders who belong to the Southeast Wyoming Pony Express Association, a division of the national group. The first rider from the local association is expected to leave Glendo at approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday, June 27th. The schedule can vary as much as two hours either side of the expected arrival time due to a variety of circumstances that can slow or accelerate the process. Riders will carry the mail across the original trail on to Wendover crossing, Guernsey, Register Cliff and across the tank farm road to old Fort Laramie.

This year, the local group is sponsoring a public presentation about the original Pony Express and its 158-year history at the Fort Laramie National Historic Site just outside Fort Laramie. Beginning at 10 a.m., guest speakers will share stories and legends of the trail and the public will be able to see the actual mail exchange between riders from the national re-ride at approximately 11:30 a.m.

After leaving the fort, the mail will continue east and south of Lingle and Torrington, and transfer to the Nebraska riders at the state line near Lyman, expected to arrive at approximately 3:30 p.m.

If you would like to follow the riders online, the NPEA website provides directions on how to do so. The mail is equipped with a GPS device that pinpoints the location of the riders in 10-30 minute intervals and maps the location on the website. Reports from the trail are also posted to the website as the national re-ride progresses. Go to nationalponyexpress.org to find out about tracking the riders. The website also provides complete information about the NPEA and the state organizations.

The Southeast Wyoming Pony Express Association has 25 members who participate in a variety of events in addition to the national re-ride each June.

The group conducts a Christmas Card Ride and Valentine Ride each year, carrying mail submitted by the public to be carried by horseback, specially marked as such and then delivered through the regular mail service to the designated recipients.

Members participate in educational programs held in area elementary schools as well as civic and service clubs. Members also ride in all of the regional seasonal parades, including the Wyoming State Fair and Cheyenne Frontier Days.

In 2016, the group also began a very special delivery for military veterans who reside in the VA Home in Cheyenne. “Ride for the Heroes” is now held each summer to deliver cards and letters written by Wyoming school children to express their thanks for the Vets’ military service.

Following the interest of horse and trail enthusiasts in the 1960s who began re-enactments of the Pony Express riders, the National Pony Express Association was established in 1977 and incorporated in 1978 to preserve the Pony Express National Historic Trail, its sites and its history.

As part of the Historic Trails System, the Pony Express Trail is administered by the National Park Service.