The Pony Express Rides Again, Pa rider shares how she got involved
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Asia Tabb
Aired; April 16th, 2025.
Every June, hundreds of riders saddle up for an epic journey spanning eight states and nearly 2,000 miles — all in the name of history. On a recent episode of The Spark, host Asia Tabb caught up with Petra Keller and Linda Jenny of the National Pony Express Association to talk about the enduring legacy of the legendary Pony Express and how it continues to ride strong today.
“I caught Pony fever — and I haven’t found a cure yet.”
Petra Keller, who grew up riding horses in Germany, found herself drawn to the Pony Express after moving to Nevada. Inspired by her love of horses and the Wild West, she began riding in the 2010 sesquicentennial event and never looked back.
“That year, we celebrated the 150th anniversary,” Keller recalled. “Someone even dressed up as Abraham Lincoln and stood on the side of the road cheering us on.”
“The ride takes 10 days, 24/7 — rain, shine, or tornado watch.”
The annual re-ride alternates directions each year between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The route closely follows the original Pony Express trail, and participants ride through mountains, deserts, and small towns in an Olympic torch-style relay, passing a traditional leather mochila from one horse to the next.
“We ride all kinds of terrain — from downtown Carson City to the middle of nowhere with cows crossing the trail,” said Keller. “It’s not just about the ride. It’s about the camaraderie with our ride teams.”
Today’s Pony Express still delivers letters using the same historical methods — right down to the leather mochila with four pockets. For $5, you can send a commemorative letter; for $10, you can write a personalized one. Both are carried the full length of the trail before being handed off to the USPS for delivery.
“I saw Petra’s Facebook photo and said, ‘I want to do that.’ She said, ‘You can.’”
Linda Jenny lives in Pennsylvania, far from the trail, but that didn’t stop her. She now rides in Nebraska each year on her Paint Quarter Horse, Roxy. “We just ride dirt roads between the cornfields — it’s perfect for Roxy since she was recovering from a tendon injury.”
“It takes over 600 riders, dozens of captains, and year-round planning.”
Keller, who also serves as Corresponding Secretary for the association, described the massive logistics behind the ride. From securing permits to clearing fallen trees, coordinating weather plans, and managing real-time updates across state lines, every detail matters.
“We even have a tracker in the mochila so people can follow the ride online,” she said. “There’s a whole team of volunteers working behind the scenes.”
Listen to the podcast to hear the full interview.
