Residents will take part in old-fashioned mail delivery

Nineteen riders on horseback will make their way to Pep from surrounding communities Saturday in honor of the Pony Express.

Postal parcels will be galloping across the open range once again in the first annual Pony Express Ride.

“We are doing this to help out the economic development in this area,” said event coordinator Bruce Senior.

The 19 riders will start out at 7 a.m. from several Roosevelt County communities, and travel with mail to Pep. A relay system will be used for the long distances. The riders should arrive in Pep by 10:30 a.m., where all the mail will be loaded onto a postal vehicle and then transported to Portales to be delivered, Senior said.

“It is going to be fun,” said rider Michael Neece of Dora. “I have been riding horses for 12 years and look forward to being a part of this run.”

Some riders will travel down NM 206 (Dora Highway); others will cut across the countryside.

After the ride, there will be a barbecue at noon and barn dance at 5 p.m., Senior said. The events are open to the public.

“This will be an annual event and the location of the ride will change each year,” Senior said.

Communities participating in Saturday’s Pony Express Ride:

Crossroads

Milnesand

Elida

Dora

Rogers

Causey