Members of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Hashknife Posse will turn back the hands of time today (Feb. 9) as they embark on their 53rd annual Pony Express Ride from Holbrook to Scottsdale to deliver specially marked letters via horseback.
The riders will gather at the Holbrook Senior Center at 6 o’clock this morning for a send-off breakfast before taking their positions and beginning their three-day journey.
The first bag of U.S. mail will leave from the Holbrook Post Office at 8 o’clock this morning in a ceremonial sendoff as the postmaster hands over a bag of mail to the first rider. From there the riders run a relay covering more than 200 miles to reach their final destination in Scottsdale, where they will take part in the Parada del Sol.
A total of 65 cowboys are participating in the 53rd annual Navajo County Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse Pony Express ride, including the sheriff, 41 riders and 24 members of the support crew.
The leaders of the 2011 ride are Sheriff K.C. Clark, Captain Mark Reynolds, Trail Boss Dave Alford, Assistant Trail Boss Chuck Jackman, and Swing Bosses Tim Kelley, Clayton Alford, Matt McRae, Cole Alford and Dusey.
Riders include Steve Reynolds, Michael Volpe, Steve Weiss, Don Chiappetti, Pat Reynolds, Jack Lundeen, Dave Fortney, Howard Lange, Wayne Ramey, Brian Chambers, Greg Long, Tom Hill, Garry Cooper, Dave Moffett, Shane Williams, Nate Perkins, Mark DiBrito, Bill Fischer Jr., Carl Reynolds, Justin Maly, Pat Nichols, Danny Sharp, Andy Lund, Jake Jacobson, Brandon Brewer, Mark McRae, Jack Alford, Rusty DeSpain, Travis Chaves, Wade Williams, Kevin Featherston, Slim Garner and Allen Mitchell.
The support crew includes Kenny Mott, Bill Bridwell Sr., Del Allen, Louie Jimenez, Perry Lank, David Cole, Tony Gardella, David Reese, Jim Mobley, Bill Perkins, Frank Long, Mark Jackson, Greg Lucas, Rick Borta, Andy Pickett, Randy Weems, Randy Moffett, Brad Carlyon, Bob Price, Shawn Maestas, Brandon Nichols, Sean Cassidy, Jack Mead and Brad Porter.
The Hashknife Posse has the longest continuous contract with the U.S. Postal Service to carry official U.S. mail on horseback. The original contract was made with the U.S. Postal Service in 1960 through the efforts of the early posse members and the late Ernest Hulet, who was Holbrook’s postmaster at that time.
The Holbrook Post Office is the official Pony Express Station, and letters from across the country and around the world are stamped with a special postal cachet. In addition, each envelope is stamped with the posse’s current pony express stamp, commemorating the year’s ride.
