Navajo County Sheriff’s Deputy Betty Starns is making history, being the first woman to take part as a rider in the Hashknife Posse Pony Express. She will be making the ride with her horse, Black Beauty.
Navajo County Sheriff’s Deputy Betty Starns is making history, being the first woman to take part as a rider in the Hashknife Posse Pony Express. She will be making the ride with her horse, Black Beauty. Photo courtesy of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office

For the first time in its 66-year history, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Hashknife Posse will have a woman rider, who will be taking part in the annual Pony Express Ride to be held on Jan. 31. Navajo County Deputy Betty Starns, 31, has been with the Sheriff’s Office for seven years and was born and raised in Show Low. Deputy Starns has been riding horses for 23 years and during those years she has participated in numerous horse-related activities.

Each year the captain of the Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse extends an invitation to the staff at the Sheriff’s Office that would be interested in riding in the Hashknife Pony Express Ride. Sheriff Clouse extended the invitation to the staff and Deputy Betty Starns advised she would like to participate. As a result, her name was given to the captain of Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse to be added to the list of staff from the Sheriff’s Office who would be participating.

Regarding the opportunity, Starns stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to make history within the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.”