Pony Express

Pony Express Races are run inside a closed arena. The race is run in a counter-clockwise direction around four plastic 55-gallon barrels.  The object of the race is to successfully hand a pair of leather saddlebags to your teammate between the first and second barrel with the last rider tossing the saddlebags into a 30 gallon barrel cut to be 22 inches high.

Pony Express is a relay race on horseback requiring timing, hand-eye coordination, patience and teamwork.  We run two different classes of Pony Express. 

The first is the Timed teams.  This class rides against the clock.  Only one timed team rides at a time and it is a great place to learn the event.  Beginner, novice and seasoned horsemen ride together in this class.  It is the perfect opportunity for everyone to gain experience and have fun.

The Timed teams run 3 races and the times are added together.  The winner is the team with the lowest time.

Open teams add a new dimension to Pony Express as now there are two teams in a head-to-head competition.  The first, or Jump horses begin astride each other as they cross the first barrel and it is an old-fashioned horserace around the arena and back to the handoff area.  Seven riders perform this equestrian duel until the last rider.  It takes nerves of steel and a lot of luck to be side by side two horses charging towards a 22 inch high target with both riders calculating when to release their saddlebags in hope they go in first and not miss their mark.  The winner is the team that gets their saddlebags in first.

In both classes, if the saddlebags are dropped, you must pick them up and continue the race.  If the last rider, or bucket rider misses the goal barrel,  they must get off their horse and get the bags in to end the race or stop the clock.  Timed teams ride with 6 riders and the Open teams ride with 8.  Each team is allowed 2 alternates because we all can’t be at every event. 

So mark you calendars for another exciting year.  We will have five tournaments this year with an end of year finals. 

Our races will be:

March 20 @ Cedar Hill (Sunday)

April 17 @ Cedar Hill (Sunday)
May 15- Mansfield (Sunday)
Sunday tournaments Captain’s Meeting is 12:30 with races @ 1:00

 

June 18- Joshua (Saturday)

July 16- Joshua (Saturday)

September 17- Finals (Saturday) (Arena to be announced)

Saturday tournaments: Captains Meeting is 6:30 with races @ 7:00

More details about the rules for Pony Express can be found in the NARC&SP Handbook.

Bring your throat lozenges because you are sure to get caught up in the excitement that is NARC&SP Pony Express!  See ya at the goal barrel, may your bags go in first.

Kim Kelly