According to Wikipedia, Buffalo Bill while working for the Pony Express covered 322 miles in 21 hours, forty minutes using 21 horses, (which is just over 15 miles an hour). His relief rider had been killed and he made the round trip between Red Buttes Station and Rocky Ridge Station. Quite a feat!
Over the past two or three years, I dip into an Anthology by J. Frank Dobie called I'll Tell You a Tale, ever so often when time permits. In this anthology Mr. Dobie wrote a tale of one Francois Xavier Aubry entitled Little Aubry's Ride. This Aubry feller was a little guy, weighing not much more than he could eat in a day or two, say a hundred pounds give or take a little. Well, this Mister Aubry was a tough little nut who traveled between Independence, Missouri, and Santa Fe New Mexico, delivering freight. He bet a thousand dollars that he could make the ride in six days. It was over 800 miles that he had to ride. The total time it took him was five days and 16 hours, actual riding time he figured was four and a half days. They said his saddle was bloody when he he got off the horse at the end of the ride.
Now, that's some ridin'!
Well, there is much more to learn about both of these horsemen at Wikipedia.com and also the famous writer J Frank Dobie and his writings. Interesting men, interesting books.
Darn, that is a some piece of riding. Wow.
ReplyDeleteTwo sore behinds there.
DeleteOuch, think I prefer my type of Mustang (the one with the radio and air conditioning). But quite a feat. I read a recent novel where an entire gang rode 70 miles a day for many days - bit of a stretch I believe.
ReplyDeleteThey would have to have plenty of horses to exchange, but probably not impossible.
DeleteYour illustration at the top of the page gave me a good chuckle today, Oscar.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David! I have a weird sense of humor.
DeleteHey Oscar! Just dropping in to say hi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the stopping by! I was looking at your blog a couple days ago.
DeleteI'm betting horses neighed a sigh of relief when they saw the train and later the automobile arrive.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to travel like that anymore, but they still run in strenuous races. I don;t understand people who own horses and don't take care of 'em. There were two or three cases of that over the summer here in the Phoenix area, probably around 40-50 horses total.
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