The Pony Express

One thing that I have repeatedly come back to throughout this project is how much horses have impacted human culture. This week, I posted an episode with Curtis Moore all about the Pony Express (you can listen to that here!) Lots of Americans THINK they know about the Pony Express. Brave riders charging into the desert day after day, week after week, year after year. A show of the bravery and grit of the American West!

And, the thing is, that’s kind of true. Those riders did charge into the night to get letters delivered where trains did not run yet. Except, the telegram line was run out to California less than two years later and rendered the Pony Express completely obsolete. It closed down, and became a part of American folklore.

This is certainly not the only example of horses having a profound impact on human culture, and it is so fascinating to explore. Throughout history, horses and humans have shaped and evolved with each other. We have cohabitated since the agricultural revolution, and we continue to find meaning in our relationships with horses. It’s just so fascinating to pick out this example, because of how grand it has come to be in the American psyche.