Make a positive impact in the life of a boy from Gaylord fighting a rare form of cancer

Vicki Reinhardt

The 61st Pony Express Ride is being co-hosted this year by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Posse and the Otsego County Mounted Division and being sponsored by the Michigan Sheriff’s Mounted Association. It is being held at the Osceola Posse Grounds at 21940 6 Mile Road in Reed City, Michigan 49677.

The Pony Express Ride has been held annually since 1962. Since it began, hundreds of officers have carried thousands of Pony Express Letters along designated routes across Michigan just as years ago brave riders carried the mail across the west. This event is held on the second Saturday in June, proclaimed by the governor as Pony Express Day.

Mounted Police Officers are getting ready to saddle up and head over to Reed City for this year’s Pony Express Ride. The Michigan Sheriff’s Mounted Association sponsors this annual event. Each year it is hosted by a Michigan county and officers from across the state bring their horses to participate. The State Association is currently made up of 11 Michigan counties and approximately 175 members. It is open to all Michigan counties to join.

Each year the State Association chooses a recipient to raise money for, usually to help with medical expenses. This year’s recipient is a 14-year-old boy from Gaylord. He is fighting a rare form of cancer.

We raise money by selling Pony Express letters. We have special commemorative stationery and envelopes for people to write their own letters to friends, family or anyone then give the letters back to us with a small dona- tion. The letters then become part of the annual event. They are then carried by a horse and rider along a route and handed off to another horse and rider until they reach the end of the route. After the mail carry, the letters are hand cancelled with a commemorative stamp. Afterwards they continue on their way through the U.S. Postal Service.

We raise money throughout the weekend with silent auctions and bag raffles with items donated by local merchants as well as private citizens. Craft items, merchandise, gift cards, services and more items are available. All donations are welcome. 100% of the money raised goes to this year’s recipient.

The mail carry will be held on June 10 starting at 7 a.m. following routes across Osceola County. At 1 p.m. there will be an all horse parade through the town of Reed City. The recipient and his family will also be included in the parade riding in a horse drawn vehicle. It is impressive to see so many horses and officers in uniforms and parade gear riding through town!

Following the parade there will be a speed horseshow at the posse grounds where riders compete in friendly competition against other officers and counties.

Everyone is welcome to come watch the parade and horseshow. Come meet the police officers and see all their horses. There is no charge and we hope you’ll come and see us!

Pony Express letters can be written until the first week of June. If you would like to send a letter, please contact Vicki Reinhardt at 231-833-0123 or Nadia Kidder at 989-8580935. We can get it to you or put you in touch with someone closer to you. They can also be written at the Osceola Posse grounds on June 7, 8 and 9. Just ask anybody camped there. If you would like to donate something you made or merchandise for our auctions to help with medical expenses, please give us a call and we will arrange a pickup.

Plan to come and spend the day with us, meet the officers and their horses, send a letter by Pony Express, and cheer for your favorite horse in the horseshow.

Hope to see you there!