5. what is the main idea?
if you wanted to become a pony
express rider, you had to be an
expert horseman. the work was
dangerous and demanding. riders
rode 100 miles regardless of the
weather. they jumped onto a fresh
horse about every ten miles and
galloped at top speed. because their
speed was important, small, light-
weight riders were preferred. one
california newspaper in 1860
advertised for riders listing these
requirements: skinny fellows, not
over 18, willing to risk death daily.