| The RCMP Musical Ride at the Manitoba Legislature. (CP PHOTO/Winnipeg Free Press-Joe Bryksa)
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INDEPTH: RCMP
RCMP Musical Ride
CBC News Online | March 10, 2005
The Musical Ride is a spectacle created by the RCMP. It showcases riding ability and traditional cavalry drill movements. The Ride has become part of Canada's heritage and has grown in popularity since its inception in the early 20th century. Now, it's a familiar sight on Parliament Hill, and at parades and special events.
It has a long history, but the first officially recorded Musical Ride took place in Regina in 1887 under Inspector William George Matthews. It went on public display in 1901. Officers who designed the Musical Ride in its early years wanted to display their riding ability and entertain local communities.
Police officers who perform the Musical Ride volunteer for it after at least two years of active police work. Most are not experienced riders until they take equestrian training with the RCMP. When they complete the courses needed to perform the drill, they become riders as well as ambassadors of goodwill, promoting the image of the RCMP across the country.
Officers remain with the Ride for only three years to ensure new riders get a chance to perform. Riders perform at about 40 to 50 venues a year between May and October. They perform across Canada and in other countries.
The Musical Ride, with appropriate pomp, involves 32 riders and horses and a member in charge. Riders perform a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drill in time to music. The movements require control, timing and co-ordination. Riders execute the movements individually, in twos, fours and eights at the trot and at the canter. The choreographed performance takes months of training, practice and many times around the riding school track.
In the 1870s, horses of the North-West Mounted Police were the main means of transportation for officers and the animals had to be rugged. Now, an RCMP horse has to be black, graceful and strong, with a good nature and enough stamina to enable it to perform the Musical Ride many times.
Since 1839, the RCMP has bred its own horses. The RCMP horse breeding program got its start at Depot Division in Regina, then it moved in 1942 to Fort Walsh, built in the Cypress Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan. In 1968, the breeding program was moved to Pakenham, Ont., west of Ottawa. Here, RCMP horses spend the first three years of their lives before they become Musical Ride horses. Then they reside at the home of the Musical Ride – the Rockcliffe Park Equestrian Centre in Ottawa.
The Musical Ride has grown into a hugely popular attraction in Canada. One of its highlights is the Charge, which occurs when lances are lowered as the riders and their mounts launch into the gallop. The ride's finale is the March Past, which is carried out to the music of the RCMP's regimental march and during which the Musical Ride will salute a guest of honour.
The RCMP views the Musical Ride as part of its public relations program and the spectacle has helped over the years to create an enduring and popular image of the Mounties as fearless upholders of the law in the Canadian wilderness.
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