Canada - Musical Ride

The early days of Canada were quite rugged and required the government to send out law enforcement officers to make arduous journeys on horseback to bring law and order to the isolated frontiers. Do you recognize Canada’s Mountie?

Early days of Canada’s Mounted Police were named the North Western Mounted Police and later granted, by King Edward the VII,  the addition of ‘Royal’ to their title to become the Royal North Western Mounted Police which eventually was changed to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1919.

The RCMP, with their colorful tunics and observed in bringing law and order were respected enough with Canada’s Indigenous people to negotiate surrender of lands and Treaties and opening the way for immigration of European people, the railroad and over all Canadian sovereignty.

Today, the RCMP are recognized around the world. One of their duties besides law enforcement officers foremost, is maintaining public relations with home and neighbor. One popular activity is participating in the ‘Musical Ride’ where Mountie and horse perform together to bring entertainment for both Canadians and international visitors. I’ve seen a performance myself and can say, they are a truly magnificent sight.

Opportunity to participate in the Musical Ride program is offered to all RCMP personnel to volunteer to train, perform and tour. Duration is only for three years to ensure a annual rotation for new riders. Intricate choreographed figures and cavalry drills are performed to music together by horse and rider. Both the RCMP officer and horse must be prepared to meet and greet the public. Can you imagine getting your own photo keepsake with a Mountie and their beautiful black horse?

The Musical Ride has become one of the RCMP’s and Canada’s popular traditions. Their famous full dress uniforms consist of the scarlet red tunics, felt hat, blue yellow-striped serge breeches, long boots, jack spurs and brown gauntlets worn in parades or brown leather gloves on other occasions along with their medals and decorations.

Law enforcement duties and patrols in various regions of Canada still continue to this day by the RCMP but on modern vehicles such as all terrain vehicles, boat, helicopter, cars and bicycles. They continue to strive to work with various communities of Canada’s Indigenous peoples helping improve policing and assist in developing justice program efforts and are graduates with various law enforcement degrees to specialize in chosen areas of interest combatting crime, in their chosen career.

Entry into the Musical Ride program by a RCMP officer may reveal he or she is not a horse rider but upon completion they are quite adept and skilled. A piece of their own history is preserved and continued by each new generation bringing pride to Canada, her people and good will to our neighbors. Even Hollywood loves the Canadian Mounties. Visit their Musical Ride schedule web site and see the magic both horse and rider bring to life.

Read related —> here and there.

Gift Shopping —> here.

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share your own observations plus give your Vote. Send me a email if you have a request on a topic of interest or to say Hello! It’s FREE to join my Fan club, subscribe by Email, RSS Feed, grab my Free Widget, Link to me or join me on HubPages, with a click of your mouse.

Article(C)2010 Dame Scribe, all rights reserved. Dame Scribe creates articles and posts online. She creates articles on business skills & development, health, science, technology and society and has a strong passion for writing.