Red Serge and Moving Moments

The Mountie in red serge is unarguably the most universally identifiable Canadian symbol. And the sight of nearly three dozen Mounties in red serge seated upon handsome dark horses and performing intricate maneuvers choreographed to music, is more than enough to swell the heart of this proud Canadian. Such was the emotion I felt at yesterday’s RCMP Musical Ride.

I have always enjoyed pomp and circumstance and tradition and ceremony. From marching with the Girl Guides as a child, to involvement as a faculty member in university convocation ceremonies, to attending parades with marching bands – give me some people in matching uniforms, some music, and some coordinated movement and I am enthralled.

But nothing can describe the sense of nationalism and pride that comes with watching “Canada’s finest” on parade, working as a team with great timing and coordination as they trot and canter their horses in twos, fours, eights and more, performing elaborate patterns some of which are drawn from cavalry drill. Thirty-two women and men on thirty-two horses “strut their stuff” to a variety of familiar music that ranged from the patriotic to tv theme songs.

The day was perfect – not too warm, not too cold. The arena was outdoors, on the rolling equestrian fields of Avalon Equestrian Centre in Duncan – a beautiful setting, with a flat spot for the ride and gently rising natural slopes for the audience. We arrived early to tour the stables, chat with the officers and admire the horses as all was made ready for the event.



Each rider looks after his or her own horse – from grooming and mucking out stalls to polishing the leather of the tack and uniform. The horses are looked after 24-7, with riders working a 12 hour daytime shift, and others taking care of them through the night. There are, of course, a few spare riders and horses as well as many other workers to keep the show going.

A little grooming of the facial hairs

Greeting the public

Introducing children to horses

Looking for treats?

Preparing the tack

Even on Musical Ride duty, officers still have to deal with crap!

All spit and polish

This year, the 35 riders on tour include 17 women and 18 men. The gender balance shifts slightly from year to year – each rider does a three year term, with one third of the riders being rotated out each year and one third being newbies. They tour two provinces, about forty communities, per year, so each province gets a visit about once every four years.

Back in the field, the audience was treated to marching and music from the Cowichan Pipe and Drum Band. I love bagpipe music played in wide open spaces, the vibrating sounds stretching up the hill to envelop us all. This was followed by a demonstration from Providence Farms of the therapeutic riding program they provide for children with disabilities, and another demonstration of dressage.



And then it was time. Sitting on our lawnchairs back on the hillside, a hush came over the audience as the human and equine members of the musical ride emerged from the forest opposite to the tunes of Maple Leaf Forever.









Here's three videos of the performance:







And by the time it was over, as the crowd rose to join the mounties in the singing of our national anthem, I doubt there was a Canadian on the field who did not experience a lump in the throat.

Well done, women and men of the RCMP. You help us to remember what a great country this truly is. Oh Canada!




More on the Musical Ride can be found here.