Musical Ride

The Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a special unit showcasing the equestrian skills performed by 32 cavalry who are regular members of the force. It holds events held in Canada and worldwide to promote the RCMP. The first official ride was held in 1887 in Regina, District of Assiniboia, and was commanded by Inspector William George Matthews.

Musical Ride
Le Carrousel (French)
NicknameMounties
Formation1887 (1887)
TypeCavalry
HeadquartersRCMP Stables (Musical Ride Centre), Ottawa, Ontario
Location
  • Canada
Parent organization
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Volunteers
32 riders
Websitercmp-grc.gc.ca/en/musical-ride

History

In the 1920s and 1930s, there were two cavalry units, one in Regina and one in Ottawa.[1]

The activities of the Musical Ride temporarily ceased in 1939, because of the Second World War and did not resume until 1948.[1]

In 1966, riding on horseback ceased to be part of police duties for new members of the RCMP. The unit then moved to Pakenham, Ontario in 1968 and became a separate unit.[1]

The RCMP and the Musical Ride were all men at its foundation. The first woman was incorporated to the Ride in 1981.[1]

During its annual tour of Canada and abroad, usually from May to October, the Musical Ride visits 40 to 50 locations. Domestically, it is found every 1 July in Ottawa on Canada Day and has performed at the Expo 67, the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[1]

In 2020, as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Musical Ride first held an on-line GC Surplus auction of its surplus horses and horse semen. In former years, the biennial auction process was more tightly controlled.[2]

Traditions

Commissioner’s inspection

Every spring, the RCMP Commissioner visits the Musical Ride stables before its summer tour in what is known as the Commissioner's Inspection. It dates back to 22 July 1952, when Commissioner Leonard Nicholson carried out the first inspection at what is now the Musical Ride Centre. The Commissioner then watches the first official performance of the season, before taking the salute in a march past that commences the tour.[3]

Landau

The RCMP operates four carriages for escorting guests of the state, the most senior being the Canadian State Landau, used only for the Canadian royal family, the Governor General of Canada or a foreign head of state. It was gifted by the Earl Grey to the RCMP in 1911 had has been operated by the Musical Ride ever since.[4][5] The other three carriages are used for semi-state occasions (an example being an ambassador visit) are the following: the Box Driven Landau, Vis-à-vis and Victoria.[6] In the summer of 2020, the Musical Ride received a gift of a landau from a donor from Quebec City, which is used today by the Musical Ride for state escorts.[7]

If the escort is in place for the sovereign, a total of 44 horses and a guidon party ride with the State Landau. By contrast, a semi-state escort would include only eight horses.[8]

Notable members

W.T.Bruce Whillans, Supt. OIC Musical Ride 2004 - 2009. CO Musical Ride services 2009 - 2010. Cst on the ride 1980/81. Musical Ride Trainer of horses, Musical Ride and Riders 1987 - 2008. Operations NCO Baie Verte, NL. Lead investigator, project billionaire Jan 2000, file manager Samantha Walsh murder Feb 2000. District Commander Deer Lake NL 2003 -2004. Personal meeting with Queen Elisabeth II on July 1, 2010…in GG residence to discuss breeding program. Invited by the Queen to attend a fox hunt in England. Escorted the Queen at Queens plate on July 3rd, 2010. Invited by the Queen to join her in the Royal box to watch her horse compete in the race. Retired July 15, 2010 with best wishes from the Queen.

Within contemporary culture

The Musical Ride is featured on the Canadian fifty-dollar bill of the Scenes of Canada banknote series produced from 1969 to 1979.

Musical Rides across Canada

In Canada, due to the impact of the unit has had in preserving Canadian military cavalry traditions, the "musical ride" can also refer to similar mounted units in the Canadian Army such as the Strathcona Ceremonial Mounted Troop, Governor General's Horse Guards Cavalry Squadron and the Royal Canadian Dragoons Scarlet Guard.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Histoire de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada". 22 July 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  2. Nardi, Christopher (23 October 2020). "Her online profile says she's petite, elegant, intelligent - and for sale". National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
  3. Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (23 January 2018). "Commissioner's inspection | Royal Canadian Mounted Police". www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. Bousfield, Arthur; Toffoli, Gary (2002). Fifty Years the Queen. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 13. ISBN 1-55002-360-8.
  5. Pigott, Peter (2005). Royal Transport: An Inside Look at the History of Royal Travel. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 16, 18, 19. ISBN 978-1-55002-572-9.
  6. "Royal Canadian Mounted Police". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023. Did you know? The RCMP Musical Ride provides escorts for VIPs. These very important people are transported around via horse and carriage for special occasions. This allow for an open, visible and more intimate drive past of the VIP with the crowd. It's also an opportunity for Canada to honour our special guest(s), like a head of state or member of the Royal Family, through pomp and ceremony. We have four carriages that we use for escorting VIPs. The top carriage, we call the State Carriage (Landau) is a postilion drawn carriage used only for state occasions, which means the Royal Family or a head of state. The other three carriages, we call semi-state carriages – Box Driven Landau, Vis-à-vis and Victoria. We use these three carriages for any semi-state or less formal occasion. An example of a semi-state guest is an ambassador. An interesting fact is three of the four carriages were built in the 1800's and are still used today. The fourth was built in the 1970's. The level of escort being done will also determine the number of horses on parade escorting the carriage. If it's an escort of Her Majesty the Queen, we will parade with a total of 44 horses and will include a Guidon Party and the State Landau. A semi-state escort of an ambassador, for example, would include eight horses with a semi-state carriage. No matter who we are escorting, it's an honour to be able to perform this duty on behalf of Canada. | Facebook
  7. "Royal Canadian Mounted Police". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023. Last summer, the RCMP Musical Ride received a prestigious gift of a landau from Mr. Gaston Parent of Quebec City, Quebec. It's a rare historical piece of Canadian and Québécois horse-drawn heritage. It was Mr. Parent's desire to see his lovingly restored landau put to use, so he offered it to the RCMP. This piece of history will be used by the Musical Ride for state and semi-state VIP escorts. It'll shine at events for many years to come. | Facebook
  8. Ryder, Thomas (1 April 1985). The Carriage Journal: Vol 22 No 4 Spring 1985. Carriage Assoc. of America.
  9. "RCD Scarlet Guard". The Guild of The Royal Canadian Dragoons. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
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