One of Canada’s greatest traditions hits the road this summer

One thing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police doesn’t mess with is tradition, which is why its signature Musical Ride has kept its look and repertoire relatively unchanged over the decades. The sight of peace officers in red tunic astride their equine partners continues to be a draw across Canada, entertaining spectators via the attraction’s institutional manoeuvres, from the opening procession to the final criss-cross. This year, as part of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary, folks are in for a treat as the Musical Ride embarks on its first national tour since the pandemic, with performances slated to take place in Alberta. Here’s a look at the venerable Musical Ride by the numbers:

• 3: number of years of service officers dedicate to the Musical Ride
• 4: criteria horses must meet to be part of the Musical Ride (colour, rideability, size, temperament)
• 6: age at which a horse begins its decade of performing in the Musical Ride
• 8: number of Musical Ride horses gifted to Queen Elizabeth II over the years
• 17: maximum height, in hands, of a Musical Ride horse
• 30: average length, in minutes, of Musical Ride
• 32: number of horses used in the Musical Ride
• 40: average number of venues the Musical Ride performs at annually
• 50: Canadian banknote denomination, issued from 1969 to 1979, that featured an image of the Musical Ride on the back
• 150: number of years RCMP has been in existence, including their early days as the Northwest Mounted Police
• 635: maximum weight, in kilograms of a Musical Ride horse
• 720: number of acres of the Musical Ride’s first breeding farm, established in 1939 at Fort Walsh, Saskatchewan
• 1876: first known year of performance of what would eventually evolve into the Musical Ride
• 1887: year of first official Musical Ride, performed in Regina
• 1938: first year the Musical Ride permanently used exclusively black horses to accentuate the riders’ scarlet tunics

WHERE TO CATCH THE RCMP MUSICAL RIDE

RCMP MUSICAL RIDE ALBERTA ITINERARY

July 4-6 & July 8-13: Calgary Stampede, Calgary

July 16: Heritage Acres, Pincher Creek

July 18-20: Westerner Days, Red Deer

July 23: St. Paul Agricultural Society, St. Paul

July 24: Cold Lake Agricultural Society, Cold Lake

July 26 & 27: Lloyd Ex Fair, Lloydminster

July 30: Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association, Edmonton

Aug. 1-3: Strathmore Stampede, Strathmore

Aug. 6 & 7: Medicine Hat Exhibition, Medicine Hat

Aug. 9 & 10: Century Downs Racetrack & Casino, Rocky View

Aug. 13: Camrose Regional Exhibition, Camrose

Aug. 16: Athabasca & District Agricultural Society, Athabasca 

Aug. 17: Wabasca Lions Club, Wabasca

Aug. 20: High Level Agricultural Society, High Level

Aug. 21: La Crete Field of Dreams Rodeo Clube, La Crete

Aug. 26, Fairview Agricultural Society, Fairview

Aug. 27: Smoky River Agricultural Society, Donnelly

Aug. 29: Whitecourt District Agricultural Society, Whitecourt

Aug. 30: Gymkhana Grounds, Mayerthorpe

Sept. 1 & 3-7: Spruce Meadows, Calgary

Where possible, the stables are open to the public from 9 am to 9 pm daily at each tour stop.  The Musical Ride members encourage the public to visit them and the horses before and after the performances. There, riders can answer any questions and introduce their horses. For itinerary updates, check out rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

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