The show is still months away, but committee members at the Erin Agricultural Society are getting excited for the RCMP Musical Ride.
Taking place Sept. 10, the weekend after labour day, the Musical Ride will perform two shows at the Erin fairgrounds before heading to Harriston for the International Plowing Match on Sept 20 and 21.
“I think this is an excellent opportunity to host an important horse-based event at the fairgrounds,” said Bridget Ryan of the Erin Agricultural Society’s RCMP Musical Ride committee.
“The Ride is a Canadian icon, and evokes a sense of pride in us and is a spectacular show.”
Corporal Terry Russel, RCMP Musical Ride community liaison officer for Ontario, was in Erin on May 25 to talk about the upcoming show.
“People find (the show) very, very impressive and it’s something that is uniquely Canadian,” he said.
The show consists of 32 horse and riders performing a number of choreographed movements in sync.
Each presentation showcases the riding abilities of the RCMP in a 23-minute show, including moves such as a revolving turn style formation, wagon wheel formation and the famous “charge” formation.
People also have a chance to interact with the horses and riders.
“The stables will be open, all of the families can come through the stables … they get a chance to interact on a personal level with the riders and see the horses in the stalls and pet them and it’s a really up-close experience,” said Russel.
Over 1,000 RCMP officers try out annually for the coveted rider positions and only 10 to 12 are accepted. Even then, the riders go through a year of training before participating in a show.
“Even the horses are trained for years before they are given “try-outs.”
The RCMP Musical Ride is uniquely Canadian and has become a national symbol.
Russel, who has been an officer for 30 years and rode in the ride from 1991 to 1994, said the duties of the unit, when not performing, include protecting British royals when they visit Canada.
The performance has ties to the North-West Mounted Police, formed in 1873, and their march westward to secure the west for Canada. That force became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920.
“The march west (was) to secure the west for Canadians so that they could work and live and have their families and go to schools and do everything that they want to do in Canada safely and securely,” said Russel.
“It hasn’t changed; today our federal mandates are to help with all emergency service and police services to keep Canada safe for the people who live and work here.”
Russel added the show means a lot to people.
“A lot of people feel this great sense of pride in being Canadian and it just washes over the people that attend and they leave there feeling like their heart’s grown and they feel more Canadian and it’s just drawn them all together,” he said.
The Musical Ride goes on tour each summer, usually performing in approximately 20 communities a year. This year the tour travels through Ontario and Manitoba.
“Because of the number of requests that are received and the number of towns that ask, it’s not always easy to attend every single town, so we’re really pleased to be here and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Russel.
There is a lot to be done before the Erin show kicks off on Sept. 10.
Ryan explained the committee is looking for sponsorships, partners and local vendors for the event. They are also looking for volunteers for a variety of jobs.
“As a horse enthusiast, this is really ‘it’ – it’s great to take part in an event that is both an amazing presentation and showcases incredible talents of these horses as well as their riders, while offering a high calibre entertainment and show,” she said.
Tickets for the Erin shows are being sold through the Erin Agricultural Society website www.erinfair.ca. Tickets are $10 for an adult or $5 for a child. Family rates are available.
Information about the Musical Ride at the International Plowing Match will be available at www.plowingmatch.org in the near future.
