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{{Short description|Equestrian event performed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police}}
{{Infobox military unit▼
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
| formation = {{start date|1887}}
| native name = {{nativename|fr|nolink=on|Le Carrousel}}
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| caption = Members of the Musical Ride during the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II]]
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| predecessor =
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| volunteers = 32 riders
| headquarters = RCMP Stables (Musical Ride Centre), [[Ottawa, Ontario]]
| location_country = Canada
| professional_title =
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| parent_organization = [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]]
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▲|notable_commanders =
}}
The '''Musical Ride''' of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] is a
==History==
▲The '''Musical Ride''' of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] is a [[Formality|formal]] event showcasing the [[equestrianism|equestrian]] skills performed by 32 [[cavalry]] who are regular members of the force. The event is held in Canada and worldwide to promote the RCMP. The first official ride was held in 1887 in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina, District of Assiniboia]], and commanded by [[Inspector]] William George Matthews.
In the 1920s and 1930s, there were two cavalry units, one in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] and one in [[Ottawa]].<ref name="html6"/>
The activities of the Musical Ride
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.<ref name="html6"/>
<gallery class="center" >▼
The RCMP and the Musical Ride were all men at its foundation. The first woman was incorporated to the Ride in 1981.<ref name="html6"/>
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 Summer Olympics|1976 Olympic Games]] in [[Montreal]], the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in [[Calgary]], and the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver]].<ref name="html6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcmp-learning.org/history/french/histoire4_fr.htm#6|title=Histoire de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada|date=2009-07-22|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>
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.<ref name="npcn">{{cite news |last1=Nardi |first1=Christopher |title=Her online profile says she's petite, elegant, intelligent - and for sale |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/her-online-profile-says-shes-petite-elegant-intelligent-and-for-sale |publisher=National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc |date=23 October 2020}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |date=2018-01-23 |title=Commissioner's inspection {{!}} Royal Canadian Mounted Police |url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/musical-ride/commissioners-inspection |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca}}</ref>
=== 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 [[Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey|the Earl Grey]] to the RCMP in 1911 had has been operated by the Musical Ride ever since.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bousfield |first=Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8l5reK7NjoC |title=Fifty Years the Queen |author2=Toffoli, Gary |date=2002 |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn=1-55002-360-8 |location=Toronto |page=13}}</ref><ref name="pigott">{{Cite book| last=Pigott| first=Peter| title=Royal Transport: An Inside Look at the History of Royal Travel| publisher=Dundurn Press| date=2005| location=Toronto| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WSLImiMDhAC| isbn=978-1-55002-572-9 |pages=16, 18, 19}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |quote=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 |url=https://www.facebook.com/rcmpgrc/photos/a.390936358916/10158908764673917/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref> In the summer of 2020, the Musical Ride received a gift of a [[Landau (carriage)|landau]] from a donor from [[Quebec City]], which is used today by the Musical Ride for state escorts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |quote=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 |url=https://www.facebook.com/rcmpgrc/photos/a.390936358916/10159073495548917/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ryder |first=Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSg-DwAAQBAJ&dq=Canadian+state+landau&pg=PA209 |title=The Carriage Journal: Vol 22 No 4 Spring 1985 |date=1985-04-01 |publisher=Carriage Assoc. of America |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable members ==
* [[J. Greg Peters]], 16th [[Usher of the Black Rod (Canada)|Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada]]
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|Governor General's Horse Guards Cavalry Squadron]] and the [[Royal Canadian Dragoons|Royal Canadian Dragoons Scarlet Guard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RCD Scarlet Guard |url=https://dragoons.ca/about-the-dragoons/dragoons-guild-charity/scarlet-guard/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=The Guild of The Royal Canadian Dragoons |language=en-CA}}</ref>
==Gallery==
File:Musical Ride 1939 NY World Fair.jpg|RCMP horsemen performing at the [[1939 New York World's Fair|1939 World's Fair]]
File:Canada Day - Musical Ride.jpg|The Musical Ride performed on [[Parliament Hill]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Canada Day]], 2007
File:RCMP Musical Ride Parade in Roblin.png|Musical Ride parade in [[Roblin, Manitoba]], 1992
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[Strathcona Ceremonial Mounted Troop]]
* [[1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment]]
==References==
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[[Category:Royal Canadian Mounted Police]]
[[Category:Canadian ceremonial units]]
[[Category:Equestrianism]]
[[Category:Entertainment events in Canada]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1887]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Canada]]
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