Glorious summer day in Cowichan Valley, a great day to take in our beloved Royal Canadian MOUNTED Police at one of their cross Canada Tour stops, right here on expansive Avalon Farm on Herd Road near Duncan. Normally a training and competition venue for Three Day Eventers, today three container size horse trailers emblazoned with the Musical Ride logos, and carrying 35 horses and a couple of spares, drove into the Equestrian Center Yard.
Another trailer transported tack, gear, supplies etc - quite a logistics challenge.
Totally disciplined, the caravan arrived about two hours before show start, horses were unloaded, tacked up, and the riders donned their iconic red tunic uniforms.
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| Here they are, almost forty black tall horses, bred in the RCMP breeding division.They are dressed in blue and gold travel blankets and being as cool as can be. No a flicker of nervousness or excitement anywhere. |
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These animals are bred for size, strength, uniform colour (all black) and suitable disposition and athletic ability.
When old enough to start training, their riders work to perfect the horses' skills. After three years, any horse, that does not meet stringent demands of the Musical Ride is offered for sale at public auction - a good time to pick up a Hanoverian bred mount. |
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| What would a Musical Ride be without the oh so Canadian performance of a Pipe Band. The Cowichan Bay Pipers are quite in demand in Tattoos and Highland Games all over Canada and outside the Country. |
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| To start things of on the right hoof, members of the Cowichan Valley Driving Association demonstrated the skills of 'large and small' driving teams. Katharina with Bliss shows off excellent dressage agility on her beautiful marathon style carriage. Formal attire, blanket and hat are de rigeur - lovely. |
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| Size definitely is not everything, as this spirited little mini horse demonstrated - the lady driver seems to enjoy her drive around the grass ring. She uses a small training cart. |
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| Boys need their toys...and some of the non motorized ones offer just as much enjoyment as a multi horse power gas guzzler. |
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As they say in Police Speak, an RCMP officer with his canine unit, for me it is a Policeman with a very very well trained German Shepherd dog. This animal is totally concentrating on his work, not a second of inattention. He obeys - not voice commands - but sign language, some of it quite obvious, like sit up, or lay down commanded via a raised or lowered hand. But some of the other commands are so imperceptible, that a casual observer notices the dog's reaction but not the handler's command.
Lovely purebred individual. I understand that there is a waiting list more than 400 strong amongst RCMP officers to be accepted into the canine unit, as the work is exacting but extremely satisfying with a trusty partner like this one. |
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| 1700 tickets sold. Bring your own lawn chairs. No pets, close sun umbrellas when horses are in the arena (great idea). Toilets, hot dog stand, cookie stand, a couple of community tents and ONE ice cream concession. Temperatures being pretty high, the latter had a line up with an elapsed time from end of line to ice cream cone in hand was about 40 minutes. However, all done by volunteers, parking arrangements, toilet facilities, traffic control - all went without a hitch. Best of all were the special handicapped parking arrangements. Handicapped visitors would park their vehicles in a designated piece of the immense field, and then would be transported via volunteer golf carts to the observation spot of their choice, wheel chair, lawn chair and all. |
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| Here they are, a dramatic entry into the marked off performance area. The dark pine trees in the background, with the sun throwing a deep shadow at their feet, thirty six horses and their riders in traditional red tunic emerge from the forest into the light. |
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| The horse, ever cool and calm, ready to go through the various synchronized exercises. Years ago the Musical Ride was an entirely male domain, but today a large percentage of the riding officers is made of of females. |
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| Quadrilles, windmills, spirals, interlocking circles, cross cross traverses, flat out charge (all in one direction, and away from the public just in case one of these well trained animals would take a liking to greener pastures outside the enclosure). I sat at ring level, and the intricate manoeuvres could not be clearly captured on camera...hence all the experienced spectators camping on the surrounding slopes - better view. |
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Stubben Saddles (German brand of renown), double bridle, gloves with gauntlets, handgun strapped around the waist, red tunic and dark pants with gold stripe - as traditional and picture postcard as it can get.
And The Hat, worn dead straight, not even a millimeter tilt... |
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| All the horses have Maple Leafs brushed like a water mark on their hind quarters, however, dust covered them quickly. |
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| After the ride....meet horse and rider...a field day for kids |
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| Well, he is ready to go home |
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In truly Canadian fashion, people were asked over the loudspeaker to pick up their and any other garbage before leaving the site - and guess what - they did!
Oh Canada! |
