THUNDER BAY – The RCMP Musical Ride was back in Murillo over the weekend for the first time in 11 years.
Const. Andrew Briscoe, a rider, said the performance has been held for many years.
“The Musical Ride dates back to the early days of the North-West Mounted Police where they use their horses to showcase the skills of the riders of the police service.
“This is the 151st anniversary of the RCMP and the 50th anniversary of women in the force. It's a very big milestone.”
Each year it's a new show, Briscoe said.
“If there's a full troop, it's a 32-horse-and-rider show. This year we are at 16.
“It's a different show with having fewer riders, but it gives us an opportunity to go with different moves and showcase different skills that different horses may have,” he said.
Briscoe said it’s amazing to be a part of the RCMP Musical Ride.
“Coming to see so many happy people is just incredible. It's so exciting to have so much support from the communities that we come to and we want to try to continue to help raise funds for the different causes.”
The RCMP will do 48 shows this year, he said.
“It's a little lower than the past couple of years, but we just got off to a later start.”
Briscoe said it was exciting to come back to an area where he hasn’t been in a while.
“I spent some time as a kid in the Thunder Bay region. It's really exciting being back here and seeing the different monuments and of course, getting a Persian.”
This is Briscoe’s third tour season. “Four years ago, I had never sat on a horse at this time of the year,” he said.
“Now here I am - part of the musical ride as a seasoned vet. Some days, I feel like it's still a very steep learning curve to go. But it's pretty incredible being able to be part of this.”
Briscoe said approximately 80 to 90 per cent of Musical Ride riders had never sat on a horse before coming to Musical Ride.
“It's one of those things that you need to just persevere, push through and just continue showing that spirit in whatever task it is - just get it done,” he said
Lindsey Kosolowski, president of the Oliver Agricultural Society, said its exciting to see this event come to the community.
“We were very grateful to have over 1,000 people on each day for this event. Even with the hot weather warning, we had great crowds, great participation,” she said.
Kosolowski feels blessed to have such great community support.
“People always show up for the Oliver Agricultural Society and we're always super grateful.”
In addition to the RCMP Musical Ride, there were also food vendors and market vendors.
“We have Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club and a lovely charcuterie board food vendor.
“We also have market vendors, everything from henna tattooing, temporary tattooing to indoor and outdoor jewellery things, quilts and all kinds of great stuff like that,” she said.
Kosolowski thanked all volunteers for the event as well as sponsors including Black Dog Construction and Management Ltd., Breukelman Potato Farm, Jaspers Dairy Farm, Load Queen Services, Marv Chony Jewellers, NWO Well Service, Thunder Bay Feeds, and Barb McEwen from Avista Realty.
