After more than 150 years, the RCMP’s Musical Ride is still a living symbol of Canada

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Today, the performance involves up to 32 riders — all members of the RCMP — and black, Hanoverian horses bred in Pakenham, Ont.

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While the show serves to support RCMP recruiting efforts and build positive relationships with the public, the Musical Ride has also become an internationally recognized symbol of Canada.

Quilley, who has been involved with the Musical Ride for about 12 years, said it takes months to prepare for the show. Starting in February every year, he said, members and horses assemble for about three hours a day to practice for the coming season.

Contrary to legend, most Mounties never get near a horse. Quilley said officers taking part in the event spend about eight to ten months just learning how to ride.

Quilley said the Musical Ride tours widely and is a “fantastic” event for presenting Canada to the world.

“It’s been a big representation of our country and our pride in our national police force and in our flag,” he said. “It’ll bring goosebumps to you and it’s very special. I’ve done it hundreds of times, and it still gives me that butterflies feeling.”

While the show hasn’t changed much over the last 100 years, Quilley said, the troupe performs to a mix of old and new Canadian music.

In Ottawa this year, he said, the show includes a moment of silence to remember police officers who died in the line of duty — including 34-year-old Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, the Montreal police officer killed in the city last week.

Cpl. Amrit Gill, an instructor who has been with the Musical Ride since 2019, said the horses are amazing and he loves meeting people across Canada and representing the country.

“The importance is history, keeping up that tradition and that proud symbol of Canada,” he said. “We spend a lot of time with the horses. They’re members of RCMP, they each have a regimental number. They’re part of the team.”

Const. Keelian Chicoisne, another Musical Ride instructor, said the shows in Ottawa bring people together.

“Every night there’s always thousands of people,” he said. “It’s great for people to discover us, and every year there’s people I’ve seen many, many times, and they still come back.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2026.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press