If a nation is shaped by its history, its symbols and traditions reflect its current values and beliefs.

Last Thursday, we witnessed one of the most iconic of Canadian symbols, the RCMP Musical Ride in Napanee. It was a wonderful performance that made me proud to be Canadian.

It was a glorious summer night. The smoke from wildfires raging in the far north had miraculously cleared earlier in the day, giving full view to the warm sun setting gently to the west.

We secured our seats in the packed grandstands, then I wandered over to watch the performers warm up in a grassy open area behind the horse barns. The 16 riders, dressed in blue t-shirts and pants practiced their drills riding in formation in circle eights, transitioning from a walk, to a canter to a gallop.

You could tell the crowd who had gathered behind the barns to watch were in awe of the horses. They are magnificent black Hanoverian horses bred specifically for their dark colour, calm temperament and athletic ability from a special breeding farm in Pakenham, Ontario.

The troop entered the fairgrounds in a formation of 16 carrying lances and wearing the red full dress uniform complete with the famous Mountie hat. All of the riders are police officers with the RCMP and I was surprised to learn that many had never ridden a horse before joining the Musical Ride team.

The performance was about 45-minutes long and we watched in awe as the riders made the horses go through their paces, performing intricate drills and manoeuvres to music. As the 16 riders and horses circled the ring, clouds of dust filled the air, creating a beautiful effect and making for great photos, as if they were emerging from fog or mist. (One of the officers later told me this was the dustiest performance they ever had!)

Several times, some of the horses reared. The announcer explained that half of the horses were new to the ride, making the performance more “spicy”.

There is always a meet and greet after the ride where the officers approach the fences so members of the audience can pet the horses and talk to the riders. I learned the horses undergo three years of training before they even make it to the Ride and then perform with the troop for about ten years.

I met Gendarme (pictured below), a handsome, 17-year old veteran of the Ride with sweet eyes and the softest fur who will retire in a few years. He’ll become a “schoolmaster”, helping train future riders and performing ceremonial duties. I asked the officer riding him who was more tired after the performance, and he said definitely Gendarme.

Steel was equally handsome, but had some knee pads around his forehocks for protection. I asked the officer if the horses knew their name, and he said yes, the horses will often respond when the riders speak to them by name.

The RCMP Musical Ride is a Canadian tradition that raises thousands of dollars for local charities. The history of the ride dates back to 1873, when the RCMP was founded and the force relied on skilled riders on horses to police the vast territory of the Prairies. To break the monotony of endless riding drills, members of the Force commonly competed amongst themselves and performed tricks on horseback. In 1886, the RCMP established a riding school in Regina and the following year, the first public performances were held.

This year, the Ride is touring in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia—it goes to different provinces every year so every Canadian gets a chance to experience its tradition. You can see their full 2026 tour schedule here.

This week’s #HappyAct is to take in a Canadian tradition and catch a performance of the RCMP Musical Ride in a community near you.

Did you know? The RCMP hosts an annual “name the foal” contest in the spring when a new horse is born into the musical ride family? Children under the age of 14 and school classes are invited to submit names for new foals born.