The beauty and pageantry of precision drills can be seen when the RCMP Musical Ride trots up to the Drumheller Stampede Grounds for performances this Tuesday, July 29.
There is an afternoon show scheduled at 2:00 p.m. and an evening performance scheduled at 7:00 p.m.
The event also includes a pre-show at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Members of the RCMP police dog unit will be showcasing their skills and those of their canine counterparts in a demonstration for the audience.
The RCMP have their national police dog service training centre in Innisfail, which also provides assistance to other agencies who request training at the centre.
The RCMP uses purebred German Shepherds only for general police dog duty, but might use other dog breeds for RCMP specialty detection teams.
Personality traits the RCMP require the dogs to have for police work include an even temperament, hunting instinct, and a sound character.
RCMP dogs are taught to protect themselves and their handlers.
The police dogs will be here for show day Tuesday, but people can get a sneak-a-peek of the Musical Ride’s horses on the day before the performances.
Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins of the Drumheller RCMP detachment says people are invited to drop by in the late afternoon or early evening on Monday.
The horses will be stabled at the stampede ground corrals, and the public is invited to walk through to meet the horses.
The RCMP has been breeding and raising its own horses since 1939, currently at their breeding farm in the Ottawa valley.
Monday visitors are also able to speak with RCMP members who take part in the Musical Ride.
Hopkins said there will be mini-Mountie uniforms available for kids to dress up in, and there is a concession and gift shop available.
All proceeds from the Musical Ride go to Big Country Victim Services Association and the Drumheller Stampede & Ag Society.
