On May 23, 1873, the Canadian Parliament authorized the establishment of the North West Mounted Police Force. Their immediate objectives were to stop the liquor tade among the Indians, halt tribal warfare and attacks on white settlers, collect customs fees, and perform normal police duties. The cast area for which they assumed responsibility was roughly composed of the current provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. In the fall of 1874, the first post was established on the banks of Old Man River and was named for the Force's Assistant Commissioner, James Macleod.

In stark contrast with the US Cavalry to the south, the North West Mounted Police were soon able to gain trust of the Indians within their comain. This was noted in a testimonial delivered by the Blackfoot in 1877.

"If the police had not come to this country, where would we all be now> Bad men and whiskey were killing us so fast that very few of us would have been left. The police have protected us as the feathers of a bird protect it from the frosts of winter."

Throughout the remainder of the 19th century, the North West Mounted Police had grown to 1,268 officers and men. In 1920, the RNWMP was vested with the responsibility of enforcing all Dominion statutes and its name was changed to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Between 1928 and 1950, the RCMP assumed the Provincial Police duties for all Canadian Provinces with the exception of Ontario and Quebec. Today's RCMP is essentially a federal police force with responsibilities similar to those of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The sleek black horses seen in today's musical ride bear little resemblance to the tough work horses once used by the force to patrol the vast Canadian wilderness. As has happened throughout history, the evolution of the RCMP's horse to his present form provides graphic proof of the horse's remarkable adaptability to man's specific needs.

The Mounties' First Horses

One of the first problems confronting the newly formed NWMP was to obtain and train horses suitable for the riders of their western duties. Initially two types of horses wee selected, the tough western Bronco, and a primarily Standardbred-type purchased in Ontario. Neither of these horses proved satisfactor and so, in 1875, the NWMP first began breeding their own horses.

This soon proved to be too expensive and was turned over to private ranchers. By 1889, specifications for the Force's horses called for, "One standing from 14.3 to 15.2 hands, fine clean vut head, long neck, high chest, broad round quarters with plenthy of good flat bone, and strong feet."

The Horses Today

As the equestrian duties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police shifted from practical to ceremonial, a need was identified to provide a different type of remount. The result wa the reestablishment in 1943 of the RCMP's breeding program to supply the primarily Thoroughbred-type mares and geldings used in the musical ride.

Since the breeding program began, the RCMP has continued to experiment, introducing the blood of Clydesdales, Percherons, Hanoverians, and Trakehners in an effort to develop a heavier boned, well mannered, Thoroughbred-type horse. Today's RCMP mount should be black in color, approximately 16 hands, and weigh between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds.

The Musical Ride

The origins of the famous RCMP's musical ride can be traced to the intricate Prussian Cavalry drills of the 18th century. The first recorded ridging exhibition performed by the NWMP was at Ft. Macleod in 1876, with the first performance accompanied by music presented in 1887. SInce 1966 the only RCMP members to receive equestrian training are those associated with the ride.

Today's musical ride consists of 32 horses and riders performing numerous intricate figures and always endingin the exciting charge.

The RCMP has participated in numerous ceremonial escorts, parades and celebrations both at home and abroad. The RCMP horse and rider is both a national icon and a living symbol of Canadian heritage.

** If you ever get a chance to see the Musical Ride, do it, you will never forget it! **

In the Movies

There have been several movies and television shows about the famed "Mounties." A few are:

• The Bullwinkle Show (1961 Cartoon), Adventures of Dudley Doright
• Due South (1994-1998?). Still in reruns - RCMP officer working in Chicago at Canadian Consulate
• 'Neath Canadian Skies (1946)
• Blood of the Hunter (1995)
• Rose-Marie (1928 & remade in 1936), An old Movie, but well remembered by many
• Last Train Home (1990), TV
• Northwest Hounds Police (1946 Cartoon), Canadian Mountie Sgt. McPoodle (aka Droopy)

There are many more. This is just a few. Many were well before our times, [in] the 1930s and early 1940s. Only a few of us will remember some of these.

More information can be found on the Internet. This was found at www.imh.org [and] some at www.rcmpmuseum.com

More Bits 'N' Pieces about real horses in the February and next newsletters.

For more information visit:

• Bibliography