Bill Hillcoat remembers when he first learned to ride a horse after he joined the RCMP in the early 1960s at 19.
With 32 riders to a troupe, officers in the red serge perform similar choreography today for the RCMP Musical Ride, such as the B次元官网网址渄omeB次元官网网址� from CanadaB次元官网网址檚 previous $50 bill, B次元官网网址渃ross-oversB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Hillcoat describes that as B次元官网网址淴s and Os, but with horsesB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and the charge.
Before he joined, heB次元官网网址檇 never been on a horse before.
B次元官网网址淣ot too many cowboys in New Brunswick,B次元官网网址� he said.
In 1961, he did the Western Canada tour and in 1962 the Eastern tour down into California and Oregon, and Seattle to the WorldB次元官网网址檚 Fair, where he saw Elvis. B次元官网网址淗e was doing a movie, It Happened at the WorldB次元官网网址檚 Fair, one of those Elvis-type movies,B次元官网网址� Hillcoat said, laughing.
All new recruits underwent a mandated four months of equitation, starting from scratch riding bareback and graduating to riding with saddles and other equipment. But not everyone took to it and joined the troupe.
Performing was the easy part, according to Hillcoat; itB次元官网网址檚 the practice, grooming the horses and cleaning the stalls and equipment that takes the most work.
The RCMP musical ride performs in Victoria this weekend, with shows at Topaz Park on Saturday (Aug. 26) and Royal Roads University on Sunday, as part of a cross-country tour to celebrate Canada 150. the 32 riders exhibiting choreographed drills, as well as massed pipes and drums.
And Bill Hillcoat will be there, front and centre.
B次元官网网址淚f theyB次元官网网址檙e in town I always try to go. It brings back old memories of when I was a young buck,B次元官网网址� he said.
RCMP Island District spokesperson Cpl. Tammy Douglas said the equestrian performance is a family-friendly event and a particularly appropriate way to celebrate CanadaB次元官网网址檚 birthday.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very Canadian feel to watch these mounties on horses, doing their cavalry drills. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty impressive to watch,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 iconic, right? The mountie on horseback is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.B次元官网网址�
If you canB次元官网网址檛 make it, two RCMP officers will be in front of the parliament buildings on Friday at 5 p.m., or you can visit the horses in the stables at the in Saanich on Friday (Aug. 25) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The performances, hosted by the Victoria Military Music Festival Society, begin at 1:30 p.m. in Topaz Park and the same time at Royal Roads University on Sunday. Both shows are free, but donations will be accepted to raise money for local charities.
