The RCMP Musical Ride is coming to Maple Ridge this summer for a free event to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the community’s most historical agricultural festival.
This year the Musical Ride will take place at the Albion Fairgrounds August 12 and 13, to honour the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Country Fest.
Up to 32 riders on horses will perform in the group, in a synchronized display set to music. All the riders are police officers from across the country, including Cpl. Gambling from Maple Ridge who joined the RCMP in 2015, and who will be riding her police horse Kasper, a gelding.
Graham Vanstone, who took over as manager of the community’s agricultural festival last year, was hoping the event could take place during the dates of the fair, but he is ultimately grateful Maple Ridge was chosen as a location.
“It’s quite an honour to host the Musical Ride with its long generational history and what it stands for,” said Vanstone.
“They actually felt quite bad that they didn’t have dates for us,” said Vanstone, until the dates mid-week opened up, and Vanstone quickly scooped them up.
Every year the RCMP Musical Ride team performs in up to 50 communities across the country, between May and October.
The team travels to each province once every four years to make sure they reach as many Canadians as possible.
Vanstone noted the team will be coming from Vancouver Island to Maple Ridge, and he will be providing lodging for the horses on site of the fairgrounds, along with providing their feed, along with water and bedding, electricity, and any on-site support the Musical Ride will need.
He is also promising an amazing experience for those who attend, with entertainment prior to the Musical Ride itself, and an additional special performance, details of which he cannot release at the moment.
Parking at the event will be by donation and there will be other organizations fundraising as well.