It's surprising, in a job demanding such skill and precision, that most of the riders in the world-famous RCMP musical ride start off as greenhorns. Marc Dureau, tour planner for the ride which has captivated audiences at home and abroad for well over 100 years. If they are not accepted, then they can never apply again.
Riders serve for three years and then are reassigned.
They may not return except possibly as instructors. These are some of the offbeat traditions and rituals of the historic ride that Dureau, a former rider, speaks of with pride as he guides a group through the sprawling stables, with their vast indoor training arena, horseshoeing facility, harness room and stalls. He talks about the different, sometimes quirky personalities of horses, how their names are selected and what happens to them at the end of their careers. The RCMP stables, in a quaint Ottawa neighbourhood of tidy homes with fences and hedges, are a popular destination for tour buses, particularly in summer. The guided tours are free.