The Rcmp Its Horses Its Riders

Explores the history of the RCMP Musical Ride, discussing the horses used and the footwork involved.

The colorful Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has entertained audiences since its formation in 1886. Always an extremely popular performance with Canadians, the "Ride" continues to grow in popularity as it gains audiences both at home and abroad. This book is a celebration of the history and continuity of the Musical Ride and its role in maintaining the status of the highly respected RCMP as one of the best known police forces in the world.

Learn all about the R.C.M.P. with your students. Contact your local R.C.M.P. detachment and arrange to have an officer speak to your class. Prepare your class by developing appropriate interview questions. Information and worksheets include: The History of the R.C.M.P., R.C.M.P. Training & Duties, The Musical Ride, Dogs, Uniforms, and Crime Detection & Fingerprinting.

On July 3, 1961, Ian Parsons reported to RCMP Depot Division in Regina as a raw recruit. It was the beginning of a 33-year adventure that took him from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and many points between. By the time he retired with the rank of inspector, Parsons had a policeman’s trunk full of colourful stories and insightful observations that he now shares in this memoir. Parsons writes candidly of his many roles within the RCMP, from postings in rural detachments, where he dealt with diverse policing issues, to stints teaching at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa and at the RCMP Academy in Regina. Always an independent thinker, Parsons lectured sometimes-resistant RCMP senior officers on the adoption of new ways and helped introduce programs to modernize recruit training and make it more relevant to the demands of a rapidly changing Canadian society. In recent years, Parsons has observed the troubled state and tarnished reputation of his beloved force as it faces crisis after crisis. Against the entertaining backdrop of his life in red serge, he gives a thoughtful assessment of things gone wrong in the iconic institution and identifies the drastic steps necessary to save it.

Quit horsing around! Whether you want to ride ’em, race ’em, or raise ’em, you’ll find everything equine in these pages. Why the long face? This book really ponies up the fun! From Old West cowboy companions to magnificent Kentucky Derby winners, Uncle John trots out a beloved tome dedicated to our equine friends. Saddle up and read about the most hair-raising, hilarious, and heartfelt horse tales from around the world. You’ll ride into the sunset with… * The high-stepping Budweiser Clydesdales * The secrets of Secretariat and other Triple Crown winners * Horse-tastic superlatives--the biggest, smallest, oldest, and fastest * Equine myths exposed (such as, Seabiscuit wasn’t really that famous) * Pressing equine questions (Just how big is a hand, anyway?) * The wild ponies of Chincoteague * What it takes to be a jockey * The real horse whisperer * The Texas prison rodeo * Strange horsey laws And much, much more!