RCMP celebrates 150-years of service with Musical Ride at WETRA

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

The Windsor Essex Therapeutic Riding Association (WETRA) was pleased to host the RCMP Musical Ride at its McGregor area facility on Sunday. The event allowed the local service to not only offer a unique event for the community to enjoy, but to fund raise in support of its program that offers physical, emotional, cognitive, and social benefits to its long list of riders.

RCMP Chief Superintendent, and Acting Commanding Officer for Ontario, Matt Peggs, noted the RCMP is celebrating 150-years of service this year.

The Musical Ride tours every summer, but this year it is making stops all across the country in recognition of that milestone. Many of the drills performed to music represent its cavalry history, or honours historic connections.

Many of the riders do not have a lot of riding or horse experience before making the drill team. Many hopefuls take the basic equitation course, and if they are successful, are able to join the Musical Ride.

“No doubt, it is a career highlight for lots of our members,” Peggs said.

The RCMP Musical Ride has been hosted at WETRA previously, and has even forwarded suitable retired horses to its therapeutic riding program.

Stopping at WETRA to host the Musical Ride allowed for the community to not only enjoy the event, but learn about what the RCMP does, as many may not know the roles of the national police force in Ontario, Peggs noted.

“It is a chance for us to interact with the public and take a few photos, and people also get to ask questions about the RCMP and its role in policing,” Peggs said, noting the RCMP is currently in need of new people. “We are actively recruiting people and this is a great opportunity to engage and answer questions about careers with us...there are thousands of different jobs that we do from coast-to-coast-to-coast and international, as well. For anyone looking for a challenge – an adventure – there is something for everyone in the RCMP.”

Becky Mills, Executive Director for WETRA, thanked all the volunteers who

made the event.

“We feel very patriotic when the RCMP Musical Ride comes. We’ve made a lot of

connections and [there are] possibilities of great things happening,” Mills said.

Hosting the Musical Ride was also a great opportunity to get members of the community out to the therapeutic riding facility so its representatives could connect with WETRA’s riders – past and present– in addition to representatives from the Essex County Council table.

She thanked the community for supporting the event, and the RCMP for bringing its Musical Ride to WETRA in support of its therapeutic riding program.