Musical mounted RCMP officers to ride in Penticton

PENTICTON – The RCMP Musical Ride, one of Canada's most colourful traditions, will prance in formation on Saturday.

The South Okanagan Event Centre will host the 32 horses and their riders who perform a variety of formations set to music. There will also be an RCMP canine unit demonstration.

The ride has toured the country, in the U.S. and around the world. Officers must have two years of police experience to qualify. Most riders have never been on the back of a horse before they start training.

The dome formation is one of the most popular ones although the highlight is the charge. At show's end the riders line up shoulder-to-shoulder, lower their lances and charge across the field at a gallop.

There will be time before and after both shows on Saturday for members of the public to meet the riders and their horses.

Ride tickets can be bought at the event centre. There are two shows at 2 and 7 p.m., $20 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. For children six and under, tickets are free when purchased in person.

To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1