RCMP Musical Ride receives 'unbelievable response' from Napanee community

Thousands of spectators visited the Napanee Fairgrounds on Thursday night to witness one of Canada’s oldest equestrian traditions.

NAPANEE — Thousands of spectators filled bleachers and spilled onto the grass around the central arena at the Napanee Fairgrounds on Thursday night to witness one of Canada’s oldest equestrian traditions. The RCMP Musical Ride is a century-long tradition that continues today, with red-clad officers performing choreographed mounted drills on the iconic black horses which are bred and raised at the RCMP stables in Ottawa. Napanee Fair Board vice-president Annie Manion said that the event was a huge success — much bigger than expected.

An estimated 3,500 to 4,000 people crammed into the fairgrounds to watch the horses. “We never anticipated the numbers we saw, and we’ve never seen that many people on the grounds that we can remember for an event,” Manion said. “Everywhere you looked, there were more people.

It’s absolutely unbelievable, the response we received from the community.” Spectators were admitted by donation at the gate, with funds going to the Napanee Fair Board. “We were originally hoping to cover expenses for the event and set aside a couple of extra dollars for events, or doing some kind of upkeep on buildings, that kind of thing,” Manion said.

“We had no idea what to expect in terms of donations.” The event brought in a whopping $17,000. “With such a substantial donation, we’re really going to have a big discussion on how we can give back to the community with that,” Manion said.

The RCMP Musical Ride was a brand new event for the Napanee Fair Board. “Trying something new like this, we didn’t know what to expect, or if the community would be interested,” Manion said. But people were already staking out seats on bleachers as of Thursday morning, and the fairground’s front gate was “being swarmed” by 3:30 p.m., ahead of the 7 p.m. event.

Manion said that the Napanee community has rallied around the fair ever since its community arena building burned to the ground after an act of arson in 2024. “We’ve seen amazing support from the community over the last few years since the fire,” Manion said. The Musical Ride tours Canada from May to October each year, offering the show to communities as a fundraising opportunity.

This year, the group will tour Ontario and British Columbia, and next year they will be in Saskatchewan and the Atlantic provinces. Manion said that the Napanee stop was the first time some of the horses had performed in front of a crowd, off-property, and some of them were feeling their oats on Thursday night. “Some horses were a little more active and spunky than they normally would have been, partly because they weren’t able to do their normal warmups because of the airy quality,” Manion said.

“They were a little more lively in the ring than what the officers said they are normally like, and some were new to the tour.” Manion said that the ride was magical, nostalgic and inspirational. “We had various age groups attend.

I know from talking to a few people that some grandparents brought their grandkids, and they saw it last 52 years ago.” As inspiration, Manion held up the fact that most of the RCMP officers in the saddle come into the Musical Ride with no former equestrian experience. “It’s something people recognize and can be proud of.

They make it feel achievable, when 98 per cent of the riders on tour have no experience,” she said. Community spirit and Canadian pride were capped off with the reception that the mounties felt in Napanee. Manion said that the riders were able to safely stable their horses at the fairgrounds overnight, and even took the horses for a ride along the fairground track on Friday morning.

“I know all the officers and members from the RCMP thanked us repeatedly,” she said. “They felt like royalty in Napanee, and thought our grounds were beautiful.” mbalogh@postmedia.com