ENTERTAINMENT – RCMP’s Musical Ride brings back memories for retiree

The gallop of Mounties on horseback brings back memories for retired RCMP officer Reid Tait, something he’ll hopefully have in common with many Kamloops residents after this Thursday.

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, the Rotary Club of Kamloops Aurora Centennial is presenting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride at the Agri-Centre, 485 Mount Paul Centre Way, at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The performances will allow Kamloops residents an opportunity to see for themselves the event that played such a memorable role in Tait’s three-decade career with the RCMP.

“I’ve always been proud of being a member,” said Tait, who retired from the Tk’emlúps Rural Kamloops RCMP Detachment in 2003. “Being on The Ride just gives you a different perspective and lets you see there are really lots of good people out there.”

A farm boy from rural Saskatchewan originally, Tait joined the RCMP in January 1969. He was first posted to Vanderhoof, followed by Prince George, then Valemount, and back to Prince George, prior to joining the Musical Ride in 1972.

“I was always looking for adventure,” said Tait.

He found it quickly with the Musical Ride, a troop of Mounties on horseback, presenting a show of intricate figures and cavalry drills choreographed to music.

Shortly after arriving to his new post in Ottawa in November 1972, he and the other new recruits participated in the funeral ceremonies for former Prime Minister Lester Pearson in December.

From then on, life with The Ride and its majestic black horses was never dull. The team hit the road for shows between June and October 1973, with a return visit to Ottawa in August that year for the Centennial Celebrations.

Because of his farm experience and ability to quickly adapt to riding various horses, Tait was assigned the role of a stand-in for riders unable to perform on show days. In 1974, The Ride made its way overseas to Europe for a tour that included stops in France, Denmark, London, The Netherlands, and Switzerland.

To get there, the horses were flown over on a cargo plane and the riders had to take turns standing up with the horses. They also did tours and shows in the U.S. including at the Washington Expo ’74, the LA County Fair, during which he was able to see Disneyland; and Waco Texas, where he and three others were named honorary Texas Rangers.

“I got to see a lot of people, I got to go to a lot of places, and I got paid for doing it,” he chuckled.

After his two years of adventure with The Ride, he was posted back to B.C.’s Fort St. James, then to Carcross, Yukon, and a number of other communities before landing in Kamloops in 1988. He retired from the rural detachment in 2003 and remained working with the Mounties as a civilian until 2015.

Nowadays, he remains active with the RCMP by marching in most of the local parades. He also had an advisory role in the local planning of the Kamloops Musical Ride tour stop.

He encourages anyone who hasn’t seen The Ride before to attend.

“As a rider, it was great to see the looks on everyone’s faces,” he said.

In addition to offering residents the chance to see the Musical Ride, the June 22 event features preshow performances including barrel racing competitions and Secwepemc Dancers, food trucks, and a viewing of the horses.

RCMP recruiters will also be on scene at 2 p.m. to provide more information to those interested in learning more about a policing career.

Tickets are $50 for a family pack, $20 per adult, and $17 for students and seniors, plus taxes and fees. To purchase tickets, visit Kamloops Musical Ride. Inquiries can also be made by phone at 250-828-2526, or by email to peter_lish@hotmail.com. To learn more about the Musical Ride, The Musical Ride – RCMP.ca (rcmp-grc.gc.ca). Tickets are also available at the Horse Barn, Kamloops Insurance, and Fortune Foods.

– Article submitted by Kamloops RCMP.