Spectators of the RCMP Musical Ride can look forward to a performance filled with intricate figures and drills. The show, which carries on the heritage and traditions of Canada's national police force, is making its way through Manitoba this month.

Constable Harrison Teed is one of thirty-two riders that make up the troop of officers and horses. He says each half-hour performance involves between fifty and sixty movements that demand the utmost control, timing and coordination. It starts off with a salute to the guest of honour for that particular show .

"We start at the trot, that includes circles and stars, lots of inclines and turns across where the horses look like they're going to run into each other and we just narrowly miss each other. We do some lance engagement moves, where we do some tarrying and stabbing movements with the lances. Then, we do the canter portion of the show. It's a little bit quicker, we do some circles and head to head movements. We do the famous charge at the very end, then we do a recall, where we'd be charging through the enemies on the ground, then we get back into position, and do another charge."

A meet-and-greet following the show allows audience members to get up-close with the horses and drill the riders with questions. "The stables are open as long as we're around, so people can walk in and walk through all day," adds Harrison. He says each rider and horse also has a trading card that kids can collect.

According to the RCMP web site, the Musical Ride allows Canadians to experience the heritage and traditions of the RCMP while riders act as ambassadors of goodwill who promote the RCMP's image throughout Canada and all over the world. Each rider is a regular, full time police officer and can only apply to be on the Ride after two years of service in the field.

Harrison says it all starts with an application and interview process.

"You got on a five week try-out course in Ottawa, and if it looks like they can train you they move you from wherever you are to Ottawa. When you get there, you train for another six months. Members that are returning for their second or third year start training with the first years on how to actually do the show. We do six months of training, come out on the road for two, three, or four years, then off we go back to being a regular police officer.

The Musical Ride performs in up to fifty communities across Canada between the months of May and October and visits each province on a four-year cycle. Harrison says the event also has a charitable aspect and, according to the RCMP web site, helps to raise thousands of dollars for local charities and non-profit organizations.

"When we go to a community we don't charge anything, it's free of charge as far as we're concerned," explains Harrison, adding each community uses the Musical Ride as a fund raiser to help support initiatives such as a local family in need or to help build new recreation facilities.

Members arrived in Dauphin earlier this week for the first leg of the regional tour. They'll spend the rest of July touring south western and south central Manitoba ending in Austin on July 27th, before moving on to Winnipeg July 30-31 and Ontario in August.