The long-anticipated day has arrived.

A magnificent display of RCMP red-serge and their horses can be seen at the Cochrane Ag Grounds today, Thursday, July 18, at the Cochrane Ag Grounds. The RCMP Musical Ride is kicking off their Alberta tour right here in Cochrane with performances at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Rob Cameron, Chairman for the RCMP Musical Ride, says this is the first ride Cochrane has held since 2014, and it is a spectacular event you don't want to miss. "It is going to be great! There are thirty-three horses coming in, and there will be thirty-two horses with members in Red Serges performing military drills/ cavalry drills on horseback. It all started 135-140 years ago when members were in different posts out here in Western Canada, and when they got bored they started doing drills with their horses and it just continued on. Pretty soon more and more members got together and they formed the Musical Ride, and it has been going ever since."

Between 48 and 50 riders, support staff, drivers, and farriers are making their way to Cochrane via Kentucky, and Cameron shares they are looking forward to putting on the show once again for the Cochrane and area community. "They consider the stabling here in Cochrane one of the best in the province and they are all looking forward to it. It is a long haul for them coming in from Kentucky, but they'll have a couple of days off before the show."

The members and horses are anticipated to arrive in Cochrane by noon tomorrow (July 16), and community members are welcome to make their way up to the barns to meet the riders and horses later tomorrow afternoon that will be taking part in the show. An idea started by the late Jack Tennant in Cochrane's Centennial Year will hopefully carry on, shares Cameron. "He promoted our town's western hospitality aspect where people would bring riders coffee, tea, cookies, cake, and things like that up to the members."

One hundred percent of the event's proceeds are going to support a number of our community's non-profits including, Cochrane and Area Victim Services, Cochrane Search and Rescue, The Cochrane Roping Club, and the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation.

In addition to the Musical Ride performance, each show will also feature sideline entertainment. In the afternoon (1:30 p.m.), live music from some of our local musicians will fill the air and there will also an opportunity to meet some canines from the Police Dog Service Training Centre located in Innisfail. "They will be sending down a number of dogs and putting on a display, which will be really good. Even a couple of our local dogs will be in it too, from the detachment here."

Cochrane's one and only Pipe Band will be providing entertainment for the evening (7 p.m.) performance, and attendees will have the option of purchasing drinks and food from a few different food truck vendors. A couple of exhibitors will also be set up, the recruiting section from the RCMP.

Looking forward to seeing the stands packed with attendees, Cameron says don't miss out. "Where else are you going to see thirty-two red-coated Mounties in one place? Let's all get together Cochrane, and sell this event out."

There will be no alcohol served at either performance, and ticket holders are asked to leave dogs at home unless they are service dogs.

If you have yet to buy a ticket you can save a few dollars by purchasing them at Tony's Western Wear, Aeron E. King Goldsmith, Global Pet Foods, or Eventbrite HERE prior to the performance, or at the gate for a flat fee of $20. 

For more information about the RCMP Musical Ride, attendance regulations and rules, go HERE.

READ MORE: 

RCMP Musical Ride is Coming Back to Town