The Mounted Patrol will perform the final Musical Rides of the 2022 season Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Fort Museum.
The Fort Museum’s Mounted Patrol, which made its 2022 season debut just two short months ago, rides for the final time Saturday, Aug. 27.
The Fort — Museum of the North West Mounted Police is holding its 2022 season finale on Saturday, with four performances of the Musical Ride and demonstrations of an 1885 cannon and rifles.
Fort Museum director Sandi Davis said the site has enjoyed a strong tourist season in 2022.
“This summer has been much better for visitation despite the heat,” Davis said. “Bus tours are up and international travellers are back. Still not the pre-COVID numbers but much better.”
The Mounted Patrol will perform its regular Musical Ride three times on Saturday, at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
In the Musical Ride, the Mounted Patrol executes movements and patterns that are based on 17th century European battle formations that have evolved over the years.
The first Musical Ride was held in 1876 in Fort Macleod by members of the North West Mounted Police.
The Fort Museum started its own Musical Ride in the 1970s, and it remains a key attraction.
In addition, the Mounted Patrol will resurrect the annual Ride Through the Ages at 2 p.m.
The Mounted Patrol is normally dressed in 1886 replica uniforms, but once each summer the Musical Ride gets a new look as the riders don different uniforms.
The Ride Through the Ages sees the Mounted Patrol perform the Musical Ride wearing a variety of replica North West Mounted Police uniforms.
Audience members will see the Mounted Patrol dressed in the original uniform of the North West Mounted Police, including the forage cap, or pillbox as it is more commonly known.
Mounted Patrol members will also model the present-day RCMP dress uniform; the pith helmet that came into service in 1874; the elaborate full-dress tunic adopted in 1876; a replica broad brim felt hat favoured by the Mounties; a field tunic adopted by the Royal North West Mounted Police shortly after the turn of the century that was used in service until 1957; a battle-style fatigue uniform that was first phased into service in 1957 and an example of the modern review order of the RCMP.
The 2022 Mounted Patrol at the Fort Museum features:
- Sergeant Tiegan Trotter aboard NJ.
- Corporal Adam Bassett riding Cowboy.
- Officer Ethan Baxter aboard Molly.
- Officer Logan Dressler aboard Belle.
- Officer David Hearn riding Sandi.
- Officer Rylee Lichtenberger aboard Cash.
- Officer Shelby Scout Bastien riding Five.
- Officer Haze Sharratt aboard Bailey.
The South Alberta Horse Artillery will give demonstrations at 10:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
The South Alberta Horse Artillery members dress in replica uniforms and demonstrate replica weapons based on the 1885 artillery.
They perform drills that would have been used in 1885, firing a cannon and rifles in demonstrations in the courtyard at the Fort Museum.
