RCMP moves famed horse auction online
OTTAWA — Meet Rosie. According to her online profile, she’s got it all: elegance, intelligence, exceptional temperament, confident, and she’s a quick learner to boot. Physically, she’s petite and well put together. Rosie “hit the ground running, and never looked back.”
If you’re on the market for a male, then let me introduce you to Kato. He has a “brave personality” that thrives when working, but is also sensitive, sweet and easy to handle. If you’re looking for a “lovely companion,” Kato may be for you.
Then there’s Bently. The oldest of all, he has lived a good and exciting life, having even performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle in 2012. But Bently still has “lots of life left in him,” and would make a great companion for any adult, his profile promises.
If anyone was interested, they had until Friday to bid on Rosie, Kato or Bently on the federal government’s auction website, GC Surplus.
They are three of nearly one dozen horses that were up for auction online by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police until Oct. 23.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic (what else?), the federal police service was forced to move its famed biennial horse auction online for the first time in history.
Two of the horses up for sale were part of the RCMP’s famed Musical Ride, whereas the rest were bred for the part but did not end up meeting the standards required to join the force’s troop of 32 horse-and-rider pairs that perform intricate choreographies to music.
The police force has very strict physical and personality requirements for the horses that want to join the Musical Ride, which has existed since 1873.
The physical requirements include “size (not too big or too small), colour, confirmation and temperament,” the RCMP explained in an email. “These characteristics are as important as the substance and stamina needed to withstand the demands of national and international touring of the RCMP Musical Ride.”
Then there’s the horse’s temperament. To be a good Musical Ride participant, the animal must be amicable not only with public, but also its stable roommates.
“Some may not adjust well to working in close quarters with 32 other horses, but do well in more individual settings. Others may not be overly friendly, which is essential for the RCMP’s most significant public relations team,” RCMP spokesperson Catherine Fortin wrote in an email.
“Temperament, in particular, is a significant quality for inexperienced riders who will ride Musical Ride horses.”
But it’s not because a horse doesn’t have the right physique or character for the Musical Ride that it’s not suited for another line of work. Au contraire, even. “Some might not be able to withstand the rigour of the Musical Ride program, but can handle less demanding tasks,” Fortin said.
And though the RCMP requires tempered and amicable horses for the Musical Ride, “character is perfect for competition horses and skilled riders, and an attribute that appeals to bidders.”