Over 2,000 people filled the stands at Donegan Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024 to watch members of the RCMP Musical Ride perform.
Starting the show at 3 p.m. were the Concert Band of Cobourg along with the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums.
The Musical Ride performs 50 shows a year across Canada. This year the shows will be in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.
The packed stands were thrilled by members of both bands along with the Musical Ride on Saturday.
Thankfully, weather wasn’t a factor as the rain held off for the event which was over shortly after 4 p.m.
This is the first year for 32-year-old RCMP Constable AJ (Amarjeet) Singh who was born and raised in Oakville and previously worked in a youth facility in Peterborough.
Singh joined the RCMP April of 2019 and previously layed university football at Mount Allison in New Brunswick.
On Saturday, Singh was one of 17 riders on the field on Saturday and told Today’s Northumberland before the show that he always wanted to be a police officer growing up, but surprisingly had never been on a horse.
While attending Mount Allison University in New Brunswick he played football he got to know a few RCMP officers from the area.
“It really changed my mind-set with policing with the RCMP. Seeing the job and career paths and here today with the horses.”
Singh’s wife has been horse back riding since she was a child, but it was a new world for him.
Previously before the joining the Musical Ride, Singh said at the most he’s only been on a horse once, “and that was for a brief time.”
“Other than that I stayed at a distance and didn’t want to get on.”
But when the opportunity came up for the six-week course while he was stationed in British Columbia Singh jumped at the chance to try out.
Passing the basic equestrian course, he took an intermediate seven-month course and was then chosen to be a member of the RCMP Musical Ride.
“It was intense.”
“You’re giving it that “all” every, single day. You really see and appreciate what it is to be a Musical Ride member.”
“That expression “you’re going to walk like a cowboy,” yeah I was feeling it,” he said with a smile.
Becoming comfortable around animals, Singh said it was all about learning, but was proud when he could go home and speak “horse language” finally with his wife.
Playing football for many years, Singh said the RCMP Musical Ride has the same team atmosphere and considers them family.
“Being on horses it brings it down to ground level as a police officer – you’re not only interacting with the public, but with the horse. The public aspect of it is also amazing because I get to communicate with the public in a positive way.”
“It might be long lasting to be part of the Musical Ride, but what it is, is that positive mindset and bringing it to the public on a daily basis.”
Training for the show starts in January and Singh said every year the show is different. This year’s show was organized by RCMP Sgt. Sarah Parent.
A setback for Singh was when he tore his Achilles in December 2023, which could have ended his season.
“I really pushed and strived to see if I could get on and I made it.”
The Musical Ride is based in Ottawa but have been to Sarnia and are making their way back with Saturday’s show in Cobourg being the last one for two weeks.
They will then travel to Manitoba for six weeks.
Being in Cobourg was a great chance for Singh to meet up with friends from the area.
“It’s fun. I see other members and whenever they go to their hometown, they feel that sense of pride and
I definitely feel that sense today.”
Manager of Culture for the Town of Cobourg Jackie Chapman-Davis said the event was a sell-out with 2,200 tickets being sold.
“It’s a full house and a lot of fun,” saying the Musical Ride hasn’t been in Cobourg since 2013.
After the show there was a chance to meet the riders and horses.
Mayor Lucas Cleveland said, “it was an amazing show,” and credits town staff for their hard work.
Because the Town of Cobourg partnered with the City of Belleville it cut the cost of the tickets to a very reasonable price of $10.
“We didn’t try to do it ourselves, we understood our limits and actually partnered with another town to split the cost of the stables.”
“We have a staff that’s thinking outside the box to ensure our community has these incredible events to go too.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
