L’Esprit Cavalier

In view of the theme “Mounties and their Horse” for the Vancouver Division’s annual Christmas Levee 2015 I thought the attached article from a 1948 RCMP Quarterly might be of interest to those attending the Levee.

Equitation training had been discontinued during World War II and rumours were running rampant that the horse was no longer going to be part of the Mounted Police.

Photograph of RCMP member – Getting Ready to head out on patrol (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

S/Sgt. Cecil Walker, Reg # 11632, Riding Master, at the time, authored the Quarterly article L’Esprit Cavalier.   He was for several years a member of the Alberta Provincial Police. Prior to that he had served seven years with the 12th Royal Lancers (Imperial Army). He was an accomplished horseman and received recognition at horseshows held in the three prairie provinces.

The Editorial introduction to the article by S/Sgt. Walker reads as follows;   “Other pages in this issue feature the horse and its place in the Force, tell how it has Canadian law enforcement since 1873 . The Quarterly is pleased to exhibit this portrayal of what “old faithful” has been to the Mounted Police and of why he must remain with us, and the story is bound to we think to strike a responsive chord in the hearts not only of members of the Force but of all other horse lovers among our readers. The quicken tempo of our way of life has compelled the RCMP to resort more and more to technological improvements and new methods, and as a consequence it has seemed to many that the police horse was doomed.   The suspension of equitation and of general recruit training, during the recent war, doubtless contributed to this impression.

A Photograph taken from an old Scarlet and Gold Magazine. Most likely the last Musical Ride tour prior to the outbreak of World War II (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

However as L’Esprit Cavalier makes convincingly apparent the horse continues to fill a very useful purpose in Mounted Police activities, and it is most unlikely that this sturdy symbol of Law and Order will ever disappear entirely from the police scene. At the moment, intensive training is in progress to prepare riders and horses of the Mounted Section for the RCMP Musical Ride, and about the time this is published that popular demonstration of horsemanship will again be available to the public.”

You can read Cecil Walker’s article here.