A group of former Mounties who had a connection to Queen Elizabeth II reunited in Regina Thursday, where a very special Saskatchewan raised horse was remembered. The group were members of the 1969 RCMP Musical Ride, who presented the special horse to the Queen, forming a special bond between animal and royalty. Now they are sharing their story following a commemorative ceremony at the RCMP Heritage Centre. Horses have played a big role with the RCMP for more than 150 years. The Musical Ride displays a peak of excellence as only the finest horses are chosen to take part. In 1969, the best horse in the group, Burmese, was presented to Queen Elizabeth and a very special bond formed soon after. “There were various members who probably rode Burmese a little bit before we knew she was going to be the horse presented to the Queen,” Mike Fitzgerald, a member of the 1969 RCMP Musical Ride said. Another member Al Nicholson, says the musical ride means more now than they might have thought it did at the time they were taking part. “We were simply doing our job, riding four feet nose to croup, doing our thing,” he said. “Looking after the horse, going here going there, and just doing it, but when you look back now 56 years later that was a pretty special tour.” Burmese was a mare raised in Saskatchewan and quickly became the Queen’s favourite horse. During a 2005 visit to the province the Queen unveiled a statue at the legislative building depicting her riding Burmese. “She was very engaged with horses and of course she loved Burmese. By the time she put her to rest [she had] a long relationship with Burmese,” Nicholson said. The Queen rode Burmese almost daily for 18 years and chose not to replace the horse when it retired in 1986, perhaps signifying her esteem for the animal.
