Mounted Police Seminar
Note
COVID-19 update: Health and safety remains our top priority. With the current provincial restrictions and public health measures in effect in Ontario, we have cancelled the Mounted Police Seminar until further notice. However, we encourage you to continue to apply as we will reach out to interested candidates when it is safe to once again resume the program. Please continue to check back here for updates.
Since 1988, the RCMP has proudly offered a two-week Mounted Police Seminar to outside mounted law enforcement units. The seminar takes place 2 to 3 times per year, between February and April at the Musical Ride Stables in Ottawa, Ontario.
On this page
- 2021 seminar dates
- You only need to cover your travel costs
- What you'll learn
- A chance to network
- Do you qualify?
- Applying to take the seminar
- Important information to know before you attend the seminar
- Attending the seminar
- Sample of seminar schedules
2021 seminar dates
Due to COVID-19, we will not be offering our Mounted Police Seminars until further notice. As circumstances change and it is safe to once again offer these seminars, we will update this page with new dates. In the meantime, find out if you qualify.
You only need to cover your travel costs
There is no charge for the seminar, but candidates must cover their own travel costs. This includes:
- meals
- accommodations
- vehicle rentals if necessary
- transportation costs to and from the seminar
Free parking is available and candidates can purchase meals on site at the cafeteria. There are local full service hotels conveniently located near the seminar and within walking distance of shopping and restaurants.
What you'll learn
You'll receive basic equitation training in the dressage discipline, along with an introduction to jumping techniques. Our teaching and riding follows classical training, so we use only English-style riding equipment.
A chance to network
Every seminar has members from many different mounted law enforcement units. It's an excellent opportunity to exchange and share equine information and training methods. It also provides an important link to other police organizations.
Do you qualify?
To qualify for the seminar, you must meet 1 of 2 criteria:
- be a member of a full-time accredited mounted unit within your police department
- take part in a part-time and/or volunteer mounted law enforcement program
We reserve the right to accept or refuse any applicants, grant special requests, or make any changes to the selection criteria.
Applying to take the seminar
We'll review all requests and contact selected candidates with the date of their seminar. We assign seminar spots on a first-come, first-served basis. We'll only contact applicants selected for 1 of the seminars offered each year.
We keep the application forms of candidates who were not selected. If they reapply, these candidates will have priority for the following year.
Apply every year
If you were not successful in your application for the Mounted Police Seminar this year, you'll need to reapply next year if you want to take part.
Important information to know before you attend the seminar
Before attending the seminar, please note:
- you can't bring firearms into Canada
- you'll need your dress uniform if you want to take photos or to attend any formal functions
- although all riding will take place inside a heated riding school, you'll need warmer clothing for extracurricular activities during the February and March courses
- you need proper riding apparel, including
- boots
- a riding helmet
- breeches or leather chaps/leggings
- this is a very physical course, so in addition to the riding aspects, candidates should also be prepared to participate in activities related to the care of horses, including:
- tack
- grooming
- cleaning stalls
- feeding the horses
Attending the seminar
At the seminar:
- you'll need to sign a waiver of liability
- hours of instruction are from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
- you must report to Building "E" at 8 am on the first morning of seminar
Musical Ride Centre address/location
1 Sandridge Rd.
P.O. Box 8900
Ottawa ON K1A 0R2
Canada
For more information on our Mounted Police Seminar contact us at 613-998-0754.
Sample of seminar schedules
Legend
- (L) - Lecture
- (D) - Demonstration
- (P) - Practical exercise
Week #1
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0800 |
|
|
|
|
|
0930 |
|
|
| School: Systematic warm-up and leg yielding and turn on forehand, D&P Canter aids | School: Review systematic warm-up and troop drill |
1030 | Break | ||||
1100 | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed |
1200 | Lunch | ||||
1300 | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses |
| Groom and tack horses |
1400 | School:
| (D&P) Systematic - Warm-up, Leg and Rein Aids, Rising Trot | School: Systematic warm up (D&P) Cycle of Impulsion | Review A.M. | Instructors Discretion |
1530 | Break | ||||
1600 | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed |
Week #2
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0800 | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses |
|
0900 | Review systematic Warmup, use of ground poles (stiff horses) Figure 8 | School: Warm up, Troop Drill |
| Review all to date | |
1030 | Break | ||||
1100 | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | |
1200 | Lunch | ||||
1300 | Groom and tack horses | Groom and tack horses |
| Groom and tack horses | Course ends |
1400 | School: Review canter aids | School: Gym line and individual jumps | Demo on lunging | Collection exercises
| |
1530 | Break | ||||
1600 | Clean tack, groom and feed | Clean tack, groom and feed | Feed | Clean tack, groom and feed |
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