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Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Mounted Police Seminar

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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.

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.

Seminar dates

Mounted Police Seminars will not be offered in 2025. Please check back for 2026 dates.

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.

Applying to take the seminar

If you are interested in attending one of our Mounted Police Seminars, please contact mps_apm@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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

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

Week 1

Sample of seminar schedules for week 1

Time

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8 am

Introduction of instructors, welcome, orientation, demonstrations: grooming, tacking up, adjustments

Grooming and tacking up of horses

Grooming and tacking up of horses

Grooming and tacking up of horses

Grooming and tacking up of horses

9:30 am

  • Lecture: School etiquette and terminology
  • Demonstration: Lunging
  • School: (Demonstration and practical exercise) Control of horse by the proper use of hands, legs, seat
  • Artificial aids: (Demonstration and practical exercise) Halt, walk, rising / sitting trot

School: (Demonstration and practical exercise) Turn on forehand and leg yielding, rein back

  • School: Systematic warm-up and leg yielding and turn on forehand
  • Demonstration and practical exercise: Canter aids

School: Review systematic warm-up and troop drill

10:30 am

Break

Break

Break

Break

Break

11 am

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

12 pm

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

1 pm

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

  • Class photos
  • Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

2 pm

School: Lunging: Practical, use of whips / voice

Demonstration and practical exercise: Systematic - Warm-up, Leg and Rein Aids, Rising Trot

School: Systematic warm up (Demonstration and practical exercise) Cycle of Impulsion

Review of the material seen in the morning

Instructors discretion

3:30 pm

Break

Break

Break

Break

Break

4 pm

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

Sample of seminar schedules for week 2

Time

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8 am

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

  • Course critique: Log cabin
  • Presentation of certificates

9 am

Review systematic warmup, use of ground poles (stiff horses) Figure 8

School: Warm up, troop drill

  • Watch Musical Ride rehearsal
  • Disciplined schooling
    • Q. Marker, canter
    • H. Marker, walk
    • Q. Marker-halt, etc.
  • Walk training

Review all to date

10:30 am

Break

Break

Break

Break

11 am

Clean tack, groom and feed

Clean tack, groom and feed

Clean tack, groom and feed

Clean tack, groom and feed

12 pm

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

1 pm

Groom and tack horses

Groom and tack horses

  • No riding
  • Three and four year old remounts

Groom and tack horses

Course ends

2 pm

School: Review canter aids

School: Gym line and individual jumps

Demo on lunging

Collection exercises

  • Shoulder in
  • Turn on the haunches
  • Rein Back

3 pm

Break

Break

Break

Break

4 pm

Clean tack, groom and feed

Clean tack, groom and feed

Feed

Clean tack, groom and feed

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