'Mounties' Dismounted

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 19

'Mounties' Dismounted

tW.Z.P. A .-Reuter —Copyright) OTTAWA, May 11. Canada’s celebrated “inounties” will lose their horses in order to speed up training and save money, Commissioner George McClellan announced vesterday.

In a concession to modern police needs for mechanisation and scientific training, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have decided that new recruits will not get the usual training in horsemanship. Some “mounties” will still keep their horses—for ceremonial mounted escorts and the famous R.C.M.P. “musical ride” which has been performed at horse shows around the world. The horse has been an integral part of the force since 1873, when the force was formed as the North-west Mounted Police for patrol duties in Canada’s then barren west. The force will retain 500 of its 1000 horses and maintain a winter course in Ottawa, training 48 men a year to keep the musical ride going. The spokesman said the training changes will cut the basic programme for recruits from eight to six months. ,

At the present rate of 1000 recruits a year, the saving in salaries alone from the shorter course would be 700.000 dollars. While equestrian training

was valuable for developing personal courage and selfcontrol, “chances are a man won’t even see a horse after his graduation these days,” the spokesman said.