The famous Mounties perform at the Devon County Show

Friday 25 May 2012

After 12 years the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, affectionately known as the ‘Mounties’, returned to the annual Devon County Show with their Musical Ride.

John Casson, who was their liaison for their Devon County Show visit in 2000, was asked by Ollie Allen, the show’s secretary, to help in a similar way for the 2012 event with his wife Jenny.

John and Jenny standing either side of Superintendent Marti Chesser on Hector, with some of the Mounties in formation at the rear.

The three-day show attracts crowds of in excess of 30,000 a day.

Thirty-eight Mounties with thirty-six horses visited the show from Canada as part of a European tour that included Germany, the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor.

The Musical Ride involves thirty-two horses in a forty-minute show of complex and spectacular manoeuvres in time to music.

So what did liaison involve? Anything to support the Mounties during their Devon visit, which included moving them safely from their stables to the show ring twice a day, accommodation, transport logistics, press and publicity requests, public relations, and, last but not least, ensuring that they enjoyed their stay. Nothing short of a 24/7 commitment!

The Mounties are very popular in the South West of England having visited the Devon County Show no fewer than five times since 1957.

John said: ‘The Mounties’ visit was a tremendous success. They made thousands of people of all ages who visited the Devon County Show very happy. It was an honour and a great pleasure to be with these famous and internationally recognised police officers – a full-time and 24/7 commitment for Jenny and me.’