Now is the chance to be part of the Musical Ride history

It that time of year again where people are able to contribute to the ongoing history of the RCMP's musical ride.

From April 8th to 26th, the annual RCMP Name the Foal contest will be open for name suggestions.

School classes across Canada and anyone aged 14 and younger are encouraged to submit their favourite horse names to help name the RCMP's newborn horses.

There will be upwards of 10 foals that will go on to join the Musical Ride program, and they are looking for names that begin with the letter A.

The RCMP was started in 1873 and was originally known as the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP).

In order to break up the monotony of the relentless riding drills, members of the NWMP began to compete with one another while performing tricks.

In 1876, members of the NWMP stationed in Fort Macleod, Alberta, performed some of those tricks and exercises for the public.

It is believed that that was the first public performance of what would eventually become the Musical Ride.

Anyone who has seen a Musical Ride is familiar with the stark contrast of red uniform and black horse.

That came about due to King George VI.

In 1937, Assistant Commissioner S.T. Wood brought the RCMP to the King's coronation, and the King was enthralled with the contrast of the red tunics and the black horses of the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry, who were the horses used for the King's personal bodyguards.

After Woods became Commissioner in 1938, he made the decision that the RCMP would only purchase black horses.

It didn't take them long to realize that they would need to start breeding their own in order to meet the demand for black horses.

The RCMP began their breeding program in 1939 at the Depot Division in Regina, Saskatchewan.

After a couple moves, the farm ended up in Pakenham, Ontario in 1968 and has remained there ever since.

They specifically breed Hanoverian horses for the RCMP at the breeding farm and in order for them to qualify for the Musical Ride, the horse must meet a set of requirements.

Such as size, colour, rideability, and temperament.

Click here to learn more about how to enter a name for the Name the Foal contest and see if you can be part of history.