“Experience of a lifetime”: Burnaby RCMP officer reflects on Musical Ride ahead of June 26 performance at Swangard Stadium

Burnaby

2023-06-12 08:12 PDT

For Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Kyle Kifferling, there’s a single word that quickly comes to mind when he’s asked to sum up the feeling in the crowd during an RCMP Musical Ride performance.

It feels very patriotic, he says. Seeing the Musical Ride is a truly Canadian experience.

Cpl. Kifferling, who transferred to Burnaby in 2020 and now works with the detachment’s Investigative Support Team, has a unique connection to the RCMP Musical Ride, having spent a total of seven years in various roles with the ride between 2013 and 2020.

For me, it was truly the experience of a lifetime to be part of this iconic symbol of Canada, Cpl. Kifferling said. The biggest highlight was travelling across the country, meeting people, and seeing their excitement about meeting Mounties in Red Serge and the prestigious horses. It’s a great event for families.

Cpl. Kifferling knows firsthand how much work goes in to every performance as the horses and riders perform a series of intricate cavalry drills and formations set seamlessly to music.

It’s really amazing to watch from the crowd. A lot of training and practice goes in to the show. Between January and May, there is about three hours of riding a day as the riders and horses perfect the drills, he said.

Cpl. Kifferling, like many others, faced challenges on his road to joining the Musical Ride.

While he grew up on a farm in rural Southey, Saskatchewan with a grandfather who raised horses, he was not a seasoned horseback rider himself. But while posted to Fort St. John, B.C., the Officer in Charge of his detachment, Insp. Patrick Egan, who had also spent time as a member of the Musical Ride himself and later became the Officer in Charge of the Musical Ride, still encouraged Kifferling to apply.

I’m glad he supported me, as my time on the ride has been one of the most unique and rewarding experiences in my career. While I didn’t show up to training as an experienced horseback rider, my passion for riding led me to become a trainer and instructor for the ride. You learn a lot in a short time, creating a close bond with the horses and your teammates, who come from all backgrounds across the organization and the country, he said.

For Cpl. Kifferling, the chance to represent the RCMP as a member of the Musical Ride, which included a trip to London in 2016 to present Queen Elizabeth II a horse for her 90th birthday, is an experience he will carry with him through the rest of his career.

As a Mountie, my experience on the Musical Ride strengthened my work ethic, leadership, time management, and my ability to work on a team, Cpl. Kifferling said. While the Musical Ride took me overseas, which was an enormous honour, one of my proudest moments was still performing in Saskatchewan with my family in the crowd. I have never felt more proud to represent the RCMP and carry on this tradition that is recognized around the world.

The Musical Ride at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby on June 26 is an extra special performance, as it’s part of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

We are thrilled to be working with our partners at the City of Burnaby to bring the iconic Musical Ride back to Burnaby for the first time since 2018, said Burnaby RCMP Officer in Charge Graham de la Gorgendiere. It’s a great time to gather together, celebrate, and take in an amazing performance.

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Email: burnaby_rcmp_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: burnaby.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)

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