Yellowknife (May 07/03) - Horse enthusiast Sienna Hart is touring Yellowknife schools spreading the word about the RCMP Musical Ride, which comes to Yellowknife for the first time on June 22.

Aurora Horse Association member Sienna Hart explains how students can win tickets to the show. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

The Grade 8 student and Const. Dino Norris dropped by J.H. Sissons school last Friday to explain how students can win free tickets to the event, which takes place on the Raven Mad Daze weekend next month.

Depending on their age group, students can enter the contest by creating a poster, writing a paragraph, or a one-page essay about the ride.

The Musical Ride is an RCMP tradition dating back to 1887. It was developed by early North West Mounted Police to entertain both themselves and the local community.

These days, select RCMP members spend three years training and touring with the Musical Ride before returning to regular RCMP service.

Dressed in traditional dress Mountie serge uniforms, 32 officers guide elegant black horse through riding drills choreographed to music.

Horses and riders will perform a morning and afternoon show at the William McDonald school soccer field after first visiting Hay River and Fort Smith.

A pre-show includes a jumping competition which pits horses against dogs.

Hart will also give a talk about breeds of horses and demonstrate different manoeuvres before the shows.

Her duties don't stop there.

"I'll probably end up shovelling manure," she said.

Musical Ride tickets are now on sale. Contact the RCMP for more information.