Ksenia Nigmanova

On the edge of downtown Ottawa, just steps from the National Archives of Canada and Parliament, is a gully that leads to one of the city's hidden treasures. Traveling down its grassy slope, you can hear the rush of white water and soon see a short stretch of river that kayakers from all over the world come to paddle.

Like the maple leaf, beaver or moose, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's musical rides have become emblematic of our nation.

First performed in Regina, Sask., in 1887, the event was -at first- a way for RCMP officers to show off their riding skills.

Go behind the scenes of this Canadian tradition to find out what it takes to breed an athletic horse that has enough heart and stamina to carry it through one hundred performances of the Musical Ride.