With Her Majesty being a horse lover, the Okanagan Military Tattoo Society figures a horse show is a great way to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
The society, along with the Armstrong Regional Co-op, will present Soldiers of the Queen, an equestrian spectacular, Thursday, May 26, at Armstrong’s Interior Provincial Exhibition Grounds at 7 p.m.
If ticket sales exceed expectations, a second show will be added for Friday, May 27.
The event will feature a musical ride and traditional cavalry drills performed by the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Mounted Troop from CFB Edmonton as well as other performers and musicians.
The Mounted Troop is designed to be a link to the regiment’s time as a cavalry unit in the early 20th century. The first members of the regiment were trained horsemen who were recruited to serve as a match for the Boers in South Africa. The regiment also served with distinction in the First World War as part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.
In September 2000, the troop mounted the Queen’s Life Guard at Buckingham Palace; the first time a unit other than the Household Cavalry or the Royal Horse Artillery provided a mounted guard in London.
The public is invited to meet the performers at the fairgrounds prior to the Thursday evening show and organizers are hoping that local schools will be able to attend to meet the soldiers and gain an understanding of Canada’s proud military history and traditions.
Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning monarch in British history, ascending the throne on Feb. 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI.
All proceeds from the horse event will go to veterans’ charities.
Tickets are now on sale at Ticket Seller in Vernon, all Armstrong Regional Co-op Gas Bars and in Armstrong at the IPE office, the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Canadian Legion.
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