"The Riding Master"

Bronze statue, Sculptor: Dallas Allinson

Available at the gift shop

$2400.00

The Riding Master was unquestionably one of the most memorable characters at the RCMP training ‘Depot' for decades and is a perfect symbol of our western Canadian heritage and relationship with the Mounted Police.

For 125 years Regina, Saskatchewan has been like the spoke of a wheel, with young men and women coming from all parts of Canada to train at ‘Depot' Division and dispersing to communities across the country following graduation.

Sculptor Dallas Allinson was born and raised in Beechy Saskatchewan. He joined the RCMP in 1967 performing with the Musical Ride in 1969and 1970 in England, Scotland, Wales, Japan, the USA and Canada. Dallas started sculpting as a hobby in 2001. He was inspired to create "The Riding Master' because of his fond memories of one particular riding instructor or "roughrider", Corporal Fred Rasmussen, who went on to become the Riding Master of the 1976/78 Musical Ride.

Rasmussen trained a young mare, Burmese in preparation for her last trip with the Musical Ride to the United Kingdom. Burmese was presented to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on May 16^th, 1969. Cst. Dallas Allinson was a member of that Musical Ride.

Whilst Rasmussen was the inspiration for the sculpture, the piece also incorporates some resemblances of the two Riding Masters that Dallas served under: Staff Sergeants Ralph Cave and Harry Armstrong, both now deceased.

The Government of Saskatchewan commissioned a special, Premier's Edition of the Riding Master on the occasion of the 125^th anniversary of the RCMP ‘Depot' Division (2010) in Regina, SK. ‘Home of the RCMP'.