Canadian military history on display at Whoop-Up Days

Lethbridge, a city known for its agricultural ties and southern Alberta cowboy culture, recently hosted the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) during its annual Whoop-Up Days. The regiment, a historic cavalry unit, returned to the city to showcase its rich heritage, a presence that has been missed for years.

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Just like most of history, if you don’t talk about it, it’s lost. Before tanks and bullets, it was horses and swords.

Established in 1900 by Donald Smith to aid the Boer War in South Africa, the Lord Strathcona's Horse was formed with recruits who shared a common skill: horse training. These frontiersmen, including police officers and cowboys, laid the foundation for a unit that has remained an integral part of the Canadian Armed Forces. Although the unit no longer trains soldiers on horseback for combat, it continues to maintain a connection with horses to ensure its historical legacy is not forgotten.

"Just like most of history, if you don’t talk about it, it’s lost," said Master Corporal Brennan Maddison of the LDSH(RC). "Before tanks and bullets, it was horses and swords." The regiment's history spans from the final great cavalry charge in World War I to modern conflicts in Afghanistan. Since the 1970s, the Strathcona Mounted Troop has brought this heritage to families across Canada and the Commonwealth, officially becoming the colour guard for Spruce Meadows in 1975.

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We try to get ourselves into actual rodeo events. The reason for it is it’s more local, more our bread and butter and really taps into the roots of the people that originally came with the Strathcona’s.

The Musical Ride's visit to Lethbridge during Whoop-Up Days was a deliberate choice to engage with local communities. "We try to get ourselves into actual rodeo events. The reason for it is it’s more local, more our bread and butter and really taps into the roots of the people that originally came with the Strathcona’s," Maddison explained. For event organizers, the decision was easy. "We were like, this is a perfect fit for us, too," said Paul Kingsmith, director of event development at Excite Lethbridge, noting the unit's enthusiasm to return.

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We were like, this is a perfect fit for us, too.

Members of the mounted troop are active duty soldiers, but the historic troop offers a unique calling. "I joined because I wanted to give back to my community," said Corporal Andy Vu. "It’s nice being able to come here, put on a show for the local population and seeing the kids smile, the parents coming up asking questions, kids coming up to us, it’s an amazing time." The troop's presence at Whoop-Up Days provided a valuable opportunity for soldiers to connect with the public and share their unit's storied past.

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I joined because I wanted to give back to my community. It’s nice being able to come here, put on a show for the local population and seeing the kids smile, the parents coming up asking questions, kids coming up to us, it’s an amazing time.