“Fight till the last gasp.” (Shakespeare)
At a special meeting on June 10, 2009, members of the Governor General’s Horse Guards Riding Club realized they had little choice but to fold the 60-year-old organization. For most of those 60 years, dedicated members had sweated and toiled to fulfill the goal of training and providing a social environment for a pool of riders that makes up the GGHG Cavalry Squadron.
Founded in 1948 primarily by and formed from the non-commissioned officer ranks of Canada’s senior militia regiment, the Governor General’s Horse Guards, early Club members acted upon their desire to maintain and perpetuate their regiment’s cavalry tradition. This tradition is well-documented in John Marteinson’s wonderful regimental history (http://www.rbstudiobooks.com/gghg.html).
At a buck at ride, they hopped on the “ponies” at 3-Gaits Farm, at Warden and St Clair Avenues in Toronto, and the rest, as they say, is history. It wasn’t long before they talked of resurrecting a cavalry unit, and in 1956/57 the GGGH Cavalry Squadron celebrated its first ceremonial, post-war ride. In 1959, it had the honour of escorting HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Queen’s Plate.
Horse Guards on horses started showing up all over the place – at the Queen’s Plate, Opening of Legislatures, parades in downtown Toronto, Fort York Re-enactments, the Royal Winter Horse Show. In 1964, they accompanied Northern Dancer to Pimlico. Arnold Edinborough and Peter Gzowski wrote about them; artists and photographers through the 60s, 70s and 80s captured their image.
In the 70s, through the 80s, the 90s, and even into 2008, they proudly led the Queen’s Birthday parades, stormed Toronto Island with the Canadian Carriage Association, and led the way along University Avenue for the entire 32 Brigade of the Canadian Army.
But, in this modern time, the opportunities for big parades and ceremonial rides are few and far between. When Cav Sqn activities once filled the coffers of both Riding Club and the ceremonial fundraising arm of the regiment, the GGHG Foundation, since the mid-80s it could no longer even support itself.
Still, those dedicated Riding Club and Cav members persevered and kept the tradition strong. But, in the drive to bring in revenue to support the squadron, some of our traditions and Horse Guard values became watered down. More and more, the cavalry was having to fight for its front and centre role. The old model wasn’t working.
The latter part of 2008 and now well into 2009 has witnessed tremendous upheaval in local, provincial, national, and global economies, social organizations, and communities. It’s sad that it has affected a similar upheaval in an organization so close to the hearts of many in the military and equestrian communities.
All is not lost. The regiment and a handful of Cavalry Squadron riders have formed a core group to continue on the cavalry tradition, at a new location, with new horses and a new attitude. Like our four-legged companions, we may feel a bit lost without our larger herd but the smaller cohesive group may prove to be the thrust needed to break the ranks of the apathy and lack of opportunity hounding the dedicated Cav members in recent years.
We will live up to the cry: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” Nulli Secundus.
