It is one of canada's best known symbols a police officer in a scariet coat on a horse their formal uniform the red serge consists of a stetson hat a scarlet coat black pants and brown leather riding boots they usually wear it for civil ceremonies festivals and memorials on a typical shift rcmp officers in pairs patrol streets and parks on their horses carrying their portable redios they also control traffic and crowds especially at sporthing events festivals and celebrations the horses that serve in the royal canadaian mounted police are usually 3 to 5 years old and training usually takes nine months during this period they learn how to walk and run correctly and most importantly how to stand still be calm and move through traffic and crowds canadaians are very proud of their mounted police who always get their man