As part of the programme for La Mercè, the City Police will be offering two displays at the Foixarda Municipal Equestrian School on Sunday, 17 September, with a dog handling session at 10 am and the ‘carousel’ by the Mounted Unit at 11 am.
The tradition carousel display is offered every year during the festivities for La Mercè and consists of an equestrian choreography to the rhythm of music, starting at 11 am. Horses and riders from the City Police will be taking part in full dress uniform.
Before the carousel, the dog handling unit will be giving a display at 10 am, showing how police dogs work in different situations: defending against presumed thieves, detecting drugs and protecting citizens.
Admission to the equestrian school is free (no booking needed) and the site will be offering a restaurant service.
The oldest unit of the City Police
The Mounted Unit of the City Police is 167 years old this year and is the oldest section of the corps.
It was created in 1856 with the goal of carrying out ceremonial tasks and official duties, escorting and paying homage to the city’s flag and authorities and carrying out policing tasks. Since then, it has carried out the same tasks, but reinventing itself and adapting to the needs of each moment.
The first carousel display was in the Les Arenes bullring for the visit of Alfonso XIII in 1910. The display was first performed in an international setting during the ceremony for the World Equestrian Championships in Paris in 1953.
The unit has gained international prestige and recognition in the equestrian sphere all around Europe since then, having represented Barcelona in championships held in cities such as London, Vienna, Verona, Brussels and Geneva.