The Queen presents Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, left, with a horse called Golden Jubilee in Ottawa on Monday. Photo: Tom Hanson/AFP

Dashing men in scarlet tunics, kilted bagpipers, glossily muscled horses, lances tipped with royal pennants — the Queen was treated Monday to a slice of old Empire in the new world.

A noted equestrian, the Queen appeared to relish her visit to the RCMP stables in Ottawa. After officially opening a newly renovated visitor's centre, she was escorted to ringside for an impressive display of horsemanship by the troopers of the RCMP musical ride.

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Having guarded her all week, the Mounties appeared eager to move out of the shadows, don their bright serge jackets and show off their skills to the cheers of the crowd and the obvious pleasure of the Queen.

In Canada to celebrate her 50 years on the Throne, the Queen has elected to leave behind a lasting monument to her visit and her reign — a four-year-old Irish mare named Golden Jubilee.

Said to have been hand-picked by the Queen from her household stables, the mare appeared strong-willed and spirited, requiring the iron grip of a handler when the Queen took the reins and handed them to RCMP Commissioner Guiliano Zaccardelli.

The mare will be trained for the musical ride and could be performing within two years. It is the first time the Queen has given a horse to the Mounties, who have given three to the monarch during her reign.

Earlier Monday, the Queen had a brief private audience with Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper, leader of the loyal Opposition in the House of Commons.

"It was a wonderful meeting. It was really a thrill and we discussed a wide range of subjects. I was impressed beyond description at how well informed she is about everything," Mr. Harper told Canadian Press. He did not reveal what the two spoke about.

Later in the day the Queen lunched with Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson at Rideau Hall. With the monarch and her Canadian representative were 51 distinguished Canadians, one for each year of outstanding Canadian accomplishment since Elizabeth took the throne in 1952.

"Each person here represents a defining moment in the modern consciousness of our nation," Ms. Clarkson said. "Each brings us a shared memory of the achievement. Each gives us a realization of our collective search for the best."

It was an eclectic gathering, with authors, actors and athletes peppering the crowd. At the Queen's table were writer Michael Ondaatje, former Canadian UN commander Romeo Dallaire, and Nisga'a chief Joe Gosnell.

Elsewhere in the room was country music star Stompin' Tom Connors, complete with his trademark battered black cowboy hat.

Also in attendence was Joan O'Malley, who sewed the first maple leaf-style Canadian flag as a favour to her dad. Ms. Clarkson made reference to the flag as the "eternal symbol" of Canadian values, which she said are based on the "triangular foundation" of the country's aboriginal peoples, its English and its French founding cultures.

Ottawa is the Queen's last stop on a 12-day Golden Jubilee tour of Canada, which began in Iqaluit. She and Philip fly home Tuesday.