Equestrianism

The term equestrianism relates to the riding of horses. This is a broad description and includes both riding horses for practical purposes such as in police work or for controlling herd animals on a ranch, as well as recreational and sporting aspects such as hunting, horse-racing, polo, dressage, and show-jumping.

In former times equestrianism was closely associated with the military: mediaeval knights were equestrians, as were their military successors, the cavalry.