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.