Equestrians Are More Than Just Horse Riders

Horses have played a critical role in the story of mankind. They have served many purposes from transportation to heavy cavalry. Today due to the evolution of technology horses are no longer used anymore. They can be found mostly working for humans on ranches, farms, circuses and driving carriages for amusement rides. Although horses are not as vital as they were back in the day, the custom of riding them did not falter. Equestrians were looked upon as nobles in Rome who are members of the cavalry. Nowadays they are riders who take part in a number of equestrian sports.

Equestrians in this day and age are more known for equestrianism. It refers to the power to ride and drive horses. This definition doesn’t just include the use of horses for recreational activities and sports but also for working and practical uses. Contrary to what most individuals would think the term refers to other skills not just riding them for equestrian sports.

Equestrians before:

Horses were employed in variety of purposes. They were both used in warfare and peaceful pursuits. They were used from transportation, agriculture and war. In Rome Equestrians were looked upon elite. Horses were pricey at that time so possessing one meant that you were rich and don’t need to do manual labor. They were members of a social upper class in Rome. This class was most often referred to as knights. They were both a military and a political group because horsemen took in financial compensation from the government.

As Rome expanded it trusted on its allies for cavalry. There were no use of equestrians and they lost their military functions. They didn’t engage in warfare anymore but their titles still remain and indicate nobility. The equestrians were rich and governed the provinces. At that time senators were equal to equestrians.

The senators dominated the magistrate offices but were disallowed to operate business and gain commercial income. The equestrians on the other hand continued to invest in marketing and tax farming companies. Conflicts arose between the two of them. Equestrians made as much money as they could while senators notice rebellions due to overtaxing. During civil wars the two elite joined forces and their orders were defined as reforms were done.

Equestrians today:

There are popularly known for taking part in equestrian sports during Olympics. Like before horse back riding is mostly reserved for the rich. Even today horses are still expensive and prized.

Equestrian events include dressage, stadium jumping and eventing. Equestrians should be able to make the horse carry out natural movements on request while running loose during competitive dressage. It’s also referred to as “Horse Ballet”. Its goal is to develop a horses’ athletic ability and its initiative to perform to maximize its potential.
Stadium jumping is a clocked even where horseback riders are required to jump over a series of obstacles with the fewest errors. Riders and their horses needs to be able to go through the obstacle with the least knocked over portions of obstacles.

Eventing is the combining of dressage and show jumping. The horse and the rider have to go through a series of fixed obstacles such as stone walls, water, logs banks, trenches with the fastest time possible.

Although the role of equestrians has changed through the centuries it still holds that air of nobility that it at one time enjoyed in medieval times.