equestrian

1 of 2

adjective

eques·​tri·​an i-ˈkwe-strē-ən 

1

a

: of, relating to, or featuring horseback riding

equestrian Olympic events

b

archaic : riding on horseback : mounted

c

: representing a person on horseback

2

: of, relating to, or composed of knights

equestrian

2 of 2

noun

: one who rides on horseback

Did you know?

Equestrian comes from equus, Latin for "horse". Old statues of military heroes, like the famous one of General Sherman on New York's Fifth Avenue, are frequently equestrian. In these sculptures the man always sits nobly upright on a horse, but the horse's stance varies; depending on whether the rider was killed in battle or survived, was victorious or defeated, the horse traditionally stands with four, three, or two hooves on the ground. Equestrian statues have been popular through the centuries, because until the 20th century almost every officer in Europe and America was trained in equestrian skills and combat.

Examples of equestrian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Hadid immersed herself in the rugged world of horse-riders in central Morocco to follow an equestrian military ritual called Tbourida, which dates back to the 16th century. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Then there’s the equestrian center on the lower level, a horse-lover’s paradise featuring a four-stall barn, tack and feed rooms, and a corral area where the horses can play. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026

Noun

Tindall is an accomplished equestrian, having won several championships over the years and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Canadian equestrian Ian Millar rides into Olympic history by competing in his 10th games — the most of any athlete. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin equestr-, equester of a horseman, from eques horseman, from equus horse — more at equine

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1730, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for equestrian

• pedestrian

Kids Definition

equestrian

1 of 2 adjective

eques·​tri·​an i-ˈkwes-trē-ən 

: of or relating to horses, horseback riding, or people who ride horses

equestrian

2 of 2 noun

: one who rides on horseback