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

The Pumpkin Lane estate is less than two hours away from N.Y.C., and only 20 minutes away from Millbrook and Rhinebeck villages, both of which offer equestrian activities. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024

Bella Hadid put an equestrian spin on the Boho trend in New York on Saturday. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

Situated at 8,000 feet, the glassy pool is also a hub for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. —Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024

Its founder, Gabrielle Chanel, an avid tennis player and equestrian, famously began selling sportswear made of humble materials including jerseys and tweed in 1913. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2024

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

1774, in the meaning defined above

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