# equestrian

/ɪˈkwɛstɹiən/ (US) · /ɛkwˈɛstɹiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/equestrian
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. related to horse riding

adjective · CEFR B2

connected with riding horses or the skills involved in riding.

For teachers: relating to horseback riding, horsemanship, or the performance of horses and riders.

- The city is hosting a major equestrian event this summer with riders from all over the world.
- The Olympic equestrian disciplines require an extraordinary level of communication and trust between the athlete and the animal.

### 2. depicting a rider

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing a person riding a horse, usually in a statue or painting.

For teachers: representing a person on horseback, typically used in the context of sculpture or portraiture.

- There is a famous equestrian statue of the king in the middle of the square.
- The bronze equestrian monument dominates the plaza, portraying the general in a triumphant pose atop a rearing stallion.

### 3. ancient Roman social class

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

relating to a specific social group in ancient Rome called the 'equites'.

For teachers: relating to the ancient Roman social class of equites, originally the cavalry but later a powerful business and administrative class.

- He studied the equestrian order to understand how Roman politics worked.
- The rise of the equestrian class during the late Republic significantly altered the traditional balance of power within the Roman Senate.

### 4. a horse rider

noun · CEFR B2

a person who rides horses, especially someone who is very good at it.

For teachers: a person who rides horses, particularly a skilled performer or competitor in horse shows.

- As a talented equestrian, she spends most of her weekends at the stables.
- The competition attracted top-tier equestrians from across the continent, all vying for the prestigious championship trophy.

## Examples

- The city is building a new equestrian center for the Olympics.
- She has spent her entire life in the equestrian world, competing in both dressage and show jumping at a national level.
- The estate features extensive equestrian facilities, including a heated indoor arena and miles of private trails designed specifically for long-distance endurance training.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.