Equestrianism, commonly called horseback riding, refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. The term refers to the different uses of horseback riding, from the practical, working purposes as well as recreational activities and competitive sports. The horses are trained and ridden for a specific purpose, such as police work or controlling or herding animals in a ranch. They can also be trained for competitive sport such as racing, polo, and rodeo.

As with every sport, horseback riding has a dress code and its own set of equipment. One of the most notable and unique equipment is the horse saddle. This is placed on a horse’s back and acts as a supportive structure for a more comfortable ride for the rider. The most common of these are the wade, slick fork, and the afork saddle.