See Also: horsemanship(encyclopedia)
horsemanship(dictionary)

horsemanship (sh)




Art of training, riding, and handling horses.

Good horsemanship requires that a rider control the animal's direction, gait, and speed with maximum effectiveness and minimum effort. Natural aids are a rider's balance, hands, voice, and legs; artificial aids include bits, reins, saddles, and spurs. Horsemanship was important to cavalrymen and cowboys, and is the fundamental element of dressage.