Equestrian events were included in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1900 and then in 1912, in a format very similar to that which was used at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
In the past, the three-day event (Eventing) was restricted to military officers, while the jumping and dressage competitions were open to civilians, but only a handful of civilian riders competed up to 1948. Up to that time, the growth of modern sport had been rapid, but relatively few competitors were involved in international competitions. They all knew each other and the judges and were accepting of local variations to the fairly simple rules which existed. With the inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games, it became obvious that some internationally recognised rules for the three Olympic disciplines were essential. In May 1921, delegates from 10 national equestrian organisations met in Lausanne to discuss the formation of an international federation.
Equestrian consists of three disciplines: Jumping, Dressage and Eventing (Three-Day Event).
起源于原始人类的生产劳动过程。公元前680年古代奥运会设有马车比赛。中国的马术也具有悠久的历史，兴于周代，盛于唐代。现代马术运动始于欧洲。古代为了做到战车所用的马匹在战场上移动准确性和精确，常对马匹进行各种技巧和协调性的训练，后来就发展成为马术比赛。
行业英语之马术英语相关词汇:
快步 trot
慢跑步 canter
飞奔 gallop
马 horse
额毛 forelock
马鬃 mane
马背 horseback
前肢 forefoot
后肢 hind leg
蹄 hoof
纯种马 purebred
体育英语之马术英语英冠词汇：
Riding and Horse Riding 赛马
riding 骑马
racecourse, racetrack 跑马场,赛马场
jockey, polo 马球 rider 马球运动员
show jumping competition 跳跃赛
steeplechase 障碍赛
fence 障碍
trotter 快跑的马