trick riding

Trick riding, a form of equestrian performance, involves riders performing acrobatic feats while standing on or maneuvering around one or more horses. This art form has a long history within the circus, with its roots tracing back to Philip Astley in 1768. Astley, a former sergeant major, discovered that galloping in a circle while standing on a horse helped maintain balance due to centrifugal and centripetal forces, a principle that contributed to the development of the circus ring.1

Early trick riding, known as scenic riding, involved costumed performers acting out stories on horseback. Andrew Ducrow was a notable exponent, famous for acts like "The Courier of St. Petersburg," where a rider straddled two cantering horses. By the 19th century, bareback riding, which includes acrobatic feats on horses without a saddle, also gained popularity. In the 20th century, trick riding evolved to include voltige (vaulting onto and off a horse) and complex somersaults and pirouettes performed on horseback, often in human pyramids.23