Choreographed dressage performances by mounted riders and typically set to music, particularly popular in Europe in the 16th-18th centuries. It grew out of cavalry maneuvers and Medieval tournaments. Equestrian ballets were performed outdoors or in large arenas. Costumed horsemen rode horses in patterns and conducted intricate maneuvers, including leaps and acrobatics. One of the earliest known equestrian ballets was performed in Paris for the wedding of the Duc de Joyeuse in 1581.
