Baroque riding – isn't that some kind of costume event with parade saddles, ornate saddle cloths and riding attire with gold buttons and a feathered hat? This misconception is understandable, since presentations of the baroque riding style do indeed often place great value on visual opulence.

Still, this interpretation misses the point: baroque riding – you could theoretically do it in a tracksuit.

In many contexts, the word "dressage" suggests an animal learning an essentially pointless trick because the trainer wants it to – like a poodle sitting up and begging.

With dressage riding, if all goes well, it is completely different. Training the horse serves the purpose of turning a flight animal into a strong, calm riding horse and preserving its health in the long term.

The Ecole de Légèreté – meaning "School of Lightness" – is a form of riding instruction rooted in classical equestrian art. It was developed by the French riding master Philippe Karl.

What characterises the Légèreté riding style is unconditional respect for the horse and the complete rejection of physical and psychological force, submission and coercion.

Trail riding is pretty much the antithesis of modern motorised travel: it is not about reaching a destination as quickly as possible. And not about a piece of high-tech luxury that stands in contrast to the natural surroundings.

The only fuel needed here is grass (and perhaps the occasional handful of oats). The average speed comes to maybe five kilometres per hour.

Working Equitation (working = labour, equitation = horsemanship) is a still relatively young equestrian sport that combines elements of traditional Southern European working riding styles.

As a combination of dressage, trail course and cattle work, working equitation has been a competitive sport discipline in Germany since 2008.