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In order to explain changes and variations in patterns of gender relations over time and space, the article analyses women's and men's participation rates in equestrian sports focusing on equestrianism in the Olympic Games 1952–2000 with an emphasis on Britain and Sweden. More men than women compete in Olympic equestrianism, although the number of female riders has increased over time and gender patterns vary within equestrianism. A majority of competitive dressage riders are women. Also, British women were involved in equestrian sports earlier than Swedish women. A comparison between Britain and Sweden provides insight into how national politics and cultural context shape gender relations. The destabilization of the societal gender order brought about by the First World War and the Second World War may have disrupted the gender order in equestrianism, creating opportunities for some female riders. Furthermore, governmental support or lack thereof is likely to have influenced female and male participation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]