Equestrianism Through The Functionalist Lens

Madison Eller
Introduction to Sociology M/W 12:15-1:30
Delaware Valley University
Equestrianism Through the Functionalist Lens Functionalism is a major part of contemporary sociological ideas that contribute largely to how society, or parts of society, works as together as one. Equestrianism is a non-traditional sport that embodies the idea of the functionalist theory. In the following essay, the sport and concept of equestrianism will be discussed through the lens of functional theory. Talcott Parsons first introduced the idea of functionalism and Robert K. Merton and Emile Durkheim later refined this theory. Functionalism suggests that society works as a whole to achieve a common goal (Kendall, 2016, p. 16). According to Pope (1975),

From a personal standpoint, equestrianism is any aspect of riding that achieves a goal through hard work and dedication of a team- the horse and rider. Equestrianism is a sport unlike most common sports like football, basketball, or baseball. It has a factor that sets it apart from any other sport, which is “equestrian sports are dependent to a large degree on human: equine interaction and mutual collaboration to successfully complete a sport task” (Meyers, 2008, p.

For the system to be successful, the two components must work in cooperation with each other. In an article in the American Sociological Review, Crano explains that, “both instrumental and socioemotional specialist role were necessary for maintenance of family… but both roles could not be assumed by the same person at the same time,” (Crano, 1978, p. 464). Although it is difficult to place the role of horse and rider into the instrumental and expressive tasks, the two do function as a type of family unit and according to Comte, studying a family unit is an effective way to study how a society works as well. In order for any society to function properly, the parts must be compatible with each other. This holds true for the horse-rider relationship as well. To maintain a stable ride and achieve the goal the pair set out for, they must be able to efficiently work as a unit. Like mentioned previously, the personalities of horse and rider must co-exist, and one of the two cannot maintain both roles successfully. In an article by Applied Animal Behavior Science, Wolframm tells how “riders form close relationships with horses and it has been said in order to perform optimally rider and horse need to operate ‘as one’,” (Wolframm, 2012, p. 96). This aspect clearly mirrors the concept of