Equestrian Activities
Exclusively the purview of the wealthy, equestrian activities are popular among the upper merchant classes and nobility of Eisen. Rides may be taken in parks, carriage drives through town, or - for the more vigorous - hunting in the countryside. Horses are expensive to keep and riding as a pleasure is a pastime only the wealthy can afford. Even for adventurers needing to travel, rental of horses is a more financially feasible option if long distance travel is required. For wealthy riders, special riding and driving clothes were a must and the cultivation of fine horses was as much a pastime as a point of pride.
In addition to personal riding, watching - and betting on - horse racing is another popular outing for the society of Eisen. To the south of Novandria proper, the Grunpferd Track (literally Green Horse) is the premier track for horse racing in Eisen where the nobles of the various duchies race their thoroughbred horses. Watching the races is a popular pastime, as is betting on them for those with more risky predilections.
Unlike personal riding, horse racing is also attended by members of the middle class and sometimes - for particularly large races - the grounds are opened for those of the lower class to attend.
