Horsemanship

Horsemanship is a keyword ability on creatures that serves as an evasion ability. Attacking creatures with horsemanship can not be blocked by creatures without horsemanship. It is functionally identical to flying.

All cards with horsemanship appear in Portal Three Kingdoms. Until the set was made legal for Vintage and Legacy in October 2005, it had the distinction of being the only keyword ability existing outside of Un-sets that did not appear on a single card legal in any tournament format.

From the Comprehensive Rules

• 702.29. Horsemanship
  • 702.29a Horsemanship is an evasion ability.
  • 702.29b A creature with horsemanship can’t be blocked by creatures without horsemanship. A creature with horsemanship can block a creature with or without horsemanship. (See rule 509, “Declare Blockers Step.”)
  • 702.29c Multiple instances of horsemanship on the same creature are redundant.

Rulings

• Horsemanship doesn't interact with flying or reach.
• If a creature gains or loses horsemanship after blockers have been declared, it won't cause those blocks to change.

Example

Shu Cavalry - Creature — Human Soldier 2/2 Horsemanship (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship.)

Color percentages

There is a total of 36 cards that involve horsemanship, which divide by color as such:

• Blue = 22 % 8
• White = 22 % 8
• Black = 20 % 7
• Red = 20 % 7
• Green = 16 % 6

Cards that grant Horsemanship

Creature

• Sun Quan, Lord of Wu

Sorceries

• Riding Red Hare
• Riding the Dilu Horse

Contributors

Binary, GWiZ665, GeoMike, Magic Mage, Unistardust