骑术 (qí shù) literally combines 骑 (qí), meaning 'to ride'—especially on horseback—and 术 (shù), meaning 'art', 'skill', or 'technique'. Together, they form the compound noun 'horsemanship': the knowledge, ability, and practice involved in riding, controlling, and caring for horses. It encompasses balance, posture, communication with the horse, jumping, dressage, and other equestrian disciplines.

This term is formal and academic, commonly used in contexts like sports training, historical texts, military history, or professional equestrian education—not in casual daily speech. While 骑 can refer to riding bicycles or motorcycles in modern usage, 骑术 exclusively refers to horseback riding. It implies a cultivated, disciplined skill rather than casual riding, and often carries connotations of tradition, athleticism, and mastery.