They ride in order making descent (8)
I believe the answer is:
heredity
'descent' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'they ride in order' is the wordplay.
'in order' is an anagram indicator (the letters in a new order).
'they'+'ride'='theyride'
'theyride' anagrammed gives 'HEREDITY'.
'making' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for heredity that I've seen before include "Ancestry" , "Congenital traits" , "Characteristics handed down from ancestors" , "Transmission of recognisable characteristics to descendants" , "What is determined by genes" .)