In the short story "Young Goodman Brown" explain the identity of the horsemen and specify what they were anticipating.

In "Young Goodman Brown," the protagonist Brown hears horses approaching.  He hides in the brush as they pass and he overhears their conversation:

"Of thetwo, reverend Sir," said the voice like the deacon's, I had rather miss an ordination-dinner than tonight's meeting. They tell me that some of our community are to be here from Falmouth and beyond, and others from Connecticut and Rhode-Island; besides several of the Indian powows, who, after their fashion, know almost as much deviltry as the best of us. Moreover, there is a goodly young woman to be taken into communion."

The riders were his churches Reverend and the deacons of his congregation.  They are on their way to a meeting in the wooods.  They are excited about the meeting because they expect a new member, "a goodly young woman" to join their group that night.