The White Horse

Rev. 6:1-2 (ESV)
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" [2] And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

Jesus, the Lamb, begins to open the seven seals. Each seal is accompanied by a vision. The first four seals are accompanied by a horse and rider. Vivid language describes each horse and rider one by one.
The first horse and rider is a man on a white horse holding a bow, who is given a crown and he comes conquering and to conquer.
Some have commented that this first horse and rider is actually Christ. It almost makes sense. A white horse, and the rider conquers. I have problems with that interpretation though. The riders, all four of them, seem to be in relation to each other somehow, and very menacing. They are given a quarter of the earth. And Jesus has the whole thing. Indeed, if this was the interpretation Jesus would be a rider who conquers the other three, rather than riding with them.
Other interpretations are that it is the anti-Christ, or perhaps dictatorships. I’m inclined to think that perhaps it is government of some sort. Perspicuity seems to be lacking here for all involved.