Frequently Asked Questions

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Who can apply for these tours?

Riders of any age, level, and country may apply. There is something for everyone!

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Do you bring your own horse on these tours?

You are most welcome to, but in short, not doing so is the tour’s main point of difference. For all our tours, we supply quality, purpose-bred horses, giving riders the remarkable opportunity to train and compete internationally without the hassle or expense of bringing their own horse. 

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What types of tours do you offer?

We currently offer the following types of tours:

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• GAT Training: The training tours (like France and Germany) do not typically involve an official show and are more geared up to focus on daily training with elite coaches, which often also involves riding different horses over the week, as well as informative seminars, physical and mental preparation for the riders, fantastic sightseeing opportunities and the chance to spectate at a major international show like CHIO Aachen. These training tours are available for all ages and levels.  

• GAT Competition: The GAT competition tours like Brazil and Mexico, generally run in conjunction with a CSI International show and require a minimum level of 1.10m, sometimes 1.20m plus if it is a 5-star show like the São Paulo 5*. These events typically involve several days of trialing and getting to know your horse, then several days competing with some downtime in between to sightsee and explore these amazing destinations!  

• GAT Hybrid Tours: The best of both worlds. These tours incorporate several days of top-quality coaching, followed by the chance to compete at a local or national show.  

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How do I know which tour is right for me?

The application and selection criteria for the tours depend on your age and the stage you are at in your riding career. For example, the competition tours generally require a minimum showjumping level of 1.10m and have specific categories depending on age, whereas the training tours are for all levels and ages 

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What language are the classes taught in?

All tours have English-speaking coaches; however, we also have native speakers in each tour location, so it is also possible to receive your lessons in this language if you prefer.

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What kind of sightseeing can one expect on a tour?

The sightseeing opportunities all depend on the location of each tour. For example, in France, we offer a day tour to Paris, Eurodisney, the magnificent Palace of Versailles (Olympic venue for the 2024 Equestrian disciplines), the city of Rouen, and the chance to spectate at the LGCT Paris and Chantilly International!

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Is there an age limit? 

No, not for our training tours; however, some competition tours have age restrictions. Also, any riders under 18 at the time of the tour must be accompanied by a guardian.  

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Is it just riders, or can supporters attend GAT tours? 

Supporters are more than welcome to join you on our GAT tours. All tours will allow you to take at least one official supporter; however, on some tours, we can accommodate larger groups. Official supporters pay a fee, which is advertised on the information page for each tour. The advertised price estimate excludes flights and travel insurance but includes accommodation, some meals, any included sightseeing activities, most transportation,  an accompanying Chef d'equipe, and, where applicable, show tickets. 

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I’m interested in your 2026 tours. When is the latest date to apply?

There is no specific closure date; however, the tours generally sell out up to 12 months in advance, so we advise submitting your application as early as possible if you don't want to miss out.

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How do I apply?

All the tours are listed HERE

For all tours, you will need to fill out an application form and submit an unedited riding video along with contact details for two referees. If applying for a training tour, your video does not need to be from a competition.

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How much do your tours cost? 

Each tour is different. All prices advertised on our website are estimated based on the current costs and exchange rates. The final price will usually be very close to the estimate, and any changes are advertised as soon as they are known. To secure your spot on one of our tours, you will need to pay a deposit of 2000 dollars per rider and 1000 dollars per supporter in the currency the tour is priced in. This is invoiced upon selection, and payment is required before we will reserve a spot on a tour for you. 

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What's included in the price? 

The inclusions vary depending on which tour you choose and are all advertised on the website page for each tour. For all tours the price excludes flights and travel insurance, but includes a selection of official Global Amateur Tour merchandise, accommodation, breakfast as well as a welcome and farewell dinner, your tour Chef d'equipe, any included sightseeing activities, most transportation, event tickets for any included shows as well as all horse related costs such as coaching, horse lease and stabling and any required transport or show entry fees. 

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How do I pay? 

After you are selected to attend one of our tours, you will receive a tour information form that asks you how you would like to pay. You can choose either to pay for your tour all at once or pay in instalments over time. You can pay by bank transfer in the currency your tour is priced in (usually Euros or USD) or by credit card using Stripe (in NZD).

 

The cost seems quite high?

We understand that the cost of a GAT tour can seem high at first glance, but when you consider what’s included, the value becomes clear.

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Taking your own horse overseas to train or compete is incredibly expensive, with international flights, quarantine, stabling, and logistics quickly adding up to tens of thousands of dollars. By comparison, our tours offer an all-inclusive way to ride abroad on top-quality, locally leased horses, without the stress or cost of transporting your own.

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Leasing talented, training or competition-ready horses comes at a premium, especially in the world's most sought-after equestrian regions. We also work exclusively with top-tier coaches and professional stables to ensure the highest standard of training and care — and yes, that too comes with a cost.

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We do everything we can to keep the base price as affordable as possible. That means booking well in advance, negotiating rates early, and bundling travel and accommodation wherever we can. While the core tour includes everything you need for an exceptional experience, we also offer a range of optional extras — like extended stays, upgraded accommodation, or additional GAT merchandise — for those who want to personalise their trip.

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At the end of the day, putting on a high-quality, safe, and professionally run equestrian experience in iconic international locations isn’t cheap. But we’re committed to making it worth every cent, and to delivering an experience that’s as unforgettable as it is inspiring.

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I have seen some other similar tours advertised. How do I know which one to choose? 

Over the years, many have been inspired to replicate the Global Amateur Tour concept, and we can’t blame them. It’s a great idea, and we wish them well in helping more riders discover international opportunities.

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But GAT is the original. Since 2018, we’ve taken more than 400 riders from every continent (except Antarctica!) on tours to over 10 countries. We take our mission seriously: carefully scouting locations, working only with the most reputable stables, coaches, and shows, and keeping our groups small (8–14 riders) so every rider is fully supported by our team of chef d’équipes, trainers, and industry professionals.

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Our global network opens doors to world-class riders, course designers, and equestrian personalities, giving our riders unmatched access and learning opportunities. With nearly a decade of experience in horse matching, we know how to pair riders with the right horses and the right tours. And because all of our tours are by application and invitation, we can ensure every group is the right fit for the location, the horses, and the shows they’ll be attending.

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Many have come and gone, but GAT remains the original, largest, and most trusted provider of safe, memorable, and career-building international training and competition experiences for amateur riders on leased horses.

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Can I bring my own horse? 

Of course you can! While we specialise in finding and matching great horses with our riders, we know some of you love riding your own mount. If you can get your horse to our tour locations, we can arrange stabling, and you can experience GAT on your own horse. Let us know when you apply that you would like to look at bringing your own horse, and we will provide you with all the information about doing that, including a revised price minus the horse lease component. 

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What happens if I can't attend or if I change my mind? 

It depends; you can withdraw from a tour at any stage, but there are only refunds if you do so early enough. We know that unplanned events can happen, so we recommend that you purchase full travel insurance as soon as you are selected, so that if something does happen that causes you to miss your tour, you can claim travel insurance. Your deposit is not refundable, but you can add it along with your other prepaid costs to a travel insurance claim. We will provide documentation for your insurer. Full cancellation terms are included in your Tour Agreement, which you are required to sign before we can confirm your place on he tour.  

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Who goes on a tour? 

One of the best things about the Global Amateur Tour is the people you meet and the friendships you make. Our tours have riders of all ages and all backgrounds, from all corners of the globe. We have had riders from every continent except Antarctica. With such a diverse group, our tours are a great chance to learn and develop both culturally and as a rider. 

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Can I attend as a spectator?  

Yes. We have supporters who attend with riders, but on most tours, you can also attend as a spectator only. Aside from riding, you will participate in the tour fully and get to learn from from sidelines. To apply to attend as a spectator, please email us at info@globalamateurtour.com for more information. 

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Other than training and competing, what else happens on a tour? 

Every tour is different in terms of both riding and non-riding activities. But some examples of other activities are listed below. 

• Attend renowned international shows like the Chio Aachen World Equestrian Festival in Germany and the Global Champions Tour. 

• Rider fitness training 

• Informative seminars on topics such as mental skills and course design 

• Trail riding

• Cultural and sporting activities such as local cooking, polo, or local dance classes 

• Sightseeing 

• Sights and bites, checking out the local streets, shops, and restaurants 

Our team can talk you through which tour best suits what you are looking for on and off the horse. Just complete our expression of interest form, put your questions in the form, and we will come back to you with a recommendation. 

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Can I extend my trip? 

Yes, you are more than welcome to extend your tour. In most instances, we can book you additional nights at the tour accommodation at either end of the tour. If you want to arrive earlier to get acclimated or stay a little longer to wind down afterward, we can take care of that for you. We travel to some amazing locations, and there is always the opportunity to pre- or post-tour to go and see some other areas and add some additional experiences to your trip. We are always happy to provide advice or ideas on what you can do pre and post tour.