GAT UK Eventing Tour 2026: Badminton, British Countryside & A Whole Lot of Horses

Well… what a week that was!

Our very first Global Amateur Tour UK Eventing Tour has officially wrapped up, and honestly, I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for just how special it would turn out to be.

Over the past week, riders from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Corsica and the UK came together in the heart of the English countryside for an experience that somehow managed to combine world-class training, iconic eventing moments, endless laughs, countryside adventures and a genuinely lovely group of humans.

And yes… despite everyone packing waterproofs and mentally preparing for classic British weather, we somehow got sunshine for basically the entire week. A minor miracle in itself.

Settling Into Cotswolds Life

The tour was based in beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water, right in the heart of the Cotswolds. Think tiny stone bridges, winding rivers, old pubs, little coffee shops and enough postcard-worthy streets to absolutely destroy everyone’s camera rolls.

Our riders quickly settled into the rhythm of early mornings, horses, coffee runs, scotch eggs and plenty of laughs over breakfast before heading off each day for training and adventures.

We also squeezed in a few very important cultural experiences… including a proper British Sunday roast, an afternoon at Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmer’s Dog Beer Garden, and more pub dinners than anyone probably needed. Standard.

Training With Dan Bizzarro

The riding side of the week was led by international event rider Dan Bizzarro, and it’s fair to say our riders got an incredible insight into the level of detail that goes into producing confident, effective event riders.

Throughout the week, Dan focused heavily on the foundations. Adjustability, balance, quality of canter, transitions, straightness and building horses and riders that are rideable and effective across all three phases.

One of the coolest parts was watching riders swap horses throughout the week. That adaptability piece is such a huge part of what makes these tours special. Riders weren’t just learning to ride better. They were learning to problem solve, communicate and adapt quickly with unfamiliar horses.

We also spent time doing course walk seminars where Dan broke down striding, lines, balance through combinations, canter quality and how the smallest details can completely change the outcome of a round. Then riders got to immediately apply those lessons themselves which made everything click on a completely different level.

Cross Country At Lyneham Heath

One of the standout riding days had to be our cross country schooling at the stunning facility of Lyneham Heath.

For many riders, this was their first experience riding proper British cross country tracks and it definitely delivered. Water, ditches, combinations, terrain questions and plenty of big open galloping spaces gave everyone the chance to really step outside their comfort zones.

The best part? Watching confidence grow literally round by round.

By the end of the session, riders who had arrived nervous about certain questions were flying around with massive smiles on their faces.

A Pinch Me Visit To Laura Collett’s Yard

Without doubt, one of the most unforgettable experiences of the week was our visit to Olympic gold medallist, European champion and Badminton winner Laura Collett’s yard.

The riders were treated to two incredible masterclasses. The first focused on one of Laura’s exciting up-and-coming young horses, while the second featured none other than London 52 himself!

Getting to sit ringside and watch one of the best horsewomen in the world work through her training system in such detail was genuinely fascinating. Laura was unbelievably generous with her time, talking openly about training, management, producing horses and the realities of competing at the top level of the sport.

Moments like that are exactly what the Global Amateur Tour is all about. Creating opportunities that most amateur riders would never normally get access to.

And yes… there were definitely a few fangirl moments meeting London 52 in person. 😅

Finishing With A Nations Cup Competition

Before heading off to Badminton for the final two days of cross country and showjumping spectating, we wrapped up the riding side of the tour with our very own Nations Cup-style eventing team competition on Friday.

Two international teams. Three phases. Plenty of pressure. Plenty of laughs. And some seriously impressive riding.

After a full week of training, it was so cool watching the riders put everything they’d worked on into practice. From course walking strategy and canter quality to balance, adjustability and riding under pressure, you could really see the improvement that had happened over the week.

Watching riders cheer each other on from the sidelines, celebrate each other’s successes and support each other through the nerves summed up everything these tours are about.

Team Results

🥇 Katie Wilson & Bart (New Zealand) Emma Leigh Evans & Reggie Isabelle Richman & Rosie Isabella Swain & Cody

🥈 Sarah Myers & Eddie Fleur Granier-Deferre & Percy Tiger Lily Keyser & Bingo Zoe de Vivo & Trooper

Final Overall Results

🥇 Katie Wilson & Bart (New Zealand) 🥈 Sarah Myers & Eddie (Australia) 🥉 Tiger Lily Keyser & Bingo

Behind The Scenes At Badminton Horse Trials

Then came the perfect way to finish the tour… two unforgettable days at Badminton Horse Trials.

For many riders, this was their very first time experiencing one of the biggest events in the world in person and it absolutely lived up to the hype.

We walked the famous 5* cross country track alongside Dan, discussing lines, balance, distances, rider decisions and how the world’s best approach these enormous questions.

Standing at iconic fences like the Vicarage Vee and watching riders tackle them in real life was one of those proper “wow” moments.

We also got to watch the trot up live, explore the shopping village (which may or may not have been financially dangerous for some people), meet riders, watch world-class showjumping and soak up the atmosphere that makes Badminton so special.

And then there was Ros Canter.

Watching Ros and Lordships Graffalo make history after returning to the top level only months after having a baby was genuinely emotional to witness. The horsemanship, composure and partnership on display reminded all of us exactly why we love this sport so much.

More Than Just Riding

What makes these tours so unique isn’t just the horses or the training.

It’s the people.

A group of riders from completely different backgrounds and countries arriving as strangers and leaving feeling like a team is always one of the coolest parts of these experiences.

There were plenty of laughs, questionable group selfies, coffee-fuelled mornings, wrong turns down winding lanes in the British countryside, late night chats and enough horse discussion to last a lifetime.

And honestly… that’s the magic of it all.

What’s Next?

The horses may be getting a well-earned rest… but GAT definitely isn’t slowing down anytime soon. 😅

After the success of our very first UK Eventing Tour, the team now heads to Germany, with our next tour kicking off this Thursday.

Together with GAT Germany trainer Steffen Hauter, we’ll be welcoming 12 riders from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Namibia for another unforgettable week of horses, training, laughs and probably far too much schnitzel.

We also cannot wait to return to the UK again in September for our Burghley Horse Trials Eventing Tour, where we currently have just one place remaining.

We also have limited places left on:

🇵🇹 Portugal CSI Competition Tour (one spot)

🇺🇸 USA Hybrid Eventing & Showjumping Tour with Boyd Martin & Ronny Riemer (two places)

And remember… you absolutely do not need to be a professional rider to join the Global Amateur Tour.

That’s the entire point.

These tours were created to give amateur riders access to opportunities that normally feel completely out of reach. World-class coaching. Incredible horses. International competition and training environments. Experiences that genuinely change your riding and confidence forever.

All without needing to bring your own horse halfway around the world.

To everyone who joined us in the UK this year… thank you for making our first GAT UK Eventing Tour one we’ll never forget.

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