Two Tours, All in one Time Zone: Inside GAT UK and GAT Portugal 🇬🇧🇵🇹
It is not often that we have two tours running at the same time. Let alone in the same time zone.
Currently underway, we have riders training and competing on two different corners of Europe at once. One group is settling into the coastal charm of northern Portugal, the other into the rolling green of the English Cotswolds.
So here is what our riders have been up to!
🇵🇹 GAT Portugal: Building Partnerships Before the International Competition Arena
Our very first European Competition Tour is well underway in Esposende, and what a start it has been.
We kicked things off GAT-style with a race around the beautiful city of Porto. Riders from Australia, Argentina, Bermuda, South Africa, the UK and the USA took on a series of challenges across the city, tracking down Porto's most iconic spots along the way, from the cathedral and Bolhão Market to the famous Dom Luís I Bridge. There was plenty of Portuguese culture packed in too, with sardines, cod and, of course, a little Port tasting, before the whole group cruised down the Douro for a sunset boat party. A pretty iconic way to start the week, and we couldn’t think of a better way to set the tone for what lies ahead!
Day one of training brought the moment every rider waits for, meeting their teammates. On this tour, our riders compete on quality, borrowed sport horses, where they only have a matter of days to adapt to their mount before entering the competition arena. They jumped straight into two sessions focused on getting to know their new rides, finding the buttons and building confidence together before putting it all into practice over some jumping lines.
Guiding each session is Swedish Grand Prix showjumper and trainer Anna Lindberg. With impressive horses underneath them and fantastic facilities to train in, there was plenty for our riders to take away from a very productive first day.
New horses, new challenges, plenty of learning, a few lightbulb moments and a lot of laughs along the way. In between training, we have explored the stunning surrounds Portugal has to offer; a big part of GAT is about the places we discover, the people we meet and the memories made well beyond the arena.
It has been so rewarding watching our riders grow with their horses each day, figuring out the buttons, adapting their riding, and building some pretty special partnerships in such a short space of time. And now comes the exciting part. With their training complete, our Portugal riders are stepping into the competition arena, ready to put everything they have learned into action at a CSI 2-star international show.
🇬🇧 GAT UK: Heating Up on the Road to Burghley
Meanwhile, a little further north, the GAT UK Eventing Tour is well and truly underway.
Our riders from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA have been getting stuck into an unforgettable week of horses, learning and adventure in the heart of the English Cotswolds. Based in the postcard-perfect village of Bourton-on-the-Water, the group is training under the guidance of international event rider and coach Daniele Bizzarro.
Dan sets the tone for what makes this tour so special. As he puts it, GAT is all about catering for a wide range of riders and it is all about learning and having fun. Throughout the week, riders get to experience a variety of different horses, challenging them to adapt, build confidence, and take something new from every training session.
Day one saw Dan sharing plenty of useful tips from his toolbox, working through the fundamentals with our riders as training started to heat up.
Then came a firm crowd favourite: cross-country day. With the world's best event riders set to tackle Burghley Horse Trials later in the week, our riders headed out to the incredible facility at Lyneham Heath to test themselves over a full cross-country course under Dan's watchful eye. From logs to hedges, steps to banks and water complexes, our riders tackled them all while adapting to new horses.
Fresh from Aachen, where she climbed from 38th to 14th after a brilliant cross-country run at the FEI World Championships, British eventing star ‘Caroline Harris’ opened her gates to our GAT UK crew. It was a rare look inside a top international yard, a chance to meet the horses, explore her systems and understand the mindset that takes a rider to the world stage. An incredible insight, and one our riders will not forget in a hurry. Thank you, Caroline for sharing your team with us.
With more training, more horses, and two full days at the legendary Burghley Horse Trials still to come, the GAT UK crew is only just getting started.
Could This Be You in 2027!? 🌍
Watching two tours unfold side by side is a reminder of exactly why we do this. New opportunities, new countries, new friendships, and the kind of experiences that stay with a rider long after they fly home.
And the best part? You could be next.
Applications for our 2027 Global Amateur Tours are now open. All ages and levels are welcome, and no, you do not need to bring your own horse. Come train, compete, travel, and experience the adventure for yourself.
🇬🇧GAT UK Eventing Tour 2027: Badminton 🇬🇧
Back to the home of eventing, this time built around the world-famous ‘Badminton Horse Trials’. Same Cotswolds magic, world-class coaching with Dan Bizzarro wrapped into a once-in-a-lifetime British eventing experience.
Our 2027 UK Badminton Tour is nearly sold out. If you have ever dreamed of walking a legendary course with your name on a GAT tour list, this is your sign.
📅 7 to 17 May 2027
And if it is the competition arena that is calling you, we have that covered too.
Next stop after that: GAT Mexico Competition Tour 2027 🇲🇽
Caught the competition bug watching our Portugal riders? Our sights are already set on Puebla for another chance to test yourself at a CSI 2-star international show, this time in the heart of Latin America.
📅 27 May to 7 June 2027
⏳ Early bird pricing closes 31 October 2026
Where will GAT take you in 2027? ✈️
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