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 your 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 trialing and getting to know your horse then several days competing with some downtime in between to sightsee and explore these amazing destinations!  

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How do I know which tour is right for me?

The application and selection criteria for the tours depend on what age and 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 2025 tours. When is the latest date to apply?

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

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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 which is located under each tour on the website. 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 are advertised on our website in $USD and are estimated based on the current costs and exchange rates. The final price will usually be fairly close to the estimate and any changes are advertised as soon as they are known. Once you have signed up for a tour you have the right to cancel and receive a refund if there is a major change to either the price or the tour itself. All of this information is detailed in your tour agreement which you need to sign after being selected before your tour is confirmed. 

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What's included in the price? 

The inclusions vary depending on which tour you choose and are all advertised in the 'about the tour' section for each tour on our website. For all tours the price excludes flights and travel insurance, but includes 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 and 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 which asks you how you would like to pay. To secure your spot on one of our tours, you will need to pay a deposit of USD 1500 per rider and USD 1000 per supporter. For the remainder of your tour costs, you can choose either to pay them all at once or pay in instalments over time. You can pay by bank transfer or by credit card using Stripe. 

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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 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 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 click HERE. 

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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 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.