The biggest international series is the Global Champions Tour (GCT), brainchild of World Cup winning Dutch horseman Jan Tops. The most exciting part of the Longines-sponsored GCT is that it continues to seek growth and improvement.

Even as it became the premier international jumping series, Tops was (and is) laying the groundwork for the next evolution. It may corny to say, but also true, that guided by his love of horses, Tops picked up a neglected jewel lying in the manure pile the market left behind … and gave it a better setting.

Tops knew to trust horses and the sport to do the rest: and they are.

Alert the Media: People Like Horses

The GCT’s success has increased money in the high end of the sport, and is helping drive a new level of interest and development in show jumping. The growth is driven by being friendly to spectators. Spectators are a key, fully-integrated part of a GCT tournament.

In bringing this vision forward, Tops has developed a new structure for the modern sj tournament: temporary facilities set in iconic locations. The GCT brings the sport right in the heart of the world’s great cities.

Show Jumping and the 21st century

As it turns out, international jumping makes a great pop-up sport. By using such installations, Tops takes advantage of a big strength of the sport: the size of arena is flexible. Size or shape of a jumping arena is not predetermined.

Seeing the horses jump by the beach or alongside a world-famous landmark, in historic locations or under the lights–each new venue visually demonstrates the enduring partnership we have with the horse. The GCT encapsulates the sport into special bubbles and places them where people might enjoy them … thank you, Mr. Tops! Here’s to continued success.