Jan Tops, Dutch Olympic show jumper, transformed his vision into the Longines Global Champions Tour in 2006. This traveling circuit brought equestrian jumping to cities like Paris, Miami, and Shanghai, offering million-dollar prizes and global television coverage. His goal: professionalize the sport and attract new audiences outside traditional European circuits.
The engineering behind a tour on wheels 🏗️
Organizing an event that moves over 50 elite horses across continents requires military logistics. Tops implemented specialized air transport systems with pressurized stables and climate control. Each venue requires sand arenas with sensor-regulated drainage and satellite-synchronized electronic timing. The digital platform allows live tracking of scores and bets, integrating biometric data from the horses to optimize their performance.
When your horse flies business class ✈️
While riders complain about jet lag, horses travel in climate-controlled planes with personalized menus and equine masseurs. Jan Tops managed to give a thoroughbred better catering than many humans in economy class. Ironically, with all this luxury, some horse might ask for a raise or threaten to unionize. After all, they are the true stars of the show.