BY MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
This spring, the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is offering equestrian students the opportunity of a lifetime to learn, ride, and gain hands-on experience in Germany’s world-leading sport horse and breeding industries. This two week immersive faculty-led program is open to all majors and will take place across Germany, hitting the major cities Dresden and Berlin, as well as traveling to Prague, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
Germany has a state-supported breeding program, which contributes to their global superiority in producing warmblood horses that U.S. buyers frequently import. Throughout the trip, students will visit both state-supported studs and large, private breeding operations, meeting equine professionals, and growing their knowledge of equine husbandry.
Though this study abroad doesn’t include competing, there will be opportunities to attend German sport horse events as a spectator, and interested students can ride with German riding instructors, learn riding techniques, and even take a riding test to obtain an international bronze riding certificate.
No previous knowledge of Germany or its history is required, but students will be expected to embrace the culture and carry an open mindset while experiencing different German restaurants and cuisines, as well as note the visual divide that still exists in the country as they cross both East and West Germany.
The travel dates for this study abroad experience are May 18-31, 2026. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. For questions about the program’s itinerary, eligibility, requirements, academic suitability, or the billing and payment schedule, please contact the program leader, Beth Sheely, at beblackw@vt.edu.
Learn more and apply at sa.globaleducation.vt.edu
