Individual, Open

The endurance course with 35 jumps was designed by Mario Becerril who had competed in the 1952 Olympic three-day event. It poured rain on the endurance day, and although it lasted for only 30 minutes, the small two-meter stream serving as obstacle number 34 grew to reach up to 12 metres in width, with no visible take-off point. Several horses were clearly in distress due to the heavy rain that started after 30 of the 49 riders had gone out. This gave a huge advantage to the early starters. The course was very difficult and two horses died, probably exacerbated by the altitude problem that also affected the distance runners in Mexico City, as the two horse fatalities – Balerina from the Soviet Union and Loughlin from Ireland – occurred before the downpour.

The dressage leaders were Soviets Aleksandr Yevdokimov and German Gazyumov, followed by East German Ulrich Vite, but they had little bearing on the medal race, as Vite did not finish the event, Yevdokimov finished 21st, and Gazyumov was 10th. The endurance phase set up the medals as American Jimmy Wofford had the best ride, followed by his teammate Michael Page, and Britain’s Richard Meade. However, France’s Jean-Jacques Guyon moved into the lead after the endurance ride, followed by Wofford, Britain’s Derek Allhusen, and then Meade and Page. Defending gold medalist Mauro Checcoli of Italy was eliminated in the endurance ride.

Guyon finished only in a tie for 16th in the jumping with 10.25 faults, but it was enough to secure him the gold medal. The jumping was led by France’s Jean Sarrazin and Ireland’s Diana Wilson, who both had clean rides. Allhusen moved up to the silver medal and Page won the bronze, when Wofford struggled in jumping with 43.75 faults, dropping him down to sixth place overall, and Meade also had problems, finishing with 22.25 faults, but he moved up to fourth. Meade would return in 1972 and win the gold medal in the event.

Tommy Brennan of Ireland and his horse March Hawk were swept away as they tried to jump the main stream. The horse swam to safety but Brennan, a non-swimmer, nearly drowned before he was dragged onto dry land.