Team, Open

This was again contested as an event separate from the individual jumping, but the format was changed in 1972. Teams still consisted of four riders, and there were still two rounds, but instead of the team score consisting of the score by the top three riders based on total score, now it would come from the top three riders for each round. Seventeen teams started, but only the top eight teams advanced to the second round. The event closed the Olympics as it was held at the Olympic Stadium in the main Olympic park shortly before the Closing Ceremony.

Over the last 18 months the West Germans (FRG) had won more Nations’ Cup events than any other country, but there was no truly dominant team, and the United States had also won several Nations’ Cups in 1971-72. In the first round these two teams led, with West Germany slightly ahead, 16.00 to 16.25 faults. It was still close in the second round, with both teams receiving 16 faults in the second round, giving West Germany the gold medal and the USA the silver. Great Britain and Spain had been tied for third after round one, but both stumbled in round two, as Italy moved up from fifth to third, winning the bronze medal.