Individual, Open

The event was slightly different as the top 25 riders in round one, instead of 20, were advanced to the second round. The favorite was probably American Melanie Smith who, aboard Calypso, had led the 1982 World Cup and was third in 1983 behind her countryman Norman Dello Joio and Austrian Hugo Simon. The US team for Los Angeles was so strong that Dello Joio was not even selected for it, as they opted instead for Joe Fargis and Conrad Homfeld, who were stablemates in Petersburg, Virginia.

Fargis led round one with a clean trip, tied with Britain’s Michael Whitaker, while Holmfeld and Smith were in a five-way tie for third with 4.00 faults. Holmfeld then posted a clean ride in round two for a total of 4.00 faults. Fargis rode cleanly in his second round, until the final barrier, on which his horse, Touch of Class, knocked over the top rail. Fargis and Holmfeld thus tied with 4.00 faults and would have to jump-off. Fargis won the gold medal with another perfect round, leaving Holmfeld with silver.

Smith dropped back in round two and tied for seventh, but Whitaker had a disastrous ride, with 28.50 faults, and placed 24th. The bronze came down to a jump-off among Switzerland’s Heidi Robbiani and Bruno Candrian, Canada’s Mario Deslauriers. Robbiani secured third-place with a clean ride in the jump-off, as Deslauriers placed fourth with 4 faults, and Candrian had 8 faults.