Individual, Open

Because of a dangerously high heat index, the steeplechase course was reduced from 3,205 metres to 2,760 metres, the second roads and track section was reduced from 11.1 km to 9.0 km, and three minutes of rest time were added after the second roads and track section. The endurance course, designed by Wolfgang Field, then consisted of the following phases: roads and track – 5,060 metres; steeplechase – 2,769 metres with 7 obstacles; roads and track – 9,000 metres; and cross-country – 7,410 metres with 33 obstacles.

New Zealand’s Mark Todd had won this event in 1984 and 1988, and had won the Burghley Horse Trials in 1990-91. He finished the dressage in fifth place, trailing the German leader, Matthias Baumann, and appeared well-poised for a three-peat, but Todd did not finish the endurance phase and was eliminated. Australia Matt Ryan won the endurance contest, and moved into the lead. He had no major international podiums, but had finished eighth recently at the 1992 Badminton Horse Trials. Going into the jumping, Ryan was trailed by Todd’s teammate Andrew Nicholson and German Herbert Blöcker. Ryan won the gold medal with only one fence not cleared in the jumping, as Blöcker rode clean in jumping to move up to silver. Nicholson completely collapsed, recording 45 faults in the jumping, the worst round of the remaining 62 riders, and dropped down to 16th place. Two of his teammates, Blyth Tait and Vicky Latta, moved up to third- and fourth-place, respectively. Tait would improve in 1996 at Atlanta and win the gold medal.