| | Event type

Individual, Open

Date	26 July – 3 August 1996
Status	Olympic
Location	Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers, Georgia
Participants	49 from 18 countries
Format	Total score in three rounds determines final placements.

The event was changed with three rounds, termed the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special, and the Grand Prix Freestyle. The Grand Prix was effectively the qualifying round that doubled as the team competition, with the top 25 riders advancing to the Grand Prix Special. The top 14 riders after two rounds then advanced to the Grand Prix Freestyle, which was dressage set to music, termed kür. The final placements for the top 14 riders were determined by total score for all three rounds. Scoring was also different. Previously the points for each judge were added together for the total score. Now, each round was scored that way, but a percentage score of the maximum was also given, and used for the totals, so the highest total score was theoretically 300, for 100% in each round. The new format and scoring was revolutionary and changed dressage from a very boring competition into just a sorta boring one.

The event was now dominated by women as they took the top five places. The two-time defending champion was Germany Nicole Uphoff but she was at the top of the German team, and although she competed, she was only eighth after the Grand Prix Special and chose not to contest the Grand Prix Freestyle. Her teammate Isabell Werth succeeded her as Olympic Champion, after winning a silver medal in 1992. In the Grand Prix Freestyle she and her horse, Gigolo, performed to “Just a Gigolo,” aptly, and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” from Monty Python. Werth would also win silvers in the event in 2000 and 2008. The Netherlands’ [Anky van Grunsven] won silver in Atlanta, but she would become the top rider in the discipline, winning gold medals in 2000-08.

Pos	Number	Competitor	Horse	NOC	Percentage Points	Grand Prix	Grand Prix Special	Grand Prix Kür Freestyle
1	347	Isabell Werth	Gigolo	GER	235.09	76.60 (1)	75.49 (2)	83.00 (1)	Gold
2	547	Anky van Grunsven	Bonfire	NED	233.02	75.72 (2)	77.72 (1)	79.58 (2)	Silver
3	549	Sven Rothenberger	Weyden	NED	224.94	74.16 (4)	74.00 (4)	76.78 (4)	Bronze
4	349	Monica Theodorescu	Grunox	GER	224.56	73.80 (5)	73.91 (5)	76.85 (3)
5	748	Michelle Gibson	Peron	USA	222.83	75.20 (3)	74.28 (3)	73.35 (8)
6	348	Klaus Balkenhol	Goldstern	GER	221.81	71.72 (6)	73.81 (6)	76.28 (5)
7	329	Margit Otto-Crépin	Lucky Lord	FRA	219.80	71.32 (7)	72.93 (9)	75.55 (6)
8	746	Guenter Seidel	Graf George	USA	215.02	69.36 (11)	71.81 (10)	73.85 (7)
9	346	Martin Schaudt	Durgo	GER	212.75	71.24 (8)	70.98 (11)	70.53 (12)
10	713	Louise Nathhorst	Walk on Top	SWE	212.54	66.28 (21)	73.53 (7)	72.73 (9)
11	691	Ignacio Rambla	Evento	ESP	212.13	69.76 (10)	70.19 (12)	72.18 (10)
12	288	Lars Petersen	Uffe Korshøjgaard	DEN	207.82	68.20 (12)	68.74 (13)	70.88 (11)
13	546	Tineke Bartels-de Vries	Olympic Barbria	NED	205.54	67.60 (14)	68.28 (15)	69.66 (13)
14	357	Nicole Uphoff-Becker	Rembrandt	GER	143.06	70.04 (9)	73.02 (8)	– (DNS)
15	749	Steffen Peters	Udon	USA	135.43	67.80 (13)	67.63 (18)	–
16	548	Gonnelien Rothenberger-Gordijn	Dondolo	NED	135.34	66.92 (=15)	68.42 (14)	–
17	726	Christine Stückelberger	Aquamarin	SUI	134.57	66.48 (19)	68.09 (17)	–
18	166	Arlette Holsters	Faible	BEL	134.46	66.32 (20)	68.14 (16)	–
19	712	Annette Solmell	Strauss	SWE	133.39	66.92 (=15)	66.47 (20)	–
20	709	Ulla Håkansson	Bobby	SWE	133.15	66.64 (18)	66.51 (19)	–
21	366	Richard Davison	Askari	GBR	131.70	66.72 (17)	64.98 (22)	–
22	286	Finn Hansen	Bergerac	DEN	131.07	65.44 (25)	65.63 (21)	–
23	326	Dominique Brieussel	Akazie	FRA	130.14	66.00 (22)	64.14 (24)	–
24	126	Mary Hanna	Mosaic II	AUS	130.09	65.76 (24)	64.33 (23)	–
25	747	Robert Dover	Metallic	USA	124.75	65.96 (23)	58.79 (25)	–
26	447	Heike Holstein	Ballaseyr Devereaux	IRL	65.24	65.24 (26)	–	–		DNQ
27	727	Hans Staub	Dukaat	SUI	65.12	65.12 (27)	–	–		DNQ
28	306	Kyra Kyrklund	Amiral	FIN	64.80	64.80 (28)	–	–		DNQ
29	227	Leonie Bramall	Gilbona	CAN	64.52	64.52 (29)	–	–		DNQ
30	327	Dominique d'Esmé	Thor	FRA	64.48	64.48 (30)	–	–		DNQ
31	146	Caroline Hatlapa	Merlin	AUT	64.36	64.36 (31)	–	–		DNQ
32	690	Beatriz Ferrer-Salat Serra	Brillant	ESP	64.16	64.16 (32)	–	–		DNQ
33	729	Eva Senn	Renzo	SUI	64.12	64.12 (33)	–	–		DNQ
34	468	Pia Laus	Liebenberg	ITA	64.00	64.00 (34)	–	–		DNQ
35	466	Paolo Giani Margi	Destino di Acciarella	ITA	63.80	63.80 (35)	–	–		DNQ
36	369	Joanna Jackson	Mester Mouse	GBR	63.08	63.08 (36)	–	–		DNQ
37	710	Tinne Wilhelmsson	Caprice	SWE	61.68	61.68 (37)	–	–		DNQ
38	693	Rafael Soto	Invasor	ESP	61.08	61.08 (38)	–	–		DNQ
39	526	Joaquín Orth	Bellini	MEX	60.72	60.72 (39)	–	–		DNQ
=40	328	Marie-Hélène Syre	Marlon	FRA	60.64	60.64 (=40)	–	–		DNQ
=40	368	Vicky Thompson	Enfant	GBR	60.64	60.64 (=40)	–	–		DNQ
42	186	Suzanne Dunkley	Elliot	BER	60.08	60.08 (42)	–	–		DNQ
43	469	Daria Fantoni	Sonny Boy	ITA	59.84	59.84 (43)	–	–		DNQ
44	367	Jane Bredin	Cupido	GBR	58.72	58.72 (44)	–	–		DNQ
45	228	Evi Strasser	Lavinia	CAN	58.48	58.48 (45)	–	–		DNQ
46	226	Gina Smith	Faust	CAN	57.36	57.36 (46)	–	–		DNQ
47	467	Fausto Puccini	Fiffikus	ITA	56.72	56.72 (47)	–	–		DNQ
48	692	Juan Matute	Hermes	ESP	56.64	56.64 (48)	–	–		DNQ
49	728	Barbara von Grebel-Schiendorfer	Ramar	SUI	52.96	52.96 (49)	–	–		DNQ
DNS	229	Tom Dvorak		CAN	–	–	–	–
DNS	406	Gyula Dallos	Carnaval	HUN	–	–	–	–
DNS	406	Gyula Dallos	Carnaval	HUN	–	–	–	–

Grand Prix

Date	26 – 27 July 1996 — 9:00
Format	Round one scores from team event. Top 25 riders advanced to round two. Maximum three riders from nation to advance.
Judge E	Linda Zang	USA
Judge H	Uwe Mechlem	GER
Judge C	Eric Lette	SWE
Judge M	Jan Peeters	NED
Judge B	Bernard Maurel	FRA

Pos	Number	Competitor	Horse	NOC	Percentage Points	Gross Points
1	347	Isabell Werth	Gigolo	GER	76.60	1,915	Q
2	547	Anky van Grunsven	Bonfire	NED	75.72	1,893	Q
3	748	Michelle Gibson	Peron	USA	75.20	1,880	Q
4	549	Sven Rothenberger	Weyden	NED	74.16	1,854	Q
5	349	Monica Theodorescu	Grunox	GER	73.80	1,845	Q
6	348	Klaus Balkenhol	Goldstern	GER	71.72	1,793	Q
7	329	Margit Otto-Crépin	Lucky Lord	FRA	71.32	1,783	Q
8	346	Martin Schaudt	Durgo	GER	71.24	1,781	Q
9	357	Nicole Uphoff-Becker	Rembrandt	GER	70.04	1,751	Q
10	691	Ignacio Rambla	Evento	ESP	69.76	1,744	Q
11	746	Guenter Seidel	Graf George	USA	69.36	1,734	Q
12	288	Lars Petersen	Uffe Korshøjgaard	DEN	68.20	1,705	Q
13	749	Steffen Peters	Udon	USA	67.80	1,695	Q
14	546	Tineke Bartels-de Vries	Olympic Barbria	NED	67.60	1,690	Q
=15	548	Gonnelien Rothenberger-Gordijn	Dondolo	NED	66.92	1,673	Q
=15	712	Annette Solmell	Strauss	SWE	66.92	1,673	Q
17	366	Richard Davison	Askari	GBR	66.72	1,668	Q
18	709	Ulla Håkansson	Bobby	SWE	66.64	1,666	Q
19	726	Christine Stückelberger	Aquamarin	SUI	66.48	1,662	Q
20	166	Arlette Holsters	Faible	BEL	66.32	1,658	Q
21	713	Louise Nathhorst	Walk on Top	SWE	66.28	1,657	Q
22	326	Dominique Brieussel	Akazie	FRA	66.00	1,650	Q
23	747	Robert Dover	Metallic	USA	65.96	1,649	Q
24	126	Mary Hanna	Mosaic II	AUS	65.76	1,644	Q
25	286	Finn Hansen	Bergerac	DEN	65.44	1,636	Q
26	447	Heike Holstein	Ballaseyr Devereaux	IRL	65.24	1,631
27	727	Hans Staub	Dukaat	SUI	65.12	1,628
28	306	Kyra Kyrklund	Amiral	FIN	64.80	1,620
29	227	Leonie Bramall	Gilbona	CAN	64.52	1,613
30	327	Dominique d'Esmé	Thor	FRA	64.48	1,612
31	146	Caroline Hatlapa	Merlin	AUT	64.36	1,609
32	690	Beatriz Ferrer-Salat Serra	Brillant	ESP	64.16	1,604
33	729	Eva Senn	Renzo	SUI	64.12	1,603
34	468	Pia Laus	Liebenberg	ITA	64.00	1,600
35	466	Paolo Giani Margi	Destino di Acciarella	ITA	63.80	1,595
36	369	Joanna Jackson	Mester Mouse	GBR	63.08	1,577
37	710	Tinne Wilhelmsson	Caprice	SWE	61.68	1,542
38	693	Rafael Soto	Invasor	ESP	61.08	1,527
39	526	Joaquín Orth	Bellini	MEX	60.72	1,518
=40	328	Marie-Hélène Syre	Marlon	FRA	60.64	1,516
=40	368	Vicky Thompson	Enfant	GBR	60.64	1,516
42	186	Suzanne Dunkley	Elliot	BER	60.08	1,502
43	469	Daria Fantoni	Sonny Boy	ITA	59.84	1,496
44	367	Jane Bredin	Cupido	GBR	58.72	1,468
45	228	Evi Strasser	Lavinia	CAN	58.48	1,462
46	226	Gina Smith	Faust	CAN	57.36	1,434
47	467	Fausto Puccini	Fiffikus	ITA	56.72	1,418
48	692	Juan Matute	Hermes	ESP	56.64	1,416
49	728	Barbara von Grebel-Schiendorfer	Ramar	SUI	52.96	1,324

Grand Prix Special

Date	31 July 1996 — 8:30
Format	Top 13 riders advanced to Grand Prix Kür Freestyle.
Judge E	Jan Peeters	NED
Judge H	Bernard Maurel	FRA
Judge C	Eric Lette	SWE
Judge M	Linda Zang	USA
Judge B	Uwe Mechlem	GER

Pos	Number	Competitor	Horse	NOC	Percentage Points	Gross Points
1	547	Anky van Grunsven	Bonfire	NED	77.72	1,671
2	347	Isabell Werth	Gigolo	GER	75.49	1,623
3	748	Michelle Gibson	Peron	USA	74.28	1,597
4	549	Sven Rothenberger	Weyden	NED	74.00	1,591
5	349	Monica Theodorescu	Grunox	GER	73.91	1,589
6	348	Klaus Balkenhol	Goldstern	GER	73.81	1,587
7	713	Louise Nathhorst	Walk on Top	SWE	73.53	1,581
8	357	Nicole Uphoff-Becker	Rembrandt	GER	73.02	1,570
9	329	Margit Otto-Crépin	Lucky Lord	FRA	72.93	1,568
10	746	Guenter Seidel	Graf George	USA	71.81	1,544
11	346	Martin Schaudt	Durgo	GER	70.98	1,526
12	691	Ignacio Rambla	Evento	ESP	70.19	1,509
13	288	Lars Petersen	Uffe Korshøjgaard	DEN	68.74	1,478
14	548	Gonnelien Rothenberger-Gordijn	Dondolo	NED	68.42	1,471
15	546	Tineke Bartels-de Vries	Olympic Barbria	NED	68.28	1,468
16	166	Arlette Holsters	Faible	BEL	68.14	1,465
17	726	Christine Stückelberger	Aquamarin	SUI	68.09	1,464
18	749	Steffen Peters	Udon	USA	67.63	1,454
19	709	Ulla Håkansson	Bobby	SWE	66.51	1,430
20	712	Annette Solmell	Strauss	SWE	66.47	1,429
21	286	Finn Hansen	Bergerac	DEN	65.63	1,411
22	366	Richard Davison	Askari	GBR	64.98	1,397
23	126	Mary Hanna	Mosaic II	AUS	64.33	1,383
24	326	Dominique Brieussel	Akazie	FRA	64.14	1,379
25	747	Robert Dover	Metallic	USA	58.79	1,264

Grand Prix Kür Freestyle

Date	3 August 1996 — 9:00
Judge E	Bernard Maurel	FRA
Judge H	Jan Peeters	NED
Judge C	Eric Lette	SWE
Judge M	Uwe Mechlem	GER
Judge B	Linda Zang	USA

Pos	Number	Competitor	Horse	NOC	Percentage Points	TP	Artistic Points
1	347	Isabell Werth	Gigolo	GER	83.00	39.95	43.05
2	547	Anky van Grunsven	Bonfire	NED	79.58	37.50	42.08
3	349	Monica Theodorescu	Grunox	GER	76.85	37.15	39.70
4	549	Sven Rothenberger	Weyden	NED	76.78	36.90	39.88
5	348	Klaus Balkenhol	Goldstern	GER	76.28	35.95	40.33
6	329	Margit Otto-Crépin	Lucky Lord	FRA	75.55	36.35	39.20
7	746	Guenter Seidel	Graf George	USA	73.85	35.95	37.90
8	748	Michelle Gibson	Peron	USA	73.35	35.45	37.90
9	713	Louise Nathhorst	Walk on Top	SWE	72.73	35.85	36.88
10	691	Ignacio Rambla	Evento	ESP	72.18	35.45	36.73
11	288	Lars Petersen	Uffe Korshøjgaard	DEN	70.88	34.35	36.53
12	346	Martin Schaudt	Durgo	GER	70.53	34.10	36.43
13	546	Tineke Bartels-de Vries	Olympic Barbria	NED	69.66	33.65	36.00
DNS	357	Nicole Uphoff-Becker	Rembrandt	GER	–	–	–