Team, Open

As in 2004, the format consisted of five-rider teams with the three best scores to count in each phase. Germany was favored. They had won the 2006 World Championship and in 2004 at Athina, seemed to win the gold medal, but it was later stripped in a controversial ruling concerning Bettina Hoy and when she had crossed the start line in the jumping. Germany appealed the ruling to the FEI and it was reversed, but on further appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) disallowed the appeal and Germany was dropped back to fourth place. Germany won the dressage phase and still led after the endurance ride. Their last rider in jumping was Hinrich Romeike, gold medalist in the individual three-day event. When Romeike missed only one obstacle, Germany had the gold medal, leading Australia by only 5.1 points, as Great Britain won bronze.