In just a handful of days, the closing ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games will take place in the Stade de France, locking in the medal count for another four years.
At press time, the United States had a hefty, 30-medal lead in the overall standings over their next-closest competitor, China. But when it comes to the equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and show jumping, Germany and Great Britain are the clear winners of 2024.
Germany
As of this year, Germany has the unique distinction of being the only nation to win the individual gold medal in all three disciplines at a single Games, not just once, but twice in their history. The last time that happened? The infamous 1936 Games, held in Nazi-controlled Berlin.
This year, the gold medalists included three-time champion Michael Jung (FischerChipmunk FRH) in eventing, returning champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Dalera BB) in dressage, and Christian Kukuk (Checker 47) in show jumping—contributing to Germany’s 5-medal total across the board.
But Deutschland holds several additional distinctions in equestrian.
They’ve won 30 medals—more than any other nation—in dressage, and 11 more than the next-highest-ranked Sweden. What’s more: dressage rider Isabell Werth (GER) is the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete of all time, adding yet another team gold and individual silver to her count in Paris this summer. Werth currently leads the equestrian athlete standings both for overall medals (14) and gold medals (8).
Finally, Germany not only tops the medal tables in dressage, they also lead in gold medals won in two of the three disciplines, with 16 golds for dressage and 9 for eventing. In show jumping, Germany currently sits on 6 golds—a stone’s throw away from top-ranked France’s 7.
Great Britain
This was also a banner year for Great Britain, which tied Germany on 5 medals and won two of three team disciplines. They earned their second consecutive team gold in eventing—of five overall—thanks to a squad helmed by Rosalind Canter (with Lordships Graffalo), Tom McEwen (with JD Dublin), and Laura Collett (with London 52).
In show jumping, the Brits took team gold for the third time in history with Tokyo individual champion Ben Maher—this time aboard Dallas Vegas Batilly—joined by teammates Scott Brash on Jefferson and Harry Charles on Romeo 88.
Great Britain also added two bronze medals to their total: Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale took third in dressage; Collett and London 52 in eventing. And, speaking of eventing, as of Paris, Great Britain currently sits in second place and just two medals behind the United States at the top of the count.
Everyone Else
The home nation of France took third in the equestrian medal count thanks to a silver in team eventing earned by Nicolas Touzaint (Diabolo Menthe), Karim Laghouag (Triton Fontaine) and Stéphane Landois (Chaman Dumontceau). They also took team bronze in show jumping for their squad comprised of Simon Delestre (I Alemusina R 51), Olivier Perreau (Dorai d’Aiguilly), and Julien Epaillard (Dubai du Cèdre).
Lastly, there was a six-way tie across all disciplines for the nations of Australia, Denmark, Switzerland, the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan—all of which earned one equestrian medal a piece.
Fun fact: Toshiyuki Tanaka’s Olympic bronze was Japan’s first-ever medal in eventing and their second medal in equestrian competition to date. Takeichi Nishi (riding Uranus) was the first to climb the podium for Japan in show jumping, taking individual gold at the Los Angeles Games way back in 1932!