What we learned: Equestrian wrap-up from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Find your top moments, replays and more from the equestrian competition here.

5 min

(2021 Getty Images)

There were plenty of memorable moments from the equestrian competition at Tokyo 2020, in 2021.

Dressage extraordinaire Isabell Werth and rising star Julia Krajewski came together for Germany in what was a very successful equestrian Olympic campaign for the country. They claimed three out of the six golds available in Japan with Jessica von Bredow-Werndle adding individual dressage gold.

Behind them Great Britain, Sweden and the United States also produced some impeccable rides to round off a compelling 15 days of action.

Read on for equestrian's top five moments, highlights and where you can watch replays from Tokyo 2020 free and on-demand.

(2021 Getty Images)

Top 5 equestrian moments at Tokyo 2020

1- Isabell Werth: Gold for every decade

Germany’s Isabell Werth (Bella Rose) became the first rider ever to win seven equestrian gold medals after her and teammates Dorothee Schneider (Showtime FRH) and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Dalera) took gold in the team equestrian competition.

The Germans clinched the prize with a total of 8178.0 points, besting the United States (7747.0) and the gold medallists from Rio 2016, Britain (7723.0).

Werth then grew her illustrious Olympic medal collection by one more after she won silver in the individual dressage competition the following day. With 12 Olympic medals, seven of which gold, Werth now holds the record for most Olympic medals won by any equestrian athlete ever.

2- Julia Krajewski: first woman to win individual gold in eventing

Werth was not the only German rider on song in Tokyo.

Julia Krajewski also made a slice of her own history in the individual eventing competition after she became the first woman ever to win gold in the event.

Krajewksi and horse Amande de B’Neville had finished fifth in dressage, but then moved up to second after the cross country. A near-flawless final jump round ensured the pair the gold medal.

3- Great Britain win first team eventing title since 1972

After 49 years and 11 months Team GB finally ended its eventing team medal drought.

Britons Oliver Townend, Larua Collett and Tom McEwen did so in some style after amassing a lead so great that after the dressage and cross country rounds they were all but uncatchable come the showjumping stage.

To put their dominance another way, Australia were 13.9 penalty points behind them in second, which is considerable given that at Rio 2016, the gap between the then gold and silver medallists was 3.8 penalty points.

(2021 Getty Images)

4- Ben Maher and Explosion W soar in dramatic jump off

The individual showjumping final had all the makings of a Hollywood drama.

After qualifying for the final in top spot, Maher had to watch all 29 other riders complete their rounds before jumping the course clear in the third-fastest time to make it to the jump-off.

He would join six other riders to battle it out for the medals.

Peder Fredricson of Sweden looked all but certain to take the gold after putting down a time of 38.02 in a perfectly executed final round.

Rising to the occasion Maher and Explosion W pipped the Swede by just 17 hundredths of a second to take the gold from Fredricson's grasp leaving audiences everywhere breathless and in awe.

(2021 Getty Images)

5- Flying Fredricson lifts Sweden

After a consolatory silver medal in the individual showjumping contest Peder Fredricson and All In were a combination not to be denied a second time come the team showjumping final.

The Swedish team found themselves in a golden jump-off against the U.S, featuring Jessica Springsteen, for a crown that had not been theirs since 1924.

After all five other riders went clear it was down to anchorman Fredricson to bring the gold home for Sweden. He had to beat the time of 39.92 put down by McLain Ward.

The clock, who had favoured his opponent previously, was firmly in Fredricson's corner and the Swede put down an astonishing time of 39.01 to seal the victory for his country.

One to watch

After winning bronze in the both the team dressage event and individual dressage competition Charlotte Dujardin became Britain's most decorated female Olympian.

Dujardin, to date, has now claimed three Olympic gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals.

What was perhaps most remarkable about Dujardin's rides in Tokyo was that she performed them on her horse Gio, who, before Tokyo, had never contested a major championship.

The 36-year-old posted 88.543 per cent to finish third in the individual event.

Hello Paris

Equestrian events at Paris 2024 Olympics are set to be held at the Chateau de Versailles.

The gardens of the palace, which are 20km outside of Paris, will provide a stunning backdrop for the competitions.

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When and where to watch equestrian replays on Olympics.com

The answer is: olympics.com/tokyo2020-replays

When will the Olympic equestrian riders all compete next?

Be sure to look out for the World Equestrian Games taking place at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, from 14-18 September 2022. Five riders will represent each nation and will compete across three events: showjumping, dressage and cross country.