Team, Open

Team dressage had not been contested at the 1960 Olympics but returned in 1964. Teams consisted of three riders from the individual event, with all three riders’ preliminary round scores to count towards the team score. Only six teams were entered, and there had been some concern that there would not that be that many, as demanded by the IOC for the competition to be held, because of the difficult travel and distance to Tokyo.

The traditional powers in the sport were Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. Germany won the gold medal with a comfortable margin over Switzerland, which was well ahead of the bronze medalist Soviet Union. Sweden placed fifth, also trailing the United States. Germany was embarking on absolute domination of this event. It would win again in 1968 and 1976, and then every year from 1984-2008.