Individual, Men

The cross-country course for the eventing was controversial, mainly the fourth jump, a water jump which was very deep in some sections. Of the 50 starters only 27 could finish the event, and three horses had to be put down after injuring themselves in the cross-country phase. A heavy rain fell on the day before the phase which made things worse on the course. Only 15 of 48 starters successfully negotiated The Pond. Coincidently, perhaps, the Germans, who had trained on the course, had no problems and their horses all negotiated the fence safely, taking a wider and much longer line to the left side of the fence.

German Ludwig Stubbendorf took a big lead in the opening dressage and extended it in the cross-country by winning that phase, meaning he basically only had to stay upright in the jumping to win the gold medal, and he did so comfortably. Silver went to American Earl Thomson aboard Jenny Camp, repeating their finish together at Los Angeles in 1932. Thomson performed poorly in the dressage and was well behind, but placed fifth in cross-country, and was equal fourth in the jumping to secure his silver medal. Danish riders placed third and fourth, with Hans Lunding winning the bronze medal ahead of his teammate Vincens Grandjean.