Germany earns the Team Gold for the sixth consecutive time

Spain was in the lead before the fourth rider of each team rode their Grand Prix. It was left to Ulla Salzgeber with 17 year old Rusty to secure the win or Germany with a score of 78.208.

Spain won its first Olympic Dressage Medal with a score of 72.917, pushing the United States back to bronze.

"All four Spanish riders had the ride of their lives," said trainer Jean Bemelmans, who has worked with Spain since its Olympic debut with Spanish horses in 1996.

Top-scoring for the United States was Debbie McDonald with Her mare Brentina, who worked together better than ever. "I was hoping for a better score," she said at the end of her performance, "but I am quite happy with my performance. I felt very good out there and kept the energy going, but felt a lot of pressure."

Salzgeber leads the individual ranking ahead of Beatriz Ferrer Salat (ESP) and Anky Van Grunsven (NED) heading into the second qualifier.