With these images, we return to Friday's thrilling team final at the 2024 Olympic Games, held in the breath-taking scenery of the Château de Versailles. After winning Thursday's team qualifier, the Germans were last to go while the Swedes came in as the defending champions from Tokyo 2021. Ten teams were qualified to take part on Friday, but the Mexicans were unfortunately out of the battle before it all even started when Carlos Hank Guerreiro withdrew his horse Porthos Maestro WH Z due to veterinary reasons.
First out, current world number one Henrik von Eckermann and the by now already legendary King Edward who had to see the thin top plank on the Provence-Champs de Lavande-fence fall to the ground.
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The thin top plank on the Provence-Champs de Lavande-fence fell to the ground for Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, putting them on four faults.
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz also had an unlucky rail down for the Irish as the front pole on the very last oxer hit the ground. As many others, the two also added a time fault to their score.
Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z flying over the Tour Eiffel jump...
...they later got in trouble in the triple combinations, and had to see six penalties added to their score.
This time around, Belgium's Gilles Thomas and the wonderful Ermitage Kalone had to see eight faults added to their score after going clear in Thursday's qualifier.
Germany's Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 were clear in Thursday's qualifier...
...and came in fresh and motivated for the final...
...but had an unlucky rail in the penultimate Les perfumes-combination to finish on four faults. Here they soar over Gustave Eiffel's Statue of Liberty.
Sweden's Rolf-Göran Bengtsson was maximum unlucky when Zuccero HV clipped the back rail on the first oxer of the course, and then jumped clear for the rest. Here over the stunning Notre Dame wall.
Bengtsson and Zuccero HV finished on a score of four.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Netherlands' Kim Emmen thanks Imagine after jumping clear in the final. The pair was also clear in Thursday's qualifier.
It was not Belgium's day. Wilm Vermeir and IQ van het Steentje had a rail coming into the Cinema triple combination to finish on four faults. Here they jump the Arc Triomphe oxer, one of the many stunning fences part of the course.
Germany's Richard Vogel and United Touch S had a rail down coming into the Les perfumes-combination...
....adding another four faults to the team score.
Technical delegate Guilherme Jorge.
The anchor pairs were coming back in reverse order of the result after the two first horse-and-rider combinations, and with Israel opting not to return Jerome Guery and his wonderful Quel Homme de Hus came in first of the remaining eight teams.
Here they fly over the Ponts sur le Seine combination, but would later see eight faults added to their score with Belgium finishing on a team total of 20 penalties and 8th of the nine teams.
Sweden followed Belgium in the ring, with Peder Fredricson and Catch Me Not S as anchors.
But they clipped the back rail of the triple bar at no. 12, putting Sweden on a total score of twelve faults and 6th on the result list.
No luck. Swedish Chef d'Equipe Henrik Ankarcrona feeling the low(s) this sport can bring.
Cantering in as last for the Germans; Philipp Weishaupt and Zineday.
Philipp's groom Lisa Fundis watching on.
After jumping clear in the qualifier...
...Philipp and Zineday...
...yet again delivered...
...a clear round! The Germans finished 5th on a team total of eight.
Richard Vogel, Jan-Hein Swagemakers, Jana Wargers and Otto Becker.
As last to go for the Dutch, Harrie Smolders pulled off an absolutely outstanding round aboard Uricas v/d Kattevennen...
...to add only a time penalty to the Dutch team total...
...putting them on seven faults overall.
2000 Olympic Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam.
Cian O'Connor came in as anchor for Ireland, that was sitting on a score of five ahead of the last rotation of horses and riders...
...and it was a hard watch for the rest of the team...
...who had to see O'Connor and Maurice add nine faults to the Irish team total, putting them on fourteen faults overall which eventually meant they finished 7th.
Third last into the ring, USA was in the position for a medal, and here Nick Skelton gets ready to watch McLain Ward as anchor for the Americans.
And Ward delivered! For more photos from the American celebrations as they finished with a silver medal, click on the image.
As Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre finished the course with a rail down, the French dropped down behind the Americans to take bronze. Click on the image for more photos.
And with only a time fault from British anchors Scott Brash and Jefferson, the Brits were the best, bringing home the gold. For the British gold celebrations, click on the photo.
Then