The choice of Montreal (CAN) to host the 21st Olympic Games was a compromise after the two fiercely competing cities of Los Angeles (USA) and Moscow (URS) could not get the necessary votes. Resulting from bad planning, questionable dealings and a political tug-of-war, the Montreal Olympics became the biggest financial disaster. In fact the effective costs of staging the games were more than double the estimate.
The equestrian competitions (with the exception of team Jumping) were held in the town of Bromont. The original offer to develop the site was 1 million Canadian dollars – the final invoice by developer Desourdy was 4.5 million – and all the installations became the property of Desourdy’s firm.
Seven nations shared the 18 equestrian medals. Again Germany won most of them: two each in Jumping and Eventing, three in Dressage. The host country, Canada, could earn one medal: silver in individual Jumping. The United States won four medals. None, to everybody’s surprise in Jumping, but three in Eventing and probably the biggest surprise of all, team bronze in Dressage.
Max E. Ammann, by that time chief editor of the Swiss daily, Luzerner Tagblatt, and, since 1974, President of the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ), attended the Montreal Games as journalist and delegate of the IAEJ. In the latter function he held the first equestrian press conference ever with the then President of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Prince Philip, as well as with Professor Bobylev (URS) and Olympic Course Designer Barbara Kemp (CAN).
Jumping - individual competition (27.07.1976)
1. Alwin Schockemöhle (FRG) – Warwick Rex
2. Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) – Branch County
3. François Mathy (BEL) – Gai Luron
Jumping - team competition (01.08.1976)
1. France
Hubert Parot (FRA) – Rivage
Marc Roguet (FRA) – Belle de Mars
Michel Roche (FRA) – Un Espoir
Marcel Rozier (FRA) – Bayard de Maupas
2. Germany
Paul Schockemöhle (FRG) – Agent
Sönke Sönksen (FRG) – Kwept
Hans Günter Winkler (FRG) – Torphy
Alwin Schockemöhle (FRG) – Warwick Rex
3. Belgium
Henry-Edgar Cuepper (BEL) – Le Champion
Stanny van Paesschen (BEL) – Porsche
Eric Wauters (BEL) – Gute Sitte
François Mathy (BEL) – Gai Luron
Dressage – individual competition (28.-30.07.1976)
1. Christine Stückelberger (SUI) – Granat
2. Harry Boldt (FRG) – Woycek
3. Reiner Klimke (FRG) - Mehmed
Dressage – team competition (28.-29.07.1976)
1. Germany
Harry Boldt (FRG) – Woycek
Reiner Klimke (FRG) – Mehmed
Gabriela Grillo (FRG) – Ultimo
2. Switzerland
Christine Stückelberger (SUI) – Granat
Ulrich Lehmann (SUI) – Widin
Doris Ramseier (SUI) – Roch
3. United States of America
Hilda Gurney (USA) – Keen
Dorothy Morkis (USA) – Monaco
Edith L. Master (USA) – Dahlwitz
Eventing – individual competition (22.07.1976-25.07.1976)
1. Tad Coffin (USA) – Bally Cor
2. J. Michael Plumb (USA) – Better and Better
3. Karl Schulz (FRG) – Madrigal
Eventing – team competition (22.07.1976-25.07.1976)
1. United States of America
Tad Coffin (USA) – Bally Cor
J. Michael Plumb (USA) – Better and Better
Bruce Davidson (USA) – Irish Cap
Mary-Anne Tauskey (USA) – Marcus Aurelius
2. Germany
Karl Schultz (FRG) – Madrigal
Herbert Blöcker (FRG) – Albrant
Helmut Rethemeier (FRG) – Pauline
Otto Ammermann (FRG) - Volturno
3. Australia
Wayne Roycroft (AUS) – Laurenson
Mervyn Bennett (AUS) – Regal Reign
William Roycroft (AUS) – Version
Denis Pigott (AUS) – Hillstead
