All of them, with the exception of the Individual Jumping Grand Prix, were held in the Trade Unions' Equestrian Complex, which is situated in the Bitsa Forest Park (southern part of Moscow).

Due to the US-led boycott, only eleven nations competed in the equestrian events: Austria, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Finland, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Romania, and the USSR.

Therefore, none of the top riders in the world competed, including the Italian eventing team and the current European champion in dressage, Austrian Sissy Theurer.

The Guatemalan, Oswaldo Mendaz, finished in fourth place after losing the jump-off for bronze to Mexico's Joaquin Perez de la Heras.

Only six nations competed, but with the addition of the 1964 Olympics gold medal winners (Italy) to the team fielded by the USSR (three-time European Champion), there was some competition.