The United States reached the podium for the third consecutive Games with Norman Dello Joio's bronze.

Eight of the top 13 (including a six-way tie for 7th) riders from the 1988 Games returned: fourth-place finisher Anne Kursinski of the United States, sixth-place finisher Jaime Azcárraga of Mexico, and seventh-place finishers Jan Tops and Jos Lansink of the Netherlands, Nick Skelton of Great Britain, Franke Sloothaak of West Germany (now competing for united Germany), and Markus Fuchs and Thomas Fuchs of Switzerland.

[2] Croatia, the Philippines, South Africa, and the Virgin Islands each made their debut in the event.

The competition underwent a significant format change for the second time in as many Games.

Only the top 22 (half of the 44 finalists) riders advanced from the first round of the final to the second.

Four riders cleared the first round of the final with no faults: Beerbaum, Raymakers, Dello Joio, and Whitaker.

That timing fault was the difference between the two men as Beerbaum received gold and Raymakers silver.