The Equestrian Events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics included Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions. In retaliation to the US-lead 1980 Olympics boycott, the USSR went on to boycott the 1984 Olympics. Fewer nations joined them (14 total), but those nations that did included riders from two 1980 Olympic medal-winning teams in Poland and Bulgaria.
The equestrian sports were held at Santa Anita Racetrack, which offered stabling for up to 2100 horses, a grandstand with almost 16000 seats, and was managed by experienced horsemen. However, this was the first time the individual jumping competition was not held in the Olympic Stadium immediately prior to the closing ceremonies, as was tradition, and instead held with the other equestrian events at the racetrack. Horses were required to be at least 6 years old. Up to 14 riders and 22 horses were permitted per country. In total 157 entries from thirty nations (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Great Britain, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Yugoslavia) competed.