The success was mainly due to the performance by top rider Ulla Salzgeber on her horse Rusty, Reuters news agency reported.

Germany had the best three-rider total of 74.653 percent ahead of Spain in the second spot with 72.917. The US followed with 71.500 while the Netherlands came in fourth with 69.514.

After Salzgeber made her final ride, the Germans were leading with such an advantage that the gold medal had been decided more than an hour before the competition finished -- other teams had no chance of catching up.

Germans have taken every team dressage gold medal since West Germany won at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

They boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow. Since 1956, they have only lost the team gold in 1972, taking silver in Munich behind the Soviet Union, according to Reuters.

Saturday's event also served as the first of three rounds for individual dressage medals, which will be decided on Wednesday.