Either GB horses are exhausted or just much better mannered 
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This, 100%. The best way I can describe the horse industry over here is like learning a foreign language without knowing the alphabet. You can mimic, but you have no idea what anything actually means.
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They are used to prize giving ceremonies !
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true!
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@Larksmom, the Japanese riders work very hard and participate in multiple internationals in the UK and across Europe. As I recollect, none have gone to the USA. They certainly don’t just buy expensive horses: they surround themselves with good teams of expert people and put in the time.
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Hey Japan……Maryland 5* is coming up 
come on over!
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We did this for years and it didn’t work out. It was Boyd and Phillip because they can get anything around XC. And then we’d stick someone else on the team. And that is all you could say about it. This year there weren’t other countries backing up in the standings and we were in the mix.
I think this is the best team we’ve sent in a long, long time. There was depth and quality in both riders and horses. They all rode well, very well. Carolyn and Liz were on young horses which bodes well that we might have some repeat horses for the next games. That is something we don’t usually have as compared to other countries. Also what’s good about those two women is that they each have a string of horses and shouldn’t be a one horse wonder.
As far as Carolyn is concerned as trail blazer. I think it was Bobby Costello that said she doesn’t like to have a lot of information/opinions given to her before she goes. As it was she was taking all of the direct routes and rode them very well.
I think US eventing is in the best shape it has been in decades. Besides these riders we really seem to have a depth of young riders as well. The only thing I would change would be to get these riders over to Great Britain and Europe. They really need to be over there for a couple of years. My jump trainer is a Canadian with big aspirations. I told her if she wanted to compete at the very top then she needed to be in Great Britain or Europe.
No matter, i thought it was a great job by the US team!
ETA: the Japanese may have great horses but you still have to be able to ride them. By the way, most of the Japanese riders are Euro based.
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I think this is quite common for many countries.
how many riders have “acquired” the ride on a 4 or 5 * horse from another country in order to compete at the top levels?
NAYRChamps - how many of those young riders have purchased former 4* horses to help them reach Prelim and Intermediate? and compete against others who developed their own horses.
the young American rider (Nina?) who represented Thailand at the Olympics (2016?) bought several 4* horses to give her the ability to gain experience at the 4* level.
I am not criticizing any of them, just saying it is not unique to Japan.
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How gorgeous were the Japanese riders - “come on, give us a hug GB! Hug time! France! France? HUG US FRANCE!!!”
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Where is everyone seeing the medal ceremony? I can’t find it on peacock
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Aw wish id seen that we just got a very snipped down version here on the BBC just of the British contingent.
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Agreed. Japan earned that medal, the end.
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Replay of the jumping final tonight, 8 pm to 10 pm central on USA network.
Dressage starts tomorrow morning 10 am central, on E!
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Cannot be more thrilled and delighted for Team Japan!! What an accomplishment! 
すごい ね！！！ おめでとうございます!!!
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It’s called diplomacy.
well, that must explain it. I am not a diplomat.
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But the vast majority of “not fresh” horses will not pull 5 rails, which is 20 penalties. Assuming the horse being subbed out completed the previous phase, why do you think that doesn’t make up the gap (or more)? And the substitute horse can and often does still incur penalties above that.
You do not see them often because there are maybe 20 registered FEI riders for Japan (unless that has drastically changed in the last year or two). Across all levels. That you know them at all and see them at Badminton and Burghley speaks volumes to how successful they are despite that fact. Here’s hoping they have sent a significant dose of inspiration back home!
It is fine not to want a lot of information before you go, but if that is your approach you do need to know your options, in every permutation, cold. They were impressive but that point cannot be overstated.
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With a three horse team, I think its hard to strike a balance between disincentivizing switching in a fresh horse while still encouraging doing the best thing for the horse’s welfare. I think 20 points, while not perfect, strikes a good balance.
Of course, I wish they just went back to 4 horse teams with a drop score, but that ship has seemingly sailed.
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