Puch, the London 2012 champion in the Individual Freestyle Test Grade IB, scored 75.103 per cent on Fontainenoir to edge out the British flagbearer who was given a score of 74.103 per cent on board Zion.

Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup took the bronze on Smarties with a tally of 73.966 per cent.

"Amazing, amazing, amazing," said 50-year-old Puch afterwards.

"The horse was really good, but with the wind and some babies crying, the horse was looking outside, but I could catch him. 

"I had him on my side.

"He was really good and I was so happy. 

"With the positive feeling comes the emotion and with the emotion it's not easy to handle the movement in my body. 

"He was helping me. 

"We were working four years for this day. 

"The first day of London was the first day of training for Rio."

Pearson's silver was his 13th Paralympic medal in all and he admitted that the best man won on the day.

"The standard is tough," said the Briton, who has incredibly excelled at his sport despite being allergic to horses.

"It has been up to London and since then. 

"My aim was to go home with a medal so I’m over the moon."

Britain were successful in the opening event of the day as Sophie Wells claimed the grade IV individual title.

The team gold medallist from London 2012 scored 74.857 per cent riding Valerius to win.

She finished just ahead of Belgium’s London 2012 winner Michèle George who scored 74.33 per cent with The Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar taking the bronze with 72.452 per cent.

"I'm crying a lot," said Wells.

"It was pretty good. 

"We couldn't have given any more. 

"I'm just so proud of him. 

"We've worked really hard to get there.

"There are no words that can describe how I'm feeling right now. 

"Definitely a sense of pride in my horse, my support team, and that we actually went and did it in the arena when it mattered. 

"I can't believe it. 

"It brings back a little bit of what we didn't get on Pinocchio in London and this is for him as well."