Then Ireland claimed a shock team jumping gold.

Werth, 48, added to the team dressage title she won as part of the German squad earlier in the week.

She rode Weihegold Old to a score of 83.613 per cent to narrowly defeat team-mate Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo.

They finished second on 82.479 per cent.

The bronze medal went to Cathrine Dufour of Denmark and horse Atterupgaards Cassidy, with 79.762 per cent. 

Werth, the Olympic silver medallist, was competing in the absence of Charlotte Dujardin, the rider who defeated her at Rio 2016. 

It marked her fourth victory in the Grand Prix Special competition and the first in 10 years since she triumphed in La Mandria in 2007.

The first two victories came in Donaueschingen in 1991 and in Lipica in 1993.

Werth is also a six-time Olympic and seven-time world champion.

Ireland rose from third to first in the team jumping finale following a superb effort by Shane Sweetnam, Denis Lynch and Cian O'Connor.

They finished on a score of 12,11 to win their country's first European team title since 2001.

Sweden were forced to settle for second, on 18.21, with Switzerland taking the bronze medal on 20,15.