Source: USEF

Greenwich, UK- The Para-Equestrian Dressage portion of the 2012 Paralympic Games came to a close on Tuesday with Freestyle Test being ridden in Grades IV, III and 1a. Donna Ponessa was the lone U.S. representative on the day, performing her Grade 1a Freestyle in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Lilian Iannone, Gudrun Hofinga, Sarah Rodger and Freddy Leyman.
 
Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) closed out the 2012 Paralympic Games for the U.S. in fine style scoring 70.75% with Wesley Dunham's Western Rose. The pair upped the difficulty in their test by including trot work. Ponessa also showed her New York roots selecting a medley of Broadway show tunes to complement the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare's gaits.
 
The trot work not only added a degree of difficulty to the test but also helped keep Western Rose's attention and allowed her to maintain a forward walk.
 
"Rosie's a really smart mare and she gets bored sometimes with walking. Because the walk has no natural impulsion to it, I can feed off some of that because she's using her back end. That actually makes her walk a lot more forward and more impulsive," said Ponessa. "The trot was placed in those spots for that reason she also has the most effortless trot."
 
Ponessa was representing the U.S. for the first time in London and was inspired by the entire experience.
 
"I don't know what adjective would describe the experience. It's just been more than I ever could imagine. I knew it was going to be great but just not this great."
 
The pair finished in eighth place
 
In Grade IV competition Michele George and Rainman from Belguim won Gold with Great Britain's Sophie Wells riding Pinocchio to the Silver medal and Frank Hosmar and Alphaville from The Netherlands earned the Bronze medal. Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World won Gold in Grade III competition, Great Britain's Deborah Criddle and LJT Akilles claimed the Silver medal, and Annika Dalskov of Denmark with Aros A Fenris won Silver. In Grade 1a Great Britain's Sophie Christiansen won her third Gold medal with Janierro 6, Silver went to Singapore's Laurentia Tan, and Ruben James 2 with Helen Kearney of Ireland clinching Bronze on Mister Cool.
 
The 2012 Paralympic Games have been proven to be the most successful Championships for the U.S. Para-Equestrian Team in recent years. The successful results provided by all the American riders are evidence of the thriving and growing program.
 
 
 
ENDS
 
For Results and Orders of Go visit; http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/equestrian/schedule-and-results/
 
Follow the 2012 U.S. Para-Equestrian Team here. 
 

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.