Hong Kong, China – Team USA faced some formidable competition in the first round of Team competition at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Hong Kong. Four riders from each country have ridden one test, and the US lies 10th on a score of 185.702.

Barbara Grassmyer got the competition rolling for the US riders, putting in a solid effort with Mibis for a score of 59.231% in the Grade III Team Test. Grassmyer made the trip from Placerville, CA.

She is confident she can improve her performance in the individual test on Tuesday. The team result is made up of the total of the three best scores from each nation adding together the Team Test score and the Individual Test score for each rider.

“I felt it went very well,” said Grassmyer, who is 36 years old. “My horse was a little slower than I wanted. I have to work on that for the next test on Tuesday. She did very well, I’m very proud of her. I need to warm her up better, I’m switching bridles and hopefully she will be better in the snaffle and perform well.”

Rebecca Hart and Norteassa were the second US pair of the team, scoring 62.000% in the Grade II Team Test. Norteassa has plenty of movement and ability but was affected by the atmosphere in the main arena. The 16-year-old Hanoverian mare broke to canter twice in the test which kept the test from scoring better.

Hart, who at 22 is riding at her first Paralympic Games was pleased with her performance despite the mistake.

“I was happy with how he went,” said Hart, who lives in Erie, PA. “I’m hoping tomorrow we can improve and move forward. He was very good, a little excited with the crowds but I was very pleased with him.”

Hart gave the entire experience a rave review.

“It has been such an awesome experience to represent the country,” said Hart. “It is fantastic venue – everyone is really supportive and I want to represent my country well.”

The evening session began at 7.15 pm and the lights and the larger crowds delivered more atmosphere in the main arena. Many of the horses competing in the evening were more affected by the lights, crowds and shadows.

Rhett, ridden by Lynn Seidemann from Coppell, Texas, was one of many aware of the atmosphere. The 10-year-old KWPN gelding (owned by Kathryn Groves) recovered fantastically from a big spook near A early on in the test and Seidemann rode to third place on a score of 64.471%. Seidemann was given an error of course after making a correction after the spook but the rest of her test was mistake free.

“The spook rattled me, but I rode my best,” said Seidemann who rode the Ib Team Test. “I’m not sure what he spooked at – the shadows maybe. I’ll be ready for that next time. The rest was pretty good once I recovered from the spook, everything else was what we wanted. I will be more prepared on Tuesday, I will calm him toward A and talk to him, tell him he’s a good boy – he likes that.”

The final member of the US Team, Robin Brueckmann, rode Radetzky in a promising performance in the Grade IV Team Test. The relatively inexperienced horse coped well with the pressure and Brueckmann hopes to improve her score of 59.214% in the next round.

“I had a great time,” said Brueckmann. “I’m very pleased with him. He’s a young horse and it is his first experience with something like this. He was willing and cooperative, I had hoped for a higher score. He felt very consistent, he certainly could have been steadier. I’m sorry the judges weren’t as please as I was.”

The Summerfield, NC rider was pleased that the 7-year-old Trakehner’s effort in such an electric atmosphere as he has been known to be quite spooky in the past.

“I felt he was very consistent,” said Brueckmann. “He was very brave and I planned my warm-up around the arena so that I didn’t have a problem.”

Great Britain, who have never been beaten for team gold at the Paralympic Games in Equestrian have a convincing lead. They are