See what Donna Ponessa had to say about her Grade 1a Team Test with Wesley Dunham's Western Rose. The pair scored 70.235%.

On her first competition experience at the 2012 Paralympic Games:
It was an amazing experience. At first I was a little overwhelmed the mare was a little tense. But all my teammates agree it’s another show with an Opening Ceremony and you can’t be thinking about anything but the foot fall and your job ahead so once I got that centered, it seemed to flow better.

On the team that has helped her get to London:
We haven’t been doing it that long it’s only been two years. I have a lot of people to thank I have  an amazing team of supporters; my trainer Wes Dunham, my personal care aid Molly, the USEF High Performance Committee has been really supportive in doing all that they can to make sure the athletes get here ready to compete. They do a great job.

On leaving the arena:
It’s such an honor and privilege to represent the United States. I love my country and it was amazing when you were done to see all the U.S. people that were waiving and cheering!

On her former career as a wheelchair tennis athlete:
I wanted to watch, a couple people I recognize, they’re quite a bit older but I recognized them. I was playing tennis because I didn’t think it was possible to ride with a disability. This is what I want to do.

On Western Rose:
She is wonderful, she belongs to my trainer and I love her more than life. She’s awesome.

On having to wait to compete:
“Yesterday I think that was an advantage, having to wait yesterday allowed me to think of this more as home. I had a little bit of an advantage that I could just be a spectator yesterday, with that advantage to settle in and convince myself it was just another show. I have to admit today the wait was a little much; then I started to feel the pressure.  I was trying to find busy things to do yet I didn’t really have a lot of concentration because I was ready to do it.”