So many wonderful things were said about our newest Shooting Star, Marissa Damone, but what stood out the most for us here at The Equine Herald was her sportsmanship. Marissa once entered a class for which she was a bit advanced in order to help someone sell their pony. Having easily won the class, she was concerned about the other riders feeling cheated or robbed of a ribbon. So she waited at the in gate once she came out of the ring to give all the other kids on their ponies a high five and tell them congratulations. “Marissa is a superb sportsman,” says her trainer, Sean Jones. “She is always gracious and encouraging with kind words to say to those she is in competition with.”

Marissa’s love of horses began in kindergarten, when both her teacher and best friend had horses. Her parents developed a unique method of feeling out Marissa’s commitment. Her mother, Michelle Damone, found a woman who was willing to spend an hour and a half every week teaching Marissa all aspects of horsemanship, not just riding. The deal they made with Marissa was that if she dedicated herself to caring for other people’s horses for one full year, they would get her a pony. And that is how Cheyenne, Marissa’s first pony, entered her life.

Marissa’s current pony is Pinehurts’s Quench Your Thyrst, affectionately known as Spryte. Marissa and Spryte have amassed quite a record. Her most memorable experience with Spryte surprisingly involves a broken arm! A big fall from a miscalculation over a jump at a local show landed Marissa in the hospital the day she was to attend an awards banquet. In true Marissa fashion, she attended the banquet in both good spirits and a sling to receive a division championship and High Point Pony Hunter award for the circuit

It’s not surprising with Marissa’s dedication that she is extremely focused and goal oriented. "Marissa is a pleasure to instruct, as she has a true love of the sport, keen interest in progressing and is willing to push herself by putting forth her best effort in every ride,” says Sean. Her most recent goal that she achieved was teaching Spryte lead changes. “It took longer than I thought,” recounts Marissa, “but he’s a smart pony and we just achieved that goal this year.” Next on Marissa’s list of goals is to compete in as many medal classes in 2008 as she can. “I find medal classes very competitive for both me and my pony Spryte,” says Marissa, “I enjoy the challenge very much.”