Horsesdaily On The Scene at the
BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search-East page 2 of 4

The grueling weekend was not new to Morrissey who had been there two years ago, finishing 13th and just out of the ribbons. This time his jumper experience and smooth handling of his horse, Onyx 66, in the first two portions, flatwork and gymnastics, propelled him to 10th after the second round.

The honor student rose to fourth after the third segment, jumping. He stood behind the dynamic brother-sister jumping duo, Charlie and Maggie Jayne of Chicago. The youngest of the quartet, 14-year-old diminutive Addison Phillips of New York City, had the highest score to qualify her as well as the three others for the final ride-off.

"It was nerve wracking, but I loved it," said Morrissey, who began riding at age eight on a pony his uncle, show circuit entrepreneur Gene Mische, gave him. "I was nervous, pacing the whole time," said Mische. "I told him if he could get in the top four, he had a shot at it."