Most of us Shelter Islanders know of Spirit’s Promise, the equine rescue on the North Road in Riverhead. But did you know how the mother-daughter operation is helping horses during the pandemic?
Even as Marisa Striano and her daughter, Jessie Siegel, continue to care for the rescue animals at their farm, they’re working to help other horse lovers.
With a local supplier, they coordinated “Hay for Horses”, an equine food pantry that provided free hay and feed to help horse owners struggling to pay bills during the COVID-19 shutdown.
And, they’re offering online programs so fans of all ages can stay connected to the 16 horse, 9 miniature ponies, 10 goats, 2 cows, 2 pigs and a clutch of chickens that live at Spirit’s Promise.
Spirit’s Promise
Marisa and Jessie started Spirit’s Promise in 2010 as a way to rescue animals that have been abused and neglected, or are simply no longer wanted.
“It is a mother daughter operation that is about our compassion for each other and our animals,” Striano said in a phone interview earlier this week.
They named their farm for Spirit, the only horse Marisa ever purchased, and his best friend, Promise.
“I consider us an equine rescue that is a horse 401 hay or hospice,” Striano said. Without the rescue operations like this, animals can end up with “a life in a tiny pen and eventually sent to slaughter.”
They also rehabilitate and reeducate horses from riding schools and find new opportunities for them so that they can be adopted out.
Shelter Island Connections
Spirit’s Promise has numerous connections to Shelter Island. The Senior Activity Center organizes occasional field trips to the rescue center. And at least one miniature horse that lives here came from the Riverhead farm.
Being around horses is great for both people or animals that suffer from anxiety or grief, Striano said. As part of programs on the farm, visitors can groom horses or lead them around the ring; it’s beneficial for both parties, she said.
Shelter Island Senior Activity Center Director Laurie Fanelli agrees.
“The program has been so successful for one particular senior who had an affinity for horses growing up, that after seeing the horses she literally sings and dances all the way home.”
Visits to the farm so reduced her anxiety symptoms that she was able to be without her anxiety medication for a period of time, Fanelli told the Gazette i a phone call this week.
Another connection is through the Anderson Family. Pass by the corner of Thomson and North Midway and you can’t miss the sweet corral with two miniature four-legged friends.
The Andersons adopted Ernie, a black and white miniature pony, to keep their miniature mule, snowy-coated Milo, company. The Andersons have a long history of taking in adopted or rescued horses.
“The good thing about the health crisis is that with the kids being home all day the minis have lots of visits from the children,” Robin Anderson told us. “Prior to our adoption of Ernie, his only friend was a goat.”
‘Hay for Horses’ food pantry
Since the start of the pandemic, Spirit’s Promise has taken back three horses that were adopted from the program, as she is a first refusal organization.
“I live by my word,” Striano said.
And, Striano said, she was hearing from many horse owners who feared they could not properly feed their animals due to the strain on their finances due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
So Spirit’s Promise worked with Neptune Feed and Saddlery in Calverton and Tanger Outlets to create a mobile equine food pantry. The one-day event took place on National Giving Day, May 5 at the Tanger center in Riverhead.
Spirit’s Promise was able to provide 670 bales of hay and 100 bags of feed to 30 plus equine owners/equine organizations throughout Long Island.
Another “Hay For Horses” drive may take place this fall. The organization is applying for grants in hopes to support more of the equine industry on Long Island.
Citizens interested in helping animals can donate on Spirit’s Promise website or call Neptune Feed and Saddlery at 631-369-0965 to donate food.
Connecting with horse lovers
With the health crisis keeping visitors away, Striano is finding other ways to connect with horse lovers. She began a Zoom program that’s suitable for all but geared to kids in grades K to 2.
In it, she talks to her audience about the importance of connecting with nature and describes how animals actually settled us.
Join her on Zoom, Wednesdays, 12:10 to 12:40PM.
For other programs and more information about Spirit’s Promise, visit spiritspromiserescue.org.
