Our Story

Marisa Striano was born on Long Island, the oldest of three daughters, to Peter and Caroline Striano.  Her love for horses began at the age of eight.  She grew up in Plainview, New York, on Long Island, and then moved to Manhasset at the age of 13.  Marisa graduated from St. Mary’s High School, and then went on to further her education at Stonehill College in Massachusetts where she graduated with a B.A in Psychology.  Marisa met her first husband in 1988 and moved to Eastchester, NY where her two children, Jessie and Pete, were born.  After 2 years in Eastchester, she and her family relocated to Chappaqua, NY. 

Holding many different jobs in her lifetime, she worked as a Special Education teacher, as a project manager for a construction company, and in the garment industry-leading into her first business to own a clothing store named after her daughter, Jessie’s Closet.  Her first marriage ended in 2002, closing a big chapter in her adult life.  In 2005 she met her second husband and married him in 2007.  In that same year, Marisa met a different love of her life named Spirit, a gelded Buckskin who captured her heart. With him in her life, her love of animals, and a new found path to helping others, she became Founder & Board President of Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue located in Riverhead, NY in 2010. 

In 2012, at Spirit’s Promise,  Marisa had a terrible fall off  Spirit.  The fall left her feeling unsure and doubtful about getting back on a horse.  With the scare of being completely paralyzed, the ER doctor recommended her to stay off the horse and work from the ground.  She had no idea how important those words were at the time.  Following her fall, Marisa had a visit from a beautiful soul who had just lost her son to suicide. She came to the farm with no agenda other than to honor her son's wish to pet a horse.  Her son had wanted to visit Spirit’s Promise, but unfortunately, he died before that could happen. What happened next changed the course of Marisa’s life.  It became clear to Marisa that she was supposed to help people from the ground. 

With her life changing direction, her marriage suffered and ended in 2015.  Despite this adversity, she continued on her path to both personal healing and helping others.  She began to understand that being vulnerable herself would help her to better understand people in need. 

Marisa’s vision to help both horses and people led her to become certified in EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association).  In addition, she has completed her certification as an Equus Life Coach through the Koelle Institute.  In her self-discovery during this time, she realized that she needed to specialize in grief counseling.  Marisa’s sole purpose is to help people love themselves again by giving them the tools and experiences they need to survive and thrive.