Adoption/Virtual Adoption
Adoption fees discussed!
Sponsor a horse $25.00 per day
Sponsor a pony $15.00 per day
Sponsor a mini $10.00 per day
Before you consider taking a horse home from a rescue, understand that there is no such thing as a free or cheap horse.
Be prepared for expenses and then price increases. The average horse's FEED NEEDS are over $6000.00 a year. Figure in another few thousand for veterinary, farrier, clothing, housing/fencing repairs, seasonal incidentals, etc. $25 per day is a fair assumption. Plan on it. Save it. One bad tick bite can blow many thousands of dollars. It happens.
Our horses spend most if not all of their time outdoors with their run in shelters ($6000 + up) Each owns a set of 4 blankets, all waterproof and ranging in insulation from zero grams to 450 grams so they are comfortable in all weathers. ($1000-1500 per set).
In addition, horses receive farrier care. Depending on if the horse wears front shoes or all four shoes or is trimmed, costs range from $100 per horse to $400 per horse and higher. Every 4-6 weeks. They are wormed 5x per year. They are vaccinated yearly and have dental exams and treatment regularly.
It all adds up! Of course, emergency care is an added worry and expense. All this plus the day and night labor a horse requires is why so many people give up. Statistics show 85% of people will get rid of their horses within a year. They romanticize riding off into the sunset without considering the reality of the responsibility they have taken on. So think first. Hard. Then remain committed.
Be prepared for the next decade or two of commitment to your horse's needs!
Be prepared for expenses and then price increases. The average horse's FEED NEEDS are over $6000.00 a year. Figure in another few thousand for veterinary, farrier, clothing, housing/fencing repairs, seasonal incidentals, etc. $25 per day is a fair assumption. Plan on it. Save it. One bad tick bite can blow many thousands of dollars. It happens.
Our horses spend most if not all of their time outdoors with their run in shelters ($6000 + up) Each owns a set of 4 blankets, all waterproof and ranging in insulation from zero grams to 450 grams so they are comfortable in all weathers. ($1000-1500 per set).
In addition, horses receive farrier care. Depending on if the horse wears front shoes or all four shoes or is trimmed, costs range from $100 per horse to $400 per horse and higher. Every 4-6 weeks. They are wormed 5x per year. They are vaccinated yearly and have dental exams and treatment regularly.
It all adds up! Of course, emergency care is an added worry and expense. All this plus the day and night labor a horse requires is why so many people give up. Statistics show 85% of people will get rid of their horses within a year. They romanticize riding off into the sunset without considering the reality of the responsibility they have taken on. So think first. Hard. Then remain committed.
Be prepared for the next decade or two of commitment to your horse's needs!
Current Horses
Hover your mouse over or click on each photo for info.
Hover your mouse over or click on each photo for info.
Board Members, Veterinary and Farrier Professionals and Advisory Council
Founder and President Christine Barrett-Distefano is a Southampton native who began working with horses in a hack barn in 1975. These horses would change the future for every horse Christine could ever aid in their memory. She loved them and though many were scattered to the winds at seasons end every year and ultimately all once the barn closed, she never forgot them nor the pain of knowing the horse dealer would sell them for meat if no buyer stepped up. She attended her first horse auction in 1980 and rescued her first pony in 1981. She is an idealist and a visionary. Christine believes in Centered Riding. She studied John Lyons, Monte Roberts, Buck Branaman and Pat Parelli for well over a decade incorporating their techniques with her own for the benefit of the rescue horses. Additional misc. licenses and certifications and experience: NYS Associate RE Broker; Equine Appraiser; US Notary; AFAA Group Fitness Trainer; Spinning; Yoga-Fit; AFAA Personal Trainer; CPR; Pet First Aid and CPR; Pilates and NASM Advanced Integrative Flexibility Specialist course. For many years, a fitness professional at several of the Hampton’s gyms, her fitness education and experience enhances the unique, comfortable, balanced and safe approach she uses when teaching children and adults to ride. Christine has taught horseback riding lessons since 1981 and began Amaryllis Farm in 1989 specializing in teaching the nervous beginner about horses. Christine is a highly experienced barefoot farrier and is currently studying and practicing the Masterson Method, an integrated multi modality method of equine massage to become a certified practitioner. Her lifetime interest is in helping horses feel better. Her dream is to create an extraordinary sanctuary. She has been working toward it all her life. "There is no being on earth more noble and selfless than the horse, God's greatest gift to humanity" Christine
Executive Director Rachel Melissa-Ann Distefano is the daughter of the founder. "From birth, I have grown up with horses and have had a unique and extensive experience in caring for and helping horses from every walk of life. I was awarded the nationwide and very prestigious ASPCA Child Hero of the Year in 2007 and has volunteered daily to help the rescue horses since 2005. For 13 consecutive years, I voluntarily ran the Compassion Camp. I have always giggled when asked "Do you ride every day?" The dedication it takes to rescue and care for horses on a daily basis, particularly the way we do at Amaryllis is enormous. Horses eat at least twice a day, many even more. Feeding and watering in itself is a time consuming chore and takes an average of 8 hours each day. We strive to maintain absolute cleanliness of the acres, and comfort for the horses. Although the horses have run-in sheds to keep them dry, we work outside. If it's 6 degrees, a blizzard or down pouring and that means carrying hay across fields in 40mph winds, the horses do not suddenly stop eating. There is no reprieve from chores!
It is difficult to explain to someone who has never spent hours out in historic temps to understand our true devotion to the horses. If you are true to your word, discomfort, stress and sometimes even physical pain is worth it to bring comfort to horses.
I adopted a KY born Rocky Mountain horse, Kismet Joe. Fancy horses are just as subject to the unpredictability of human life as other horses. Also, often the more prestigious the sport, the quicker people discard them. Horses are extremely expensive and money does not grow on trees. Joey gave me the desire to delve deeper into natural horse training methods. I studied teachings of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Mark Rashid and Positive Reinforcement "clicker" training to name a few. Most real learning however comes from spending undemanding time with my horse. Only then are you fully aware to what they are saying. I am also studying become certified under the Masterson Method for equine massage. It is unlike any other method! A few personal interests include archery, astrology, personality types and gaited horses. I am taking my talent, Kismet RMD Photography to the next stage this year. "
Horse rescue is essential, but showing people the relationship you can build with a horse is just as important. Horse slaughter exists as long as the supply is there. Pushing horses to jump higher, run faster or move more beautifully will always produce unsound equines. A lightly ridden horse can be sound into their 20's yet a young show horse will receive injections to mask unnatural young joint degeneration. If we can teach people that you don't need to abuse a horse to enjoy them, we could change the world.
Amaryllis has always equaled extraordinary care, love, health and happiness for each individual horse.
Chair Rachel Ziff MA, LMHC joined the team in 2009.
Rachel Ziff is a licensed mental health counselor and certified equine facilitated psychotherapist.and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Summa Cum Laude with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Adelphi University. She additionally received recognition and honors in Adelphi’s Psi Chi Honor Society chapter. Professionally, Rachel provides therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults with a variety of emotional needs and has many years of experience in her field, including counseling and therapy in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a university setting and in equine assisted therapeutic programs. Rachel's passion for horses began at the early age of two on the streets of Manhattan, petting carriage horses, and she soon developed into the avid equestrian she continues to be today. Rachel's dedication to helping both people and horses, and her compassion for all living things, provides a unique perspective, fueling her involvement within the organization. "When I was 12 years old, I made a promise to my horse. A life of security, sanctuary and safety. After the race horse can no longer run, and the show pony can no longer jump, organizations like Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue see that a horse's worth is so much more than their physical abilities. This is about promoting compassion and kindness and providing a community with education. Look into the eyes of any horse at Amaryllis Farm, you'll see trust renewed in their eyes and warmth radiating from their soul." RachelRachel Ziff is a licensed mental health counselor and certified equine facilitated psychotherapist.
Rachel Ziff is a licensed mental health counselor and certified equine facilitated psychotherapist.and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Summa Cum Laude with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Adelphi University. She additionally received recognition and honors in Adelphi’s Psi Chi Honor Society chapter. Professionally, Rachel provides therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults with a variety of emotional needs and has many years of experience in her field, including counseling and therapy in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a university setting and in equine assisted therapeutic programs. Rachel's passion for horses began at the early age of two on the streets of Manhattan, petting carriage horses, and she soon developed into the avid equestrian she continues to be today. Rachel's dedication to helping both people and horses, and her compassion for all living things, provides a unique perspective, fueling her involvement within the organization. "When I was 12 years old, I made a promise to my horse. A life of security, sanctuary and safety. After the race horse can no longer run, and the show pony can no longer jump, organizations like Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue see that a horse's worth is so much more than their physical abilities. This is about promoting compassion and kindness and providing a community with education. Look into the eyes of any horse at Amaryllis Farm, you'll see trust renewed in their eyes and warmth radiating from their soul." RachelRachel Ziff is a licensed mental health counselor and certified equine facilitated psychotherapist.
Board Member Trustee Eugenia Carter Marie Doolittle aka Doc . In my younger days, I was employed at the New York University Hospital and North Cypress medical Center for 10 years. The past 30 yrs I spent working full time at Winthrop University Hospital. I am now retired and actively caring for my aged mother and ailing brother. I have come to find that horses bring you peace and it is difficult to stay away from them for long. Those feel good endorphins are released when in their presence! Amaryllis does a superb job at meeting each specific horse's needs, they are not grouped and labeled but are individuals. That is important. Everyone deserves to be happy, horses and people alike. 1000 lbs of unconditional love! What can beat that? Horses are Heavenly. To me, Amaryllis is a little piece of Heaven on earth! I have been with AFER for over 5 yrs.
Vice President Linda Costello-Roth Linda is currently in her 27th year as a Special Education Teacher in the Huntington school district. Linda works extensively to bring out the best in children. She coaches Varsity Girl's Lacrosse and Middle School Girl's Soccer. She is a chairperson of Special Education grades 7-12. Linda is a Special Olympics Coach as well. Linda even donated a kidney to a friend's husband because he needed one. She is a stellar human being. Linda has been with AFER for over 12yrs. "Christine's no excuses attitude about putting horses first, believing and living her commitment to them each and every day gave me the confidence that my time and monies would be put to effective use. The Amaryllis model is also one which I plan to follow when I open my own sanctuary when I retire!" Linda.
Treasurer Patricia Kaiser Patricia has worked in the fields of property and casualty insurance, human resources, and education, where she functioned as both a teacher and peer mediator. She has a Batchelor's degree and a Master's degree. Patricia, has lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, New England, and the South. Patricia's daughter learned to ride, at the age of five, when the family was living in Minnesota. And, with that a love of horses was born. One of Patricia's fondest memories is seeing her young daughter riding across a snow covered Minnesota field, not siting astride her horse, but laying flat on it's back. No fear, just trust and pure joy. " Horses enhance our lives in so many ways. I consider it a privilege to assist Christine and Rachel, even in a small way, with the enormous labor of love they have undertaken. Equine rescue is an demanding endeavor, the work is hard, the hours are long, the challenges are almost never ending. Yet, despite the demands, Amaryllis thrives as a sanctuary, and a testimonial to what love and dedication can accomplish".
Secretary Lorraine Coyle A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Lorraine has been a working member of the television industry for over thirty years. The majority of Lorraine's experience is as a producer and executive in charge of production. With a goal of cutting back on travel, Lorraine transitioned out of the production arena and is now a vice president of business and legal affairs at a major, global entertainment/media company. With the reduction in frequent flyer miles Lorraine was afforded the ability to spend more time pursuing her dual love of nature and animals; including the time needed to volunteer at Amaryllis. It was not so much a choice to volunteer with the horses as much as it was falling under their spell, one look in their eyes and it was impossible not to help. They enter your heart and you are never without them. When she is not helping out at Amaryllis Lorraine can often be found hiking the trails and paddling the waters of the East End.
Board Member Trustee Dianne Corwith "Being around and helping the horses and mules, in turn has helped me!" Dianne has been with Amaryllis for over 10yrs as a caregiver to special needs equines. She has long operated her own business "Diane's Custom Signs and Designs" and is a devout lover and protector of all animals.
Board Member Trustee Dianne Corwith "Being around and helping the horses and mules, in turn has helped me!" Dianne has been with Amaryllis for over 10yrs as a caregiver to special needs equines. She has long operated her own business "Diane's Custom Signs and Designs" and is a devout lover and protector of all animals.
Board Member Trustee Alexandra Peters.
" Prior to moving to Boston this September to pursue a university degree at Boston University in Political Science, I grew up in Switzerland surrounded by wildlife. Horses have always been an integral part of my childhood and have allowed me to develop crucial skills including responsibility, motivation, and patience. I am lucky enough to have two fantastic horses who are now happily retired in Belgium living a peaceful and enjoyable life. I came across Amaryllis in 2016 and was immediately in awe to see an organisation dedicated to the well-being of horses rather than their ability to perform especially in the Hamptons. As soon as I met Christine and Rachel I was inspired by their dedication towards promoting animal well-fare and their tireless efforts to try and provide the best care for their horses. I am extremely grateful for my position on the board and am excited to commence this venture alongside individuals who share the same passion for animal-welfare as I do."
" Prior to moving to Boston this September to pursue a university degree at Boston University in Political Science, I grew up in Switzerland surrounded by wildlife. Horses have always been an integral part of my childhood and have allowed me to develop crucial skills including responsibility, motivation, and patience. I am lucky enough to have two fantastic horses who are now happily retired in Belgium living a peaceful and enjoyable life. I came across Amaryllis in 2016 and was immediately in awe to see an organisation dedicated to the well-being of horses rather than their ability to perform especially in the Hamptons. As soon as I met Christine and Rachel I was inspired by their dedication towards promoting animal well-fare and their tireless efforts to try and provide the best care for their horses. I am extremely grateful for my position on the board and am excited to commence this venture alongside individuals who share the same passion for animal-welfare as I do."
Board Member Trustee Katherine Brannick. An equestrian throughout her youth, Katherine had first hand experience at what happens to lesson and camp horses when they are ousted from their employ. This harsh reality is why Katherine began volunteering at Amaryllis in 2009, to lend a hand to horses in need and to those who are trying to help them. She is currently an assistant project manager at a real estate management corporation in Manhattan.
"Throughout the years, Christine and Rachel have shown integrity time and again in varying situations. Being able to interact with the rescue horses at Amaryllis as they heal and unfold their personalities has been a privilege. There just is not another place out there quite like Amaryllis. Nothing comes before the horses. Nothing." Katie
"Throughout the years, Christine and Rachel have shown integrity time and again in varying situations. Being able to interact with the rescue horses at Amaryllis as they heal and unfold their personalities has been a privilege. There just is not another place out there quite like Amaryllis. Nothing comes before the horses. Nothing." Katie
Assistant Secretary Petra Milks: Petra has worked for the past 30+ years for a global industrial automation company with headquarters in Esslingen, Germany. Her most recent position as Post Field Service Coordinator for After Sales Service. As a life long resident of Long Island, Petra has been involved with Amaryllis for several years. “I think the highlight of my weekends out east is always a stop at Amaryllis to see the horses, give them carrots and stroke their big friendly faces“. Seeing the important and demanding work done at Amaryllis 24/7, 365 days a year, in all kinds of weather, Petra knew that she wanted to help. “The dedication and devotion of Christine and Rachel is truly inspiring. Amaryllis is undeniably a very special rescue. Every time I leave there, it‘s with a happy heart knowing that each and every one of those beautiful horses is finally in a good place... in the very best of hands.“
Veterinarians:
Dr. Nora Kleps DVM
Dr. Devita Wooten DVM
Dr. Isaiah Robinson DVM
Dr. Juul Nielsen DVM Chiropractor
Dr. Geoff Tucker DVM Dentist
Farriers:
Richard Klauber
Farm Animals Chiropractor
Dr. Doug Willen
Vet Dentists:
Geoff Tucker DVM
Devita Wooten DVM
Massage Therapy:
Carlie Mayer-Feldman, Mindfulness Massage
Farm Feed Coordinator:
Lyndsey Bailey, Neptune Feeds
Farm Accountant Bookkeeper:
Lisa Chiovaro TLC Financial
Farm Certified Public Accountant:
Moses and Schreiber, CPA
Farm Legal Council:
Rayano and Garabedian PC
